Tracey Loughran on a compassionate approach to sustainable, healthy eating.
With an infinite passion for communicating on health issues, and a deep compassion for others, Taste Success director, Tracey Loughran, has a reputation for making a profound difference to people’s lives.
Taste Success offers a range of nutrition programmes including the Foundation Programme, Refresh Programme, and Gut, Skin and Vegan Programmes. A trained naturopath, Tracey Loughran also has 16 years of clinical practice under her belt that has given her the skills to develop and direct the amazing team at Taste Success.
What advice would you give someone who knows they need to make change to their eating habits but doesn’t know where to begin?
That’s our favourite scenario! We work with overwhelmed people all the time, and take a ‘meet-you-where-you’re-at’ approach to getting started. In our initial interview, we ask a lot of questions about your current situation, habits, health, and so on, to find a place to start that is achievable for you. This might be just getting breakfasts sorted or getting into a habit of having dinner’s leftover for lunch the next day. We’re respectful and realistic.
What do you think is the most common and/or biggest challenge people face when beginning their journeys towards creating a healthy lifestyle change?
Confidence, and these days overwhelm. Very often people are so confused by conflicting information or have tried many things before without success. My goal when writing these programmes was to ensure they were achievable by everybody. At the time, I was parenting, running an organic farm, an integrated health centre, a clinical practice, and was co-director in an organic store!
What are some of the key factors that ensure making a healthy lifestyle change is achievable and sustainable in the long term, particularly when compared to fad diets?
Long-term sustainability is so very important to us. Our model is not built around hooking people into continually buying products or services from us. We teach skills and provide one-to-one regular support. Our goal is food confidence – along with all the wonderful health benefits that brings of course! Our clients almost invariably experience improved energy, better sleep quality, reduced cravings, improved digestion, and better hormone balance. Just with food! We really help you get organised and stay there, with our meal plans, shopping lists, and weekly healthy living tips – it’s setting you up to do this for yourself for the long term.
With a speaking tour and a recipe book launch, you’re so busy at present. How do you ensure you’re still eating well when on the move?
I learned, after the busiest time in my life and feeling exhausted, that healthy food is an absolute priority. When travelling, I always scope out healthy cafes if I have to eat on-the-go, but I mostly make food to take with me. Sunday mornings are non-negotiable food-prep sessions at my house. I get soups, salads and snacks all stacked up for the week ahead, and use our shopping lists to ensure I have what I need before starting.
A food-first approach to health has been such a strong focus of my practice over the years because I know how amazing it feels to be eating well regularly.
