From Actress to Agri-Food Founder: Nicola Cheung on Health, Parenting, and Preventive Living

Former actress, mother of four, and LoCoFarms co-founder Nicola Cheung has a life and health philosophy that blends proactive preventive care, professional guidance, financial preparedness, and a deliberate lightness of mind. In a July 2026 interview with the South China Morning Post, she explained why she stopped trying to control everything and instead focused on small, consistent habits — and on not worrying.

A Wake-Up Call That Changed Everything

Cheung's shift toward preventive health was catalyzed when her eldest daughter became seriously ill three years ago. "Through that whole process, I realised that life is not something you can control at every moment, and that within just 24 hours, many things can change," she says. "After that, I started actively looking for more preventive ways to care for my own health and my family's health."

This experience pushed her to move from a reactive mindset — waiting for problems to arise — to a proactive one, where she seeks out information and resources before a crisis hits.

Why She Always Asks the Experts

Cheung does not trust intuition alone when it comes to medical decisions. She is explicit about her limits: "I don't have a lot of professional medical knowledge myself, so I feel it's very important to seek advice from professionals. They help me understand better and give me more information. Then I can make more of the right choices, and plan my life and my family's health better."

Her approach is a practical one: gather expert input, then make informed decisions rather than guessing.

Insurance as a Tool for Options, Not Fear

Cheung sees insurance not as a source of anxiety but as a way to preserve flexibility. "We can't control what happens in this world, or in our lives. But we can get ourselves prepared, so that when something does happen, we'll have more options," she says.

She and her husband hold life insurance and other financial tools to fund their children's education, and she has also purchased critical illness insurance. It is a pragmatic, forward-looking strategy that acknowledges uncertainty without dwelling on it.

The Longevity Secret: Stop Worrying

Once plans are in place, Cheung believes the healthiest thing to do is let go. "I think longevity is about not worrying, and having nothing weighing on you. If you worry, you get sick. If you don't, you are less likely to be," she says.

This is not fatalism — it is the logical conclusion of her system. You prepare as best you can, then you release the rest.

Small Habits That Add Up

Cheung emphasizes that consistent, small practices produce outsized benefits. Two habits she prioritizes:

• Spending time in nature. "I go out into nature more, because that's really good for both your mind and your body."
• Prioritizing sleep. "Most importantly, one needs to sleep more. With more sleep, you get your mind more relaxed."

These are not dramatic interventions — they are accessible, daily choices that support both mental and physical health.

A Collaborative Approach to Parenting

Cheung rejects a top-down style with her four daughters. "I chat and talk things through with my kids. With my 17-year-old, I talk to her like an older sister or a friend. It's definitely not that kind of 'Mum says so, so do it' relationship," she says.

This collaborative approach reflects her broader philosophy: respect the individual, seek understanding, and build trust rather than authority.

LoCoFarms: Planting a Seed for Hong Kong

Cheung co-founded LoCoFarms as a social enterprise that revitalizes Hong Kong's agricultural heritage by connecting local growers with food artisans. She describes it as a proactive contribution to her community:

"I wanted it to be a seed for sustainable development and for helping local farmers in Hong Kong — something that would grow into greater awareness and recognition of these issues. I don't know how big [the business] will become, but this is something I've planted a seed and done my part for. That's what I see as being proactive — doing something for our society, for the Hong Kong community."

For Cheung, being proactive does not stop at personal health. It extends to the health of the community and the land.