Today, Katherine and Shelley dive deep into a topic so many parents are curious (and often overwhelmed) about: how food can influence your child’s behaviour and ADHD tendencies.

Shelley opens up about her personal journey with her eldest son—navigating low iron, gut issues, constant fatigue, and behavioural challenges—and how nutrition played a pivotal role in supporting his health and wellbeing. And Katherine shares her experience with Sunny’s big emotions and the rollercoaster of toilet training, giving another real-life glimpse into how food and nourishment can influence little ones in unexpected ways.

With a blend of lived experience as mums and clinical expertise as nutritionists, we unpack the powerful connection between what goes on the plate and how it can show up in mood, focus, energy, and behaviour. From hidden food triggers to nourishing nutrients that support calmer, more balanced little bodies, this is a conversation every parent will want to hear.

If you’ve ever wondered “Could what my child is eating be impacting their behaviour?”—this episode is for you.

✨ This week’s sponsors ✨

A big thank you to our sponsors who help keep these conversations flowing:

🌿 Chief Nutrition – Wholefood snacks made from real ingredients, perfect for busy mums and families on the go. No nasties, just nourishing fuel you can actually trust. Don’t forget to use the code barelybalanced at checkout for an exclusive discount.

🤰 Nourishing Your Bump – Our very own program designed to support you and your baby to thrive through pregnancy. With expert nutrition guidance, recipes, and resources, it’s everything you need to feel confident and supported on your pregnancy journey.

Ever wished you could sit down with an expert and ask all your burning IVF questions? In this episode, I do exactly that. I ask Katherine, who generously shares her wisdom, practical tips, and even sample meal plans to support you through your fertility journey.

These are your questions — the ones you left Katherine over on Instagram — answered in detail, with plenty of real-life, actionable advice you can start using right away. Whether you’re just starting IVF or already deep in the process, this episode is packed with insights to help you feel informed, empowered, and supported every step of the way.

This episode is proudly sponsored by:

✨ Chief Nutrition – Our go-to for clean, high-protein snacks that actually taste amazing. Their bars and beef jerky are made from real food ingredients you can trust — perfect for keeping energy steady through busy days (and long appointments). Use code BARELYBALANCED at checkout for 20% off your first order. Shop here.

✨ All Things Better – A carefully curated online wellness store bringing together the best in natural products, home essentials, and feel-good finds. They source brands that align with health, sustainability, and style, so you can shop knowing you’re choosing better for yourself, your family, and the planet. Explore their range.

Let’s talk about cortisol — the hormone that gets a bad rap but actually plays a vital role in keeping us alive and functioning.

In this episode, we’re unpacking the nuanced truth about cortisol — not just the stress-y headlines or wellness trends that love to villainise it. Because spoiler: you don’t always need to ‘fix’ your cortisol… sometimes you just need to understand it.

We’ll chat:

• The natural cortisol cycle and why we actually need it to survive

• What cortisol testing can (and can’t) tell you

• Whether your “low energy” is really a cortisol issue — or something else entirely

• The BS we see online about healing your hormones and “adrenal fatigue” quick fixes

• And most importantly — how to work with your cortisol, not against it

Whether you’re feeling burnt out, living in a coffee-fuelled cortisol loop, or just love a no-BS chat about hormones — this one’s for you.

Cortisol isn’t the enemy… but it might be trying to tell you something.

This weeks sponsors:

Chief Nutrition creates wholefood protein bars and snacks we actually recommend to our clients (and snack on ourselves). Think grass-fed beef bars, collagen bars, and genuinely nourishing options free from all the nasties.

Discount Code: barelybalanced

https://wearechief.com/

All Things Better is all about simple, thoughtful wellness products that actually make a difference to your everyday routine — from gut health support to daily essentials you’ll keep reaching for.

