Hey! I’m Zhi Fan Wang, registered dietitian in Toronto, Canada.
Friends and colleagues know me as Crystal. Back in China, people called me Wang Zhi Fan (王芷凡).
In Chinese, we always put the surname before the first name.
Like many Chinese immigrants, I made every effort to fit into the Western society. I masked my Chinese name with an English name. And I adopted the idea that salads are healthy.
Except on days when I just want a comfy, hearty, and healthy meal, salad is the last thing I would reach for.
Chinese food is my ”soul food”. Growing up in the vicinities of Su Zhou, my diet was full of cooked vegetables, rice, noodles, fruits, meats, and fresh produces of the lake.
Western cuisine often consists of raw vegetables, sandwiches, pastas, potatoes, chunky meats, and sweets. I started my career as a dietitian with knowledge mostly based on the Western cuisine.
Since 2019, I have been providing nutrition care in pediatrics, psychiatry and primary care. I spent countless hours chatting with teenagers, artists, corporate managers, entrepreneurs, moms, teachers, refugees, and more.
Guess what they often had in common ? Gut problems.
Constipation, chronic diarrhea, irritable bowel syndrome, bloating… you name it.
These conditions run rampant in our stress-filled society. When the gut is unwell, our mental state also suffers.
During the years when I suffered from anxiety-related insomnia, I also had chronic constipation. The discomfort left me feeling bloated, frustrated, and unable to concentrate.
Since 2022, I felt called to return to my Chinese roots. I started using more Chinese ingredients and culinary techniques. I eventually moved to Toronto, where the evergrowing Chinese community makes me feel at home.
Nutrition ZhiFan is where I share nutrition tips for a healthy and smooth bowel movement, through the lens of Chinese cuisine. Sign up here, so you will be the first to see the fresh-out-of-the-oven newletter !
