LEXINGTON, Ky. — The COVID-19 pandemic has been linked to several unhealthy eating behaviors, according to Science Daily. The behaviors include mindless eating, increased food consumption, eating to cope and more.

That's why Nichole Francis is dealing healthy donuts in the Commonwealth, and her story is one of perseverance.

Francis calls herself the local donut dealer. Her donuts aren't filled with a bunch of calories or fat, but she's filling them with protein for family and friends to enjoy a more health-conscious treat.

“We keep them in these bottles so they stay fresh. If you look at traditional donut brands you get thirty grams of carbs, twenty-five grams of fat, and one gram of protein. We have flipped it, turned it around on its head, and said eating healthy can be good too,” said Francis. 

Francis didn't wake up one day and decide she wanted to make healthy donuts, it all started as a mantra: ”Never Say Can’t." The saying is something Francis and her dad always said to each other before he passed away.

Nichole Francis, her partner inside of Ruth Hunt Candy. (Nichole Francis)

Ever since then she has been on a journey of weight loss, losing almost 100 pounds during the last four years.

“Do not deprive yourself of food that you love, or deprive yourself of things that make you happy. Food makes me happy, food is an addiction for me and I can not get rid of it so I have to learn how to live with it,” said Francis.

She's making her fitness journey into a long-term thing, and doing so with her partner by her side.

"I have gotten very conscious about looking at the macros. These are whole grain Flax tortilla wraps, so they are a high source of fiber, omega 3 but it also has eight grams of protein, it is only 100 calories per tortilla. If you look at the macros which are carbs, fats and proteins, proteins are 8 grams, carbs are 13 grams and total fat is 3.5 grams,” said Francis.

Francis wants people to know indulging in your favorite sweet is OK, but there is a way to do it right.

“You just had a little sweet, no you had thirty-three or you had the whole bag, which is fine, it happens. You have to realize what you are putting in your body. That took me four years to learn”, said Francis.

She knows fitness is healing and is something she talks about on her podcast, voicing body positive and macro conscious concepts to her followers.

“I used to be on antidepressants, I stopped taking them because working out is what heals me and makes me feel better. I do not believe in putting something in my body that is not necessary”, said Francis.

Eating healthy is a lifestyle for Nichole Francis and is something she plans to stay conscious about. She believes fitness is an on-going process, and she’s not afraid to gain a little weight or enjoy some french fries once in a while.