When a fitness expert or celebrity shares their day on a plate it is often unrealistic, overly strict or far too difficult to replicate.
So when a fitness professional shares a diet that is both tasty and simple, it is worth sharing far and wide.
Enter Lizzie Bland, a gym owner and personal trainer from Bondi, New South Wales.
Speaking to nutritionist Jessica Sepel, the Lean Bean founder shared her healthy (and very achievable) day on a plate – and she’s never cooked a meal that takes more than 15 minutes to make.
When a fitness professional shares a diet that is both tasty and simple, it is worth sharing far and wide
Enter Lizzie Bland, a gym owner and personal trainer from Bondi, New South Wales
As soon as Ms Bland wakes in the morning, the very first thing she does is down a litre or more of water.
‘If I don’t do this, I guarantee I’ll be tired and not switched on to teach the morning classes. I’ll then head to the studio with a flask of lemon water to drink while taking sessions that start at 5:45,’ she said.
Ms Bland will then enjoy breakfast at 7.30am which is usually ‘milky’ porridge with cinnamon, fruit (whatever is at home) and a few spoonfuls of peanut butter before drinking a cup of dandelion tea.
Ms Bland enjoys breakfast at 7.30am which is usually ‘milky’ porridge with cinnamon, fruit and a few spoonfuls of peanut butter before drinking a cup of dandelion tea
For a snack, Ms Bland has a coffee and an apple at around 10.30am and always has fruit, vegetable sticks and popcorn in her bag in case she needs an emergency snack between fitness sessions
For a snack, Ms Bland has a coffee and an apple at around 10.30am and always has fruit, vegetable sticks and popcorn in her bag in case she needs an emergency snack between fitness sessions.
At lunch time she will either order a healthy salad at a cafe with dressing on the side or steam up some vegetables and have them with sweet potato (pre-roasted) with either a can of sardines or cooked beans.
‘Salt, chilli and olive oil are always the star of the show,’ she said.
At lunch time she will either order a healthy salad at a cafe with dressing on the side or steam up some vegetables and have them with sweet potato (pre-roasted) with either a can of sardines or cooked beans
Pictured is one of her ‘one minute meals’ – a salad made with beans, sardines and seeds
Her afternoon pre-workout snack is usually a bowl of melon and for dinner, some of her favourites include bean pasta with roasted zucchini in tomato sauce or Asian tofu stir fry.
Ms Bland does enjoy dessert however, and will have chocolate (usually higher cocoa kinds) as an after-dinner treat.
‘I don’t think I’ve ever cooked a meal that’s not ready in less than 15 minutes as I’m too impatient. Bed time is 8:30pm whenever possible – I’m not alive without a good eight hours,’ she said.
And when it comes to the three foods she can’t live without?
Her afternoon pre-workout snack is usually a bowl of melon and for dinner, some of her favourites include bean pasta with roasted zucchini in tomato sauce or Asian tofu stir fry
Ms Bland will often get a healthy salad while she’s out like the peri peri chicken one above – although she always asks for dressing on the side
‘Fruit (all varieties), peanut butter (crunchy salted only) and porridge oats,’ she concluded.
Taking to her blog previously, Ms Bland said she is against dieting and believes that people should just eat ‘good food’.
‘The food we fuel our bodies with is what’s going to make up 80 per cent of our results. No matter how many burpees we do, if we’re still eating the wrong foods our bodies aren’t going to change,’ she said.
‘It’s best to eat after your workout so our stomach isn’t trying to digest food. When we eat a big meal, our stomach needs blood to help it digest; just like our muscles need it when we workout.
Taking to her blog previously, Ms Bland said she is against dieting and simply believes that people should just eat ‘good food’
‘If you start working out after a big meal, our tummies will stop digesting. This will often make you feel sick, especially when those burpees come around!’
In order to get the best results, she said, eat 30 – 45 minutes after your workout to get the most out of the meal.
‘After the workout is when your body needs those nutrients to start recovery,’ she said.
‘Eat proteins to give your muscles the amino acids needed to repair, complex carbs to build up glycogen used as energy during a workout, vegetables to get your vitamins, minerals and fibre in and healthy fats to nourish the body.’