A fitness star and the co-founder of the celebrity-loved Pilates program Vive Active in Sydney has shared her diet and exercise secrets, including eating fat with every meal and enjoying a little bit of what she loves.
Nutritionist, cookbook author and foodie Louise Keats said she is all about eating a diverse range of plants, sustainable fish, grass-fed meat and prebiotic foods.
But Louise also believes that we shouldn’t turn our backs on foods we have ‘happily eaten for generations’, like butter and cheese.
A fitness star and the co-founder of the celebrity-loved Pilates program Vive Active in Sydney has shared her diet and exercise secrets (Louise Keats pictured)
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Louise (left) strongly believes that we shouldn’t turn our backs on foods we have ‘happily eaten for generations’, like butter and cheese (right: her macaroni cheese)
‘My wonderful Grandma, who lived to 94 despite eating all the “wrong” foods, taught me a hugely valuable lesson,’ Louise told FEMAIL.
‘You often can’t trust nutrition fads. She never traded butter for margarine, and, despite the warnings of her cardiologist (who she outlived), she never gave up her favourite triple cream Brie.’
Louise said you will therefore always find butter and cheese in her fridge, and she enjoys it ‘liberally’ as part of a balanced diet in meals like homemade macaroni cheese.
The nutritionist – who splits her time between Sydney and the Southern Highlands – said she never counts calories and has porridge for breakfast with fruit (pictured), as well as eggs
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Louise puts some healthy fat with every single meal and enjoys a diverse range of vegetables, along with organic eggs, grass-fed meat and sustainable seafood (typical meals pictured)
When it comes to her day on a plate, the nutritionist – who splits her time between Sydney and the Southern Highlands – said she never counts calories:
‘I have breakfast with my two children every morning, and it usually comprises porridge and fruit followed by eggs,’ Louise said.
‘I try to mix up how I cook them to my kids don’t get bored – scrambled or a quick omelette if we’re in a rush, or poached or soft-boiled if I have a few extra minutes.’
Louise likes to use the mornings to eat with her children, especially seeing as she can’t always control what they eat once they get to school.
Lunch is typically enjoyed after a workout.
Louise said she will usually raid their vegetable garden for fresh salad greens, homegrown cherry tomatoes and shallots.
‘My husband and I will add some protein to that, whether it’s some grilled chicken thigh (it has twice the iron and zinc of breast) or some wild salmon or quality sardines,’ she said.
During winter, this might be adapted to homemade vegetable soups.
‘For dinner, we’re really lucky to have access to incredible grass-fed meats from local farmers, so we’ll often have a Highlands steak with roasted vegetables or an osso bucco,’ Louise said.
‘We also have a local fishmonger, who brings fresh seafood from the coast three days a week, so on those days we’ll have fresh oysters or fish with plenty of greens.’
‘I love fat – our brain in particular needs it,’ Louise (pictured) said, revealing she adds healthy fats like avocado to a smoothie
Louise does not deny herself a piece or two of dark chocolate for dessert when she wants it either.
She also makes sure to include fat with every meal:
‘I love fat – our brain in particular needs it,’ Louise said.
‘But I try to only it from extra Virgin olive oils, butter, avocado, oily fish and grass-fed meat.
‘The amount of toxic oil and added sugar that is in so many supermarket packaged product is quite shocking.’
Louise (pictured) said you need to find a workout you love, as this means you will do it regularly; she loves to do reformer Pilates several times a week
Louise (pictured at home) likes to eat as many wholefoods and avoids packaged foods as much as possible
The founder of Vive also shared her fitness and well-being secrets.
Louise said the best thing you can do is eat wholefoods as much as possible, and limit factory or packaged items:
‘Foods that are high in prebiotics help to feed the good bacteria in your gut are key,’ she said.
‘Asparagus, cashew nuts, beetroot and Jerusalem artichokes are all top picks.
‘I think if you’re looking to be healthy, then you should eat a range of varied plant-based foods that come from lots of colours.
‘I add sustainable seafood, organic eggs and meat to my diet and feel that really works for me.’
Louise couples this with regular workouts.
She practises Pilates at Vive once or twice a week, which makes her feel ‘stronger in every muscle’.
She also does two weights sessions, as well as a five kilometre community Park Run every Saturday with her kids.
‘Moving and getting your heart rate up every day is linked to so much – from optimal mental health to longevity, improved sleep and better bone density,’ Louise said.
‘The best exercise you can do is one you’ll love because you’ll actually stick to it.’
Louise is a nutritionist, cookbook author and the co-founder of Vive Active Pilates studios in Sydney. For more information about Vive, please click here.