This week on the Barely Balanced Podcast, we sit down with the wonderful Solaine Douglas, a clinical nutritionist who specialises in women's health and hormones, to unpack a topic that so many women face — PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome). 🌿✨

In this episode, we explore:
💡 What PCOS actually is (spoiler: it’s more than just cysts on your ovaries!)
🧪 How it’s properly diagnosed (because it’s often misunderstood or missed)
🧘‍♀️ How to manage PCOS naturally — from nutrition and lifestyle to mindset and self-compassion
❓ Common myths and misconceptions that can leave women feeling confused or discouraged
❤️ Why a one-size-fits-all approach doesn’t work, and how to discover what your body truly needs

Whether you’re newly diagnosed, have been living with PCOS for years, or simply want to understand the condition better — this episode is packed with empowering, practical advice to help you take charge of your health.

Solaine’s compassionate, evidence-based perspective reminds us that PCOS doesn’t define you — and there are supportive, holistic ways to feel better in your body.

Tune in now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen! 🎧✨

Find Solaine here:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/solainedouglas_nutrition/

This week’s episode is proudly sponsored by two brands we absolutely adore:

🥩 Chief Nutrition – Wholefood, high-protein snacks made from grass-fed Aussie beef and sustainably sourced ingredients. Perfect for busy days when you need real food that actually nourishes (and tastes amazing). As nutritionists, we love Chief because there are no hidden nasties — just simple, clean, nutrient-dense fuel to keep your energy steady. Use the discount code ‘barelybalanced’ for a little extra love at checkout.

https://wearechief.com/

🌿 All Things Better – A brand after our own hearts, focusing on holistic wellness tools, lifestyle products and natural support for everyday wellbeing. Think beautiful, practical pieces that help you slow down, tune in and create small moments of calm in your busy day. We love how they make better living feel achievable, not overwhelming.

Supporting these brands supports the show — and they’re truly products and philosophies we’d stand behind any day of the week. Thanks for supporting us, so we can keep bringing you these conversations! ❤️✨

All Things Better

This week on the Barely Balanced Podcast, we sit down with the beautiful Kayla Gane — mum to little Vera and currently expecting baby number two!

Together, we dive into the real and raw sides of motherhood: how parenting styles can evolve, what it means to truly collaborate with your partner (even on the messy days), and the unexpected ways body image shifts as your family grows.

Kayla opens up about her journey, shares heartfelt insights, and reminds us all that there’s no one ‘right’ way to do this parenting thing — just the way that feels most authentic for your family.

It’s honest, funny, and deeply relatable — whether you’re a new mum, soon-to-be mum, or just love peeking behind the curtain of someone else’s motherhood story.

Tune in for a chat that feels like a warm cup of tea with friends.

Find Kayla:

• https://www.instagram.com/kaylaaaellieee/?hl=en

This week’s episode is brought to you by two brands we genuinely love and trust as nutritionists:

✨ Chief Nutrition — wholefood snacks made from real, nutrient-dense ingredients. What we adore about Chief is their commitment to keeping it real — no artificial nasties, no fillers, and a focus on high-quality Australian grass-fed meats and collagen. Perfect for busy days when you need a protein boost or a satisfying snack that actually supports your health, not just your hunger. Don't forget to use our discount code barelybalanced to save on your next order!

🤰 Nourishing Your Bump — our signature program designed to guide you through pregnancy and postpartum. It’s more than just nutrition advice; it’s a holistic resource that helps mums feel empowered, informed, and truly cared for. From trimester-specific nutrition tips and supplement guidance to postpartum recovery strategies, it’s everything we wish every mum had in one easy place. You can explore the program at: freedomwellness.com.au/nourishing-your-bump.

We love these brands because they share our philosophy: real food, real support, and real results.

This week on the Barely Balanced Podcast, we sit down with the incredible Tara Pavlovic (@tarapavlovic) for a beautifully raw and real conversation. 🌱✨

We dive into what it’s really like living with PCOS, the unexpected mental health struggles that can follow having children, and how Tara’s journey led her to rethink her relationship with alcohol. From feeling burnt out to rediscovering what truly matters, Tara shares openly about redefining her values and what it means to live fully and authentically — beyond the highlight reel.

It’s honest, unfiltered, at times tearful and at times hilarious — exactly how we like it. 💛

Hit play, pour yourself a cuppa (or a cheeky mocktail 😉), and get ready to feel seen, supported, and maybe a little inspired to pause and check in with your own journey.

