'Healthy doesn't have to be hard': Busting dieting myths

Busting every excuse to shed those extra kilos, the dietitian Leanne Ward says healthy doesn't have to be hard.

"It doesn't have to be expensive, it doesn't have to be boring," she said.

Ms Ward's diet almost sounds too good to be true.

She's got 200,000 followers and counting, many who aren't even cutting back.

Her top tip - you can eat more!

"So we can eat this whole plate of healthy colourful snacks for less calories than one of these popular chocolate bars," Ms Ward said.

Carbs aren't out either. You can eat them at any time of the day, as long as it's in moderation.

"We've got about a quarter of a plate of our carbs, a quarter of a plate of some protein, but the most important part of our plate is our non-starchy veggies," she said.

That's the biggest problem, according to Brisbane's "fitness dietitian".

We're simply not planning ahead and eating enough nutrient dense foods.

"I've got things like my overnight oats here ... also got some high protein yoghurt, and some boiled eggs I can snack on as well," she adds.

Meal prepping is key.

We should also avoid drinking our calories, when food will keep you fuller for longer.

Protein's another big misconception. Ms Ward says most of us are eating enough, we're just overindulging at the wrong time of day.

Her best advice is to try have a small portion of protein likes eggs or chicken in every meal - not just at dinner.

"It's a really important nutrient for weight loss. It helps to support our muscle stores which in turn support our metabolism," Ms Ward said.

It's all about getting the basics right and getting to know your own body.

"So what works for your best friend or your neighbour or the guy at work might not necessarily work for you and your body type," she adds.

You can find more of Leanne's tips on her Fitness Dietitian website.