For years, Chelsea Winter helped people feel confident in the kitchen: making nourishing food simple, accessible, and enjoyable. But over time, her understanding of wellbeing deepened. Through motherhood, burnout, and personal growth, she discovered that true nourishment extends far beyond what’s on our plate.
In this conversation, Chelsea shares the evolution behind Nourish & Bloom, her holistic approach to health, and the small, everyday practices that support lasting wellbeing: from food and rest to connection and nervous system care.
Can you introduce yourself and share a little about your journey, from your work in food to creating Nourish & Bloom?
Hi everybody! I’m Chelsea! You may remember me off such shows as MasterChef New Zealand. Haha. As the author of 8(!) bestselling cookbooks, my career has always centred around helping people nourish themselves through food. For 13 years, that looked like creating recipes, cookbooks, television content, and sharing practical ways to make cooking feel easier, more delicious, and accessible for everyday life. Basically, making everyone feel like they could cook, well.
Over time though, my understanding of nourishment has expanded.
Life has a way of teaching you that food is only one piece of the puzzle. Through pregnancy, motherhood, personal challenges, periods of burnout, healing, and growth, I became increasingly interested in the bigger picture of wellbeing - things like nervous system health, stress, connection, rest, purpose, community, and the small daily choices that shape how we feel.
As my own understanding evolved, so did the way I wanted to support others. What began with food naturally expanded into a much broader conversation about health and what it truly means to live well. There's just so much to it.
Nourish & Bloom grew from that evolution. A natural extension of everything I'm passionate about - good food, nervous system health, women's wellbeing, meaningful connection, and creating experiences that empower women with practical tools to support themselves in everyday life. It's still about nourishment, but now it's about nourishing the whole person.
Nourish & Bloom feels like a natural and personal evolution of your work. What inspired you to create it, and what does it represent for you?
Nourish & Bloom was born from countless conversations between myself and my dear friend and co-founder, Heliena. Through navigating our own journeys, challenges and lived experiences, we came to recognise just how many of the same themes so many women were navigating too - from nervous system dysregulation and women's health to the emotional, mental and physical challenges that women experience to varying degrees. We both felt deeply called to create a space where women didn't have to piece all of this together on their own, but could come to one place to learn, feel supported, be guided through layers of healing and self-discovery, deepen their understanding of themselves, and gain practical tools to better navigate their health, wellbeing, and the many seasons of life.
We saw so many women doing an incredible job holding families, businesses, careers and relationships together, looking after others, yet often running on empty - like we had been. Most were carrying enormous mental and emotional loads while putting themselves last.
That's what inspired us to create both our Flockhill retreats and Reclamation, our one-day immersion for women. While they offer different experiences, they share the same intention: bringing together world-class education, deeply impactful practices, and restorative experiences that help women better understand themselves, support their nervous system, and leave with practical tools they can confidently apply in their everyday lives.
Nourish & Bloom represents a space where women feel seen, supported and empowered. It's an opportunity to step out of the busyness of life, grow their knowledge and return home feeling lighter, with greater clarity, self-awareness and practical tools that support them in everyday life.
Your work now centres around a more holistic view of wellbeing. What does “nourishment” mean to you at this stage of your life?
At this stage of my life, nourishment means so much more than what's on my plate.
Of course food remains incredibly important. I believe deeply in the power of real, whole foods and a balanced way of nourishing our bodies through the seasons. But nourishment also comes in many forms, through sleep, meaningful relationships, movement, time in nature, creativity, laughter, moments of stillness and daily practices that boost my energy, joy and vitality.
I've become much more aware of the role the nervous system plays in our overall health. We can eat all the right foods, but if we're constantly stressed, rushing, and disconnected from ourselves, it's difficult to truly thrive. Supporting our wellbeing isn't just about what we eat - it's also about creating an internal environment where our body feels safe enough to rest, recover and function at its best.
Nourishment now looks like asking myself, "What do I need today?"
