The present 1st person plural, as it indicates, is used for present actions, for example, Normalmente nosotros hablamos de comida, (an action that occurs normally or even in the moment when the conversation is happening)
The preterite is used for past actions, for example, Ayer nosotros hablamos de comida (an action that happened in the past).
You will be able to identify it looking at the context.