Podcast Sponsors: 

This week’s show is proudly sponsored by Chief Nutrition — a brand we genuinely love for making wholefood snacks that are actually good for you (and your kids). Think: clean, high-protein collagen bars, savoury beef bars, and other real food products with no nasties. Perfect for busy mums, lunchboxes, or when you’re running between daycare drop-off and work.

Don’t forget to use our discount code barelybalanced at checkout for 20% off your order. Your snack drawer will thank you! 🫶

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome — the silent disease that so often gets overlooked, misdiagnosed, or dismissed entirely. In this deeply personal episode, we’re joined by the lovely Laura from @alifeworthnourishing to shed light on what it's really like living with chronic fatigue.

Laura shares her powerful story — from the years of confusion and exhaustion, to finally getting a diagnosis. She walks us through the tests she had to advocate for, the health history that shaped her journey, and what managing chronic fatigue looks like for her today.

If you've ever felt like something was "off" but no one was listening, this episode is for you. We talk gentle routines, self-compassion, navigating medical gaslighting, and what a day in Laura’s life actually looks like now.

Whether you’re personally dealing with fatigue or supporting someone who is, this episode will leave you feeling seen, validated, and more informed.

This week’s show sponsor is Chief Nutrition
Use code BARELYBALANCED at checkout for 20% off their range of wholefood protein bars and snacks – perfect for busy mums on the go.

This week on the pod, we’re joined by fellow Nutritionist and all-round legend Malissa Fedele.
Malissa is passionate about helping women feel more balanced, calm, and connected — and in this episode, we dive deep into the beautiful intersection of food and mood.

We chat about:
• How your daily food choices can influence your mood and mental clarity
• Whether food alone is enough to support your mental health
• The role of supplements — when they’re helpful and which ones to consider
• How to work with cortisol, not against it
• Simple lifestyle tips to support your nervous system
• How to tune in to your body and spot the signs that stress is taking a toll

Find Malissa here:
www.malissafedele.com
@malissafedele on Instagram

This episode is proudly sponsored by:
✨ Nourishing Your Bump — our signature program to support you and your baby on the journey from pregnancy to postpartum. Learn more at: freedomwellness.com.au/nourishing-your-bump
🥩 Chief Nutrition — clean, high-protein snacks made with real food. Use code barelybalanced for 20% off at wearechief.com

In today’s episode, we catch up with Katherine to chat all things second trimester.

• How has she really been feeling?
• What symptoms have popped up (hello chronic constipation and insomnia)?
• As a nutritionist, she shares the shifts she’s made to her food and supplement routine
• plus we dive into the key blood tests worth considering during this stage of pregnancy.

Whether you're in your second trimester or just curious about what’s to come, this chat is both informative and reassuring. Plus we share lots of lifestyle tips to support your sleep, night routine and why that is so important.

Episode Sponsor:
A huge thank you to Chief Nutrition for supporting this episode. We’re longtime fans of their clean, high-protein snacks (hello collagen bars 👋).

Use the code BARELYBALANCED for 20% off at wearechief.com.

In this episode, we’re joined by the brilliant Laura, fellow Nutritionist from Chief Nutrition, to deep dive into all things collagen.

This is a must-listen for anyone wanting to support their gut, joints, skin, and overall wellbeing—without the fluff. Laura brings the facts, cuts through the noise, and gives you practical, no-BS insights into how collagen can (or can’t) play a role in your health journey.

We chat about:

• What collagen actually is and how it functions in the body

• The key benefits of collagen for gut health, skin, joints, hair, and nails

• The different types of collagen (Type I, II, III) and which to look for

• How to read a collagen product label and avoid marketing fluff

• Collagen as we age—why it’s especially supportive as we age into our 30's and beyond.

• The best ways to incorporate collagen into your daily routine

• Debunking common collagen myths and misinformation

• Laura’s top tips on choosing a high-quality collagen supplement

• Why Chief’s approach to collagen is different (and better!)

Check out Chief Nutrition:
🌐 Website: wearechief.com
📱 Instagram: @wearechief

✨ Use our exclusive code BARELYBALANCED at checkout for 20% off your order!