Sometimes that's a nourishing meal. Sometimes it's a walk on the beach. Sometimes it's an early night, five minutes of quiet, or a bath, or no screens, or belly laughs with a friend, or making cookies, or dancing around the house, or simply giving myself permission to slow down and listen to my body.
For me, nourishment is no longer just about food. It's about creating a life that supports my wellbeing from the inside out.
Many women feel constantly pulled in different directions. How do you personally navigate supporting your own wellbeing amidst a full life?
I don't think balance is something we arrive at and stay in forever. Life moves in seasons, and some seasons are naturally fuller than others. As a solo mother, businesswoman, and someone who wears a lot of different hats, I know what it's like to feel stretched! What helps me most is coming back to simple anchors throughout the day.
Firstly, a nourishing well balanced breakfast to set me up for the day, not skipping meals or working through lunch like I used to. Getting outside for a beach walk when I can. Using simple practices I've learned to help me stay grounded, calm and present between the intensity of motherhood and work (breathing, tapping etc). I’m also prioritising my sleep - like many other parents I have gone through many years of sleep deprivation and now do everything I can to ensure I get adequate, restorative rest.
I've also become much better at recognising when my body is asking me to slow down and honouring the cyclical nature of being a woman. We don't have the same capacity every day of our cycle, and learning to work with our bodies rather than against them has been one of the greatest gifts.
For many years, I pushed through fatigue because I didn't think there was any other way. Now I see those signals as information rather than obstacles. Instead of asking, "How do I push through this?" I ask, "What is my body asking of me, and how can I support myself better?"
That shift alone has changed the way I experience everyday life.
How has your relationship with food, health, or self-care shifted over time?
My relationship with food has become more intentional as my knowledge has grown through lived experience. When I was younger, health often felt tied to rules and outcomes. These days, I see food as one of the most loving ways we can care for ourselves and our families.
I'm far more interested in nourishment than perfection.
I've also developed a deep appreciation for wholefoods and ancestral wisdom - things like slow-cooked meals, whole foods, Mitchells bone broth protein powder, healthy fats like tallow, quality proteins and nutrient-dense staples that have stood the test of time. It's actually become much simpler because that's what feels sustainable long term. With a little preparation and planning, I can usually make sure I have wholesome, uncomplicated meals available during busy workdays for both myself and my boys. It’s something I’m happy to spend time on, too.
Health doesn’t really feel like a destination to reach any more, rather like an ongoing relationship with myself.
The same applies to self-care. It's become less about grand gestures and more about the small things I do consistently.
I've realised that wellbeing isn't built through perfection or waiting until life becomes less busy. It's built through the everyday choices we make - how we nourish ourselves, how we respond to stress, and how we create moments of care, even in the midst of full and beautiful lives.
What are some of the simple, everyday practices or rituals that help you feel grounded and well?
The practices that support me most are simple. Daily walks in nature are probably at the top of the list. Living near the ocean means I can walk on the beach regularly, and I find that incredibly grounding and calming for my nervous system.
I prioritise nourishing meals, adequate protein, hydration with good quality water, and good sleep wherever possible.
I also love daily rituals that help me slow down and reconnect with myself, even if it's just 15 minutes throughout the day.
Breathwork has been one of the most powerful practices for helping me shift out of that wired, stressed state into one that feels much calmer and more present. It has made a huge difference to my clarity, my energy, and how I show up for my boys.
I also wake at 5.30am so I can prioritise 30 minutes of meditation and quiet time before the busyness of the day begins. Limiting my screen time before bed has improved my sleep enormously, and I also love a good sauna and LED red light, and the many health benefits they bring.
Lately, I've become much more intentional about what I put on my skin too. Our skin is our largest organ, and I think many of us are becoming more conscious of choosing products with simple, natural ingredients. I adore using Mitchells tallow balm because it's such a beautiful example of returning to nutrient-rich ingredients that have been valued for generations. The mango & vanilla scent is next level amazing!
Together, these simple practices have created significant shifts in my capacity, mental clarity and overall health. I genuinely feel the healthiest I've ever been, and it's not because of one single habit, but the consistency of these small, everyday choices that has made the biggest difference.
The retreat experience is quite immersive. How do you translate those ideas into something more accessible in day-to-day life?
One of the things we always say is that we don't create experiences for women to escape their lives - we create them to help women return to them differently.
Whether someone joins us for a multi-day retreat or spends the day with us at Reclamation, the intention is the same: to create space to pause, gain a deeper understanding of themselves, experience practices that support their wellbeing on every level, and leave with practical tools they can continue applying in their everyday lives.
At Reclamation, women learn from Dr Libby Weaver - one of Australasia's leading nutritional biochemists, bestselling author and speaker - about women's health, hormones and the nervous system, while also experiencing the power of somatic breathwork, immersive sound healing, and Nourish & Bloom's signature Four Pillars Workshop. It's not about leaving with another long list of things to do - it's about gaining a deeper understanding of yourself, experiencing firsthand how these practices can support your wellbeing, and leaving with greater self-awareness, practical tools, and the confidence to support yourself in ways that feel realistic, sustainable and deeply nourishing. Along the way, women begin to better understand the patterns that shape how they think, feel and respond, navigate life's challenges with greater awareness and intention, and cultivate more calm, clarity and connection in their everyday lives.
Sometimes that's taking ten quiet minutes before everyone wakes up. Sometimes it's eating a nourishing lunch instead of working through it. Sometimes it's going for a walk instead of reaching for your phone, practising a few minutes of breathwork, or simply responding to yourself with a little more compassion.
Those small, everyday choices, repeated consistently, are often what create the biggest shifts.
What are some common themes or needs you see coming up for women who attend Nourish & Bloom?
One of the strongest themes we see is exhaustion. Not just physical exhaustion, but emotional exhaustion. Many women arrive carrying enormous mental loads. They're caring for everyone else while becoming increasingly disconnected from their own needs in the process.
We also see a deep longing for connection. Genuine connection with themselves, with other women, and with a slower, more intentional way of living.
What's so beautiful to witness is how quickly women begin to let go when they feel safe, supported and no longer have to hold everything together.
We live in a world overflowing with information and constant stimulation, yet what so many women are really craving is a deeper understanding of themselves and practical ways they can better navigate stress, support their wellbeing, and create a life where they feel like they're truly thriving, not just surviving.
How do you approach balance in a way that feels realistic, rather than overwhelming?
I don't think balance becomes overwhelming solely because we're doing too much - I think it becomes overwhelming when we feel like we have to do it all perfectly, too. For me, balance is less about achieving equal amounts of everything and more about regularly checking in with myself. What needs my attention right now?
Some weeks my family needs more of me. Other weeks work requires more energy. The goal isn't perfection - it's learning to adapt with the season you're in. I've also learned that consistency matters far more than intensity. A short walk every day is more sustainable than an ambitious routine I can't maintain. A quick nourishing meal made with simple ingredients is often better than chasing perfection. The small things really do count.
What does “taking care of yourself” look like for you right now?
A lot less like striving for perfection and a lot more like paying attention. I understand myself more deeply now, at 42. Understanding what I need, what season I'm in, and recognising that my wellbeing isn't something I can keep putting at the bottom of the list.
I've learnt that caring for ourselves isn't something we do once we've finished looking after everyone else - it's the foundation that allows us to show up more fully for the people and things we love. Literally happy mum, happy family.
We live in a world that constantly asks us to do more, achieve more, and keep pushing forward. For me, true wellbeing isn't about adding more to my life - it's about creating space for what matters most, supporting myself with greater awareness and intention, and trusting that the small choices I make each day really do matter. And saying no to the things that don’t feel nourishing or aligned.
Ultimately, taking care of myself is about creating a life where I'm not simply surviving the demands of each day, but living in a way that allows me to feel more present, more connected, and like I'm truly thriving.
Because it's rarely one big moment that changes our lives. It's the small choices we make every day, repeated consistently over time, that create meaningful, lasting change. Those small choices might seem insignificant on their own, but over time they shape how we feel, how we show up for the people we love, and ultimately, the life we create.
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