Meet the GlowstarAmy Lanza, @nourishing.amy

By Glowcation
11 October '18

Amy Lanza, 25, launched her award winning vegan blog Nourishing Amy in May 2018. She studied languages at University, before working at the Deliciously Ella deli and is now working at the Health Bloggers Community.

We spoke to our latest Glowstar about her beliefs and why her ultimate banana bread recipe is her biggest crowd pleaser.

Why did you launch Nourishing Amy and why?

I launched my blog in May 2018. I’d wanted to create recipes and share them with people. Nourishing Amy has been a long-term dream of mine. At first I didn’t have the confidence but my mum was a big support and encouraged me to go out and do it.

I already had lots of recipes that I had developed. I’m part of the Health Bloggers community and they had an online mentor programme and I did their 7 day challenge to get started. It took me through thinking about my audience and how to lay it out. I was then ready to go.

I wanted a platform for my recipes and I wanted to share them with people as well as letting them know that a plant-based lifestyle could taste delicious. I wanted to motivate others.

I have learnt things as I’ve gone along and through trial and error I’ve discovered tips about food styling.

How would you describe your blog and feed?

I want my food to look enticing whether or not it looks vegan. I don’t believe in treat days or meals as it is all about balance. I want my recipes to appeal to everyone.

My followers tend to be 80% women aged 18-40 and mainly in the UK although I sometimes see people from very remote countries and I think “How did they find me?”. Not all of my followers are vegan.

I do have quite a bit of chocolate on my feed including vegan chocolate covered donuts. When I use sugar I tend to use coconut sugar.

What are you learning from your journey?

I’ve learnt to be easier on myself and to have high expectations but not to be hard on myself if I don’t reach them. I’m learning not to compare myself with someone else if they are getting more follows and likes.

I also love learning new cooking techniques from others and how I can incorporate these into my lifestyle.

Describe your upbringing and how important was healthy eating?

I grew up in Hertfordshire surrounded by woods and greenery. I’ve always been surrounded by the outdoors and it was very family orientated upbringing.

Eating well has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember.

My Mum would always cook from scratch, but yes there would be the cheeky half term fast food treats and the birthday party feasts. I was a fussy eater when I was younger, and would say this ‘pickiness’ lasted until I began to follow a plant-based diet.

When I went to Warwick University to study languages I knew how to cook. I’ve always been confident in the kitchen but I began to follow Livia’s Kitchen, Deliciously Ella, Green Kitchen Stories and the Minimalist Baker. I gave up cow’s milk first and swapped it for almond milk. A year after I graduated I went fully vegan. I started working in London for Deliciously Ella in 2016 at one of her delis and also in the office. I started to cook more vegan food for a combination of reasons including working in a vegan cafe and watching Cowspiracy and What the Health. The one thing I struggled to give up was Greek yoghurt.

My food is all about balance- I’ll have a slice of chocolate cake when I want, but equally will enjoy a creamy tahini kale salad too.

What is the mission of Nourishing Amy?

To motivate people to be more in tune with their body and to make them see that a plant-based lifestyle can be completely nourishing.

There’s no use in eating really ‘well’ if you’re not going to take some time to relax and concentrate on being kind to yourself.

Why did you decide to collaborate with Glowcation?

I love learning about the latest food and health hubs, and a regular google search is “top brunch spots…” so it was a no-brainer. Being able to share the best, healthiest and most fun places to eat in and outside of London and beyond is exciting and I hope to encourage more people to try the places I have been to.

Eating out isn’t always so simple, either. It’s always re-assuring when a friend or colleague recommends somewhere for the first time, and Glowcation is like this friend – sharing top tips and information in an easy to find place.

What are you excited about?

I hope to reach more and more people with my recipes, lifestyle tips and inspirational messages and cannot wait to see how I will grow.

As winter draws closer, I am also very excited for the Christmas season and all the festive recipes I will be creating and sharing. I will also let you in on a longer-term dream of mine – I’d love to write a Nourishing Amy cookbook. Who knows what the future holds?

What are the top 5 things in life that make you glow?

There are so many things that make me glow! In a nutshell: family, friends, good food, good health and being in the kitchen. If I can do all those things at once, then I am winning.

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