Home Body: Interview with Bianca Osborne

Welcome to the second instalment of Home Body, an interview series where we talk to inspiring folks staying home during the lock down. Find the first interview here.

Today we’re talk to Bianca Osborne, tv chef, creator and host of the On My Plate Podcast. She is currenly working on a forthcoming network cooking show on CTVLife called Combination Plates.

I’ve been following Bianca on Instagram for a while and I absolutely love her energy and presence online. She creates beautiful recipes, has a great sense of humour and love of reality tv that I can get behind. I reached out to Bianca to see how her lock was going and how this year has been.

How have you been feeling these past few months in our new normal?

Truthfully, I needed this year. I became an entrepreneur right out of culinary school and hadn’t stopped since 2009. Forever hustlin, worrying, stressing- in 10 years I started 3 ventures, ended 2 and moved across the country, all while being mostly broke. I didn’t have time in my life to stop and recalibrate.

The stress of it all came to a head when I got covered in eczema, seemingly out of nowhere, in early 2019. I started 2020 with the goal of finding peace in my spirit and healing in my body; and while the universe flexed in a VERY strange way, the slow down of this past year was exactly what my body, mind and spirit needed. It also ended up being the best year of my career to date- again, another strange universal flex.

Have I been scared? Yes. Has this started to become tiresome? Hell yea- I’m a single woman and this has made dating, ahem, different. But I’m an optimist, so I know this will pass, and I feel lucky that I’m coming out of this time a better Bianca.

What has this time taught you?

Sometimes the best thing for our personal (and professional) forward momentum can be to stop, rest and refocus. It’s crazy to say, but I hadn’t taken a *true* break in over 10 years. Pulling up on the gas was the best thing to happen to my life.

What are the things you miss most about pre-covid life?

Big parties with friends- I’m an extrovert.

Holding other people’s babies.

Meeting eligible gentlemen out and about- online dating is mostly so-so for this woman lol.

Travel. The irony of finally being in a financial place where I can afford to travel the world, and not being able to go anywhere, is not lost on me.

Has your self-care changed during this time?

Yes in that I actually care for myself. Healing my eczema naturally meant that I had to look at how I lived my life, and self (care, love, healing) had always taken a backseat, I knew this needed to change.

Self care for me is taking a bath 4 times a week, but it’s also been eating a very restricted diet to resolve inflammation (thankfully this was temporary). Self care is sleeping in later during the week but it’s also carving out an affirmation practice. Self care was once just the superficial stuff, and while they matter, the biggest self care shift in my life this year has been boundaries; I used to really struggle with boundaries and speaking up for myself- yes I talk for a living, but sometimes people talk a lot to not have to say much (it me!)- 2020 was the year of TRUE self care, taking care of Bianca inside to reflect out. And my eczema healed and so did my spirit.

What have you been doing to feel good lately?

Chilling. Surrendering. I’ve missed socializing, but I’ve loved all the relaxing I’m able to do.

Do you have any favourite products, rituals or recipes you’re loving these days?

I make a mean butterscotch latte with ghee, vitamin d, oatmilk, vanilla, collagen and coffee. It’s hype. I also love bone broth- everyone should!

To find out more about Bianca and make some her delicious recipes be sure to visit her website biancaosbourne.com or find her on Instagram @bianca.osborne and find her podcast On My Plate, here!