Everything a heart health dietitian eats in a week, including plant-based protein sources and 'joy foods'

"As a registered dietitian, Lena Beal first learned about nutrition from her own family. "My great-grandparents were farmers, so they grew nearly everything they ate, made their own preserves, the whole thing," Beal, a cardiovascular dietitian at Piedmont Atlanta Hospital and spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, told Business Insider. Her roots inspired her profession. "It was generational wisdom," she said. "The foods that give us the most nutrients, the most pleasure, they're the most sustainable and practical.""

"Once a week, Beal eats what she calls "joy foods": things she enjoys, like sweets and alcohol, which are best consumed in moderation. A Christian, Beal links joy foods to her Sabbath, or day of rest. Eating her joy foods on Sundays is her version of the 80/20 diet, helping her stay on track with eating mostly heart-healthy foods - with the occasional treats. "That way, I can enjoy them intentionally, but without feeling like I'm constantly negotiating with myself," she said."

Lena Beal is a cardiovascular dietitian who learned nutrition from family farming traditions. Her family grew and preserved much of their food, inspiring a focus on nutrient-dense, pleasurable, sustainable foods. Her regular diet is minimally processed and plant-packed, with occasional chicken, fish, and eggs. She prioritizes hearty, fiber-rich, high-omega-3 foods for cardiovascular health. Once a week she consumes "joy foods" such as sweets and alcohol, treating Sunday as a day of rest and intentional indulgence. The weekly indulgence functions like an 80/20 approach, allowing flexibility while maintaining mostly heart-healthy eating habits.

Read at Business Insider