MasterChef judge Melissa Leong reveals why she didn’t take a holiday  off from work for FOUR YEARS

She’s one of the friendliest faces on Australian TV. 

But even Melissa Leong has experienced the harsh reality of mental ‘burnout’.  

The 39-year-old MasterChef judge penned a piece in The Daily Telegraph on the topic on Saturday, after returning from her first vacation in more than four years.

Melissa admitted there was a ‘shameful pride’ when it came to taking a break from working, before also fessing up about her ‘burnout’ moment.

‘I started asking myself why I found it so hard to admit that I was doing something purely for enjoyment’s sake,’ she wrote.

Melissa suggested that coming from a migrant family, like her own, or an Australian family, there’s a need to justify having a break with family over continuing to work.

‘We wear being busy like a badge of honour and consider not having time for recreation and recuperation as an indication of success,’ Melissa explained.

The celebrity chef acknowledged that Australians suffer some of the highest work burnout rates in the world, before reflecting on her own experiences. 

Melissa had her own ‘burnout’ moment a few years ago, where she was working a job in food that she loved a little too much. 

‘It was a one-two punch that stopped me in my tracks for a while. And yet there I was, at it again,’ she said.

At the time, she took a few  much-needed days off, which she said was beyond liberating. 

According to the Channel Ten star, practicing self-care is more than just treating herself to an indulgent meal, glass of wine or even a face mask.

The outing comes after Melissa revealed what she and fellow MasterChef judges  Andy Allen and Jock Zonfrillo eat while filming the show.  

Melissa told the Herald Sun the trio are partial to toasted sandwiches. 

‘Often we make a round of breakfast jaffles for ourselves and the team, and if we’re shooting long hours, they usually make a return later in the day,’ she said.