A local food blogger has topped Amazon's book charts with his healthy slowcooker book.
Nathan Anthony used lockdown to help us spruce up our meals and began sharing some cooking top tips on Instagram before taking to TikTok.
He now has 800,000 followers across his platforms and his own recipe book is now available for pre-order - now No. 1 in Amazon's book charts in the Low Fat Diet, Weight Control Nutrition and Quick & Easy Meals categories.
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It's also currently No. 5 on The Top 20 Most Sold & Most Read Books of the Week on Amazon and No. 3 in Food and Drink.
Speaking about what he's been up to over the past year, Nathan told Be : "I have been working away as usual but secretly in the background been working on the Bored of Lunch Cookbook which I am beyond buzzing about.
"Can't wait for people to get their hands on it. The inside of the book looks phenomenal. There is a big team dedicated to producing the book and they have done an amazing job, I’m just blown away working alongside them."
Adding how the book came about, Nathan said: "I was very lucky and count my blessings that a number of publishers wanted to produce Bored of Lunch as a book. I decided on a publisher who I wanted from day one if I ever got a chance to do a book.
"When they came on board, their vision for the books even further cemented my decision. Penguin Books is any author's dream and I can't even believe it myself, saying this out loud still gives me such a buzz, it feels surreal or like someone is winding me up."
The food blogger explained how he never thought he'd have gotten to where he is now.
Nathan said: "If someone told me just after two years of having a food page I would have 800,000 followers across my platforms I would have laughed and told them to catch themselves on. Genuinely though, my page has only got to where it is because of how the people of Northern Ireland supported it, it used to be called Bored of Lunch Belfast but it grew and grew, so I dropped the Belfast bit."
The Portadown man explained how his cooking has definitely improved since the first lockdown - and has thanked all those who have supported him.
"I am an average home cook and I wont shy away from that but I think that’s why the page has done well. People can relate to average cooks. I have definitely learnt an awful lot about food since starting a food blog.
"[My followers] are probably sick of me saying thank you, it's all I ever say on my page to them. If it wasn’t for them liking my content, commenting, sharing and supporting me, my page would never have the reach it [has]. When I announced my book, it instantly went to #1 and it’s not even released yet even. Mind blowing. I’ve such an incredible and loyal community," Nathan said.
He has explained what to expect from the full calorie counted slow cooker book and added: "Perfect for meal prep, lunches, dinners and people that are just too busy. It’s a one pot book that saves people time and money, perfect for working from home or busy parents. There is a big focus on the cost of the recipes and making meals for people affordable at home."
When asked if building his following was difficult, Nathan explained that he didn't 'fixate' on a number of followers.
"I found not having a goal or figure target for followers and just posting content the followers would build organically and they did. I try not to force content on people, I genuinely just record videos of my meals and people seem to like them," the blogger said.
Nathan still works full-time in his day job, and says he doesn't think he will ever do food blogging full-time.
"I spent a lot of time at university and carved out a really good career in my day job. I think the structure and having colleagues is something being a full time blogger wouldn’t offer me. I am a big team player and need peers and people to work alongside. It can be hard at times to do both, write a book, shoot a book, work 9-5. So I can't post as much as I'd love to, but I love being busy and wouldn’t change a thing...
"You never know this may not be the only book on the horizon, there could be a sequel in the works," he said.
Bored of Lunch: The Healthy Slowcooker Book will be released on January 5, 2023.
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