Dietitian Leanne Ward reveals the five key health lessons she has learned

Healthy doesn’t have to be bland and you’re not eating enough vegetables are just two of the five health lessons a popular dietitian has learned after ‘eating consistently healthy for a decade’.

Leanne Ward of BrisbaneShe said that when she was younger, she used to constantly start and restart her health journey by trying to be perfect.

But then, when she turned 20, Leanne said she realized that true health is about doing things long term instead of four or eight weeks.

“There are five things I’ve learned throughout my journey that have allowed me to eat healthy on a consistent basis,” Leanne posted on Instagram.

1. Healthy doesn’t have to be boring or boring

The first thing Leanne said she learned is that eating healthy doesn’t have to be boring.

“You don’t have to be dissatisfied with healthy options,” he said.

‘Make healthier versions of your favorite takeaways’.

For example, Leanne likes to upsize a spaghetti bolognese with a few extra lentils and vegetables for added health.

He also makes his own healthy san choy bow and ‘fake’ curry and Thai food when you crave something unhealthy.

2. You don’t eat enough vegetables

The second lesson Leanne said she’s learned over the past decade is that no one eats enough vegetables.

While we all know we’re supposed to eat five fruits and vegetables a day, in reality, many of us eat much less.

“You may think you’re eating enough vegetables, but you’re really not,” Leanne said. ‘Eat more and make them taste good.’

You can spice things up like frying broccoli with garlic and butter, or liven up a boring salad with a delicious dressing.

Leanne is one of many health experts who believes you should be getting as many as 30 different plant sources in a week.

3. You need to plan to be successful

One of the key things to being healthy is having a plan, Leanne said, since it’s very difficult to make healthy choices when there are no healthy options available.

“Make it a priority to plan ahead for your nutrition,” she said.

Leanne always likes to prepare her meals when she is away from home, and regularly uses her dinner leftovers for lunch the next day to avoid buying unhealthy cafe food.

4. Consistency is king

Many of us feel guilty when we stray from the bandwagon with our diet, and then give up the entire week, which only serves to cement the poor diet.

But Leanne said it’s much better to be consistent than perfect.

“It’s okay to overeat sometimes, but don’t let it turn into a whole day, a weekend, a week or a whole month,” he said.

Enjoying your pizza and glass of wine without feeling guilty about it is key to a truly healthy relationship with food.

5. You don’t need to ‘greet’ everything you eat

Finally, Leanne said that not everything that passes your lips has to be inherently healthy.

“Eat Ben & Jerry’s, Domino’s pizza or almond croissant, it’s not inflammatory in small amounts,” he said.

However, if you’re going to indulge in a treat, the dietician recommends that you slow down, savor the item, and then “stop when you’re satisfied.”

“Always remember that balance means mostly whole foods and a dash of soul food of your choice,” she said.

Previously, Leanne revealed the secret to losing fat by eating more, and it’s all about what you can add rather than take away.

Leanne said her main meal should contain a high-fiber carbohydrate, a lean protein, a healthy fat, three or more colorful vegetables, and a small treat to finish.

Rather than extreme dieting, Leanne believes eating a balanced diet will result in long-term, sustainable fat loss and a healthy body.