Where we saw a rise in junk food consumption two decades ago with the emergence of fast-food chains taking the market by storm, the current times are all about healthy eating. People are more health conscious and emphasize on consuming fruits and vegetables more as well as other organic food items. What is great about organic food is that it reduces major health risks, making you feel fit and active, which in turn keeps you mentally strong too. Along with this, it helps your skin stay hydrated and glowing. So, it won’t be wrong to say that healthy eating is a major component of staying active and happy.
John Nazari is a content creator, recipe developer and food producer who is passionate about helping local farms and businesses grow their reach. Currently, he is also working to develop his brand of gourmet spice blends – Nazari’s Touch.
Born in Iran in 1970, John migrated to Canada after finishing school. He was soon hired as an industrial engineer by a very reputable company, where he worked his way up to management. During his bachelor years of living alone, he developed a serious interest in cooking, and that was the turning point in his culinary journey.
Talking about his love for cooking, he shared, “In our house, the kitchen was the main hub, so everyone wanted to spend time there just to be together. I used to do all my homework on the kitchen table since I was a kid. So there was natural exposure to food and my mother’s cooking. I used to ask for prep chores, and she would give me herbs to clean up or ask me to chop the vegetables.”
He further went on to say, “Then one day, she handed me a small knife and showed me how to clean and cut meat and chicken. The interest turned into a passion when I grew older and started living on my own. I understood that I had to make a choice of either learn to cook and eat well, or fall into the trap of eating junk food or dining out all the time.”
As far as John Nazari’s training is concerned, he has done a number of cooking courses at George Brown College. But for the most part, he is a self-taught chef. Not only did he read a lot, but he also made sure to absorb everything from his surroundings. Fortunately, he had a couple of chefs and television celebrity judges around him that he looked up to. He learned from their experiences and expert comments and worked hard to carve a niche for himself.
During his time learning and cooking on his own, he realized there are a lot of small businesses and farms that produce some great food options, but people don’t know about them. He then decided to promote them and help them grow their businesses. “I actively seek businesses that have a strong ethical vision, such as being eco-friendly, sustainable, etc. However, they have a smaller social media presence. It gives me pleasure to work with their products in real life and to spread the word about their vision. I work with some other businesses that are simply for fun and may have well-known names, but they are still local or new to the social media game,” John informed. “I typically partner with them to showcase their products in the form of posts and stories. I work with them to understand what messages they want to convey to the audience and include any specific wording they want. We also work on certain products of theirs that they would like to focus on advertising more,” he elaborated, adding that he also tries creating new recipes or content with their unique ingredients. “I try to give it a vibe that attracts viewers and encourages them to buy the products by farmers and local businesses.”
For John Nazari, cooking is a way to de-stress. The kitchen is his sanctuary – his place of calm and creativity. Everyone needs an outlet, whether it’s walking your dog, smacking a golf ball on the course, or running a treadmill; we all need some sort of routine-breaker to unwind. All you need to do is to find that one thing that makes you happy and make time for it. And indulging in cooking and creating new recipes gives him joy.
John Nazari is an engineer by profession, but when he is not working, he is found in the kitchen creating new recipes and mixes. He is a doting father to two adorable kids and has a lovely, supportive wife who helps him get better at his culinary business. Spending time with his family, hosting friends and relatives, and bringing smiles to their faces is what drives him every day. He loves helping people and would like others to grow in their domains with passion, as he has managed to do successfully for himself.
