Barely Balanced

In this honest and informative episode, Katherine and I sit down to catch up on how her second and third trimesters have been so far. From navigating tests and blood work to understanding what’s truly necessary, we unpack some of the most common (and confusing) parts of pregnancy care.

We dive deep into gestational diabetes and the glucose tolerance test (GTT) — do you really have to do it, and what are the alternatives if you’d prefer not to? We also discuss the GBS swab, how to advocate for yourself when it comes to routine testing, and practical ways to support your vaginal microbiome if you do receive a positive result.

Iron levels are another big topic in this chat — we explore why they tend to drop during the second and third trimesters, how to interpret your results, and our honest thoughts on iron infusions, including when they can be helpful and when other options might be worth considering.

This episode is a down-to-earth look at pregnancy from both a personal and clinical perspective, offering insight, reassurance, and a few light-hearted laughs along the way.

Related Episode:
Dr Lily Nichols – Gestational Diabetes: What You Need to Know

Show Sponsors:
This episode is proudly brought to you by Comfy Koalas, our go-to low-tox nappy and wipe brand. If you haven’t tried their subscription boxes yet, they’re a total game changer — no more running out of nappies mid-week. You can get $35 off your first box with the code BARELYBALANCED, which pretty much means two free bags of nappies.

https://comfykoalas.com.au

It’s also brought to you by Chief Nutrition — the brand we’re a little bit obsessed with. Their clean, high-protein snacks are made from real food, nothing fake or processed, and they actually taste amazing. Whether it’s their beef bars, collagen bars, or liver capsules, we’re huge fans. Use the code BARELYBALANCED for 20% off your order.

Today we’re joined by the wonderful Deborah Freudenmann  naturopath, author, and mum who is passionate about root-cause health and disease prevention. In this episode, Deborah shares her personal story of living with type 1 diabetes, navigating postpartum stress and anxiety, and what she’s learned about the profound impact stress has on our bodies. We dive into why stress regulation is more than “calming down” it’s disease prevention and how to build your own personal toolkit for resilience.

We chat all things:
• Deborah’s personal journey with stress and motherhood
• What actually happens in the body under chronic stress
• Why supplements and one-size-fits-all toolkits don’t work
• How to experiment and find the stress tools that are truly yours
• The invisible link between a mother’s regulation and her child’s
• Simple, realistic practices to weave into your day

You can connect with Deborah on Instagram

• @deborah_108 (https://www.instagram.com/deborah_108/)
•  https://youtrulyshine.com 
• You can also join her free weekly Wellness Letters here (https://youtrulyshine.com/pages/newslettersignup) And explore her newest eBook A Holistic Approach to Stress here (https://youtrulyshine.com/products/a-holistic-approach-to-stress-ebook) 150+ pages of education, insights, checklists, and tools to reset your nervous system.

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.

This week on the podcast we’re joined by the amazing Leah Itsines – recipe developer, cookbook author, businesswoman, and mum. Leah is passionate about making healthy eating simple, realistic, and enjoyable for busy families, and she’s built a thriving community by keeping food approachable and fun.

In this episode we chat about:

• Leah’s current pregnancy journey and how she’s feeling

• Her birth plans and mindset as she prepares

• Postpartum preparation and the support she’s putting in place

• Nutrition for mums – keeping food simple, balanced, and realistic

• Children’s nutrition and her tips for feeding little ones well

• Finding balance between health, family, and real life

  
  

  ✨ Connect with Leah Itsines

  • Instagram: @leahitsines

  • Website: www.leahitsines.com.au

  
  

  Our Sponsors

  • Comfy Koalas – Eco-friendly, super soft nappies delivered straight to your door. Use code BARELYBALANCED for $35 off your first order – that’s basically like getting 3 bags of nappies for free! 🌿 www.comfykoalas.com

  • Chief Nutrition – Wholefood snacks packed with protein and nutrients to keep you fuelled and energised. Use code BARELYBALANCED for 20% off. 🍫 www.chiefnutrition.com

  • Nourishing Your Bump – The online support system you need through pregnancy and postpartum. Expert guidance, practical tools, and real mum-to-mum advice to help you feel supported every step of the way. 🤰 www.freedomwellness.com.au/nourishing-your-bump

  
  

We’re joined by Dr Rob McLeod, a Specialist General Paediatrician based in the Illawarra, who works across Wollongong Public and Private Hospitals and runs a busy private clinic, Friendly Paediatrics. Dr Rob is also the Co-Founder of AllerStart, Australia’s first allergen introduction product, designed to make introducing allergens to babies simple and stress-free — helping reverse the rise of food allergies in Australia, where rates are among the highest in the world.

In this episode, we dive into the essentials of introducing allergens to babies, including:

• Why timing matters – the best age to start allergen introduction and how it can impact allergy prevention
• Step-by-step guidance – practical tips on how to introduce common allergens safely at home
• Identifying signs and symptoms of a food allergen.
• Confidence in