Expat encourages healthy living in Shenzhen

Stephanie Morris has been living in China for three years, but she only recently began following her calling of helping people live a healthier lifestyle. The 30-year-old Canadian worked in the food industry — focusing on vegan, vegetarian, and raw foods — in her home country, but she initially came to China to teach English.

“I came to China 3 years ago to teach English but without a real degree or any official teaching certificates, so I decided to start learning Chinese to help me get out of my teaching rut,” she said.

After living in Beijing for a few months, she passed through Shenzhen while traveling and was impressed with the blue sky and green mountains. She was also interested in the entrepreneurial nature of the city’s residents.

“I was interested in doing something healthy and creative and saw a huge market for this kind of enterprise from talking to my friends and clients in Shenzhen. So I decided to become my own boss. I took some time to reflect on my time spent with entrepreneurs in the vegan and vegetarian industries in Canada, as well as the time I’d spent with new start up owners here in Shenzhen.”

“I had always been into healthy food and smoothies, and after many requests and inquiries via my WeChat posts about what I was eating, how I was making it, and if I could make it for others, I decided to open my own vegan produce enterprise. I make Nicecream, which is a banana based, non-dairy coconut ice cream with unique flavors. All are made in Shenzhen with locally sourced ingredients and are 100% vegan, no added sugar, paleo, healthy and delicious. The first week I got 80 orders and it’s been so exciting having my own business.”

Morris went on to explain how she continues to draw inspiration from the people of Shenzhen.

“I have become even more inspired by the people that move here, from all over China. How they turn their lives upside down to make it in this mini metropolis. Aside from the locals that work so hard, there are always people in the expat community that are trying to make it work just as must as I am, that are coming from all walks of life. It’s like no other city in the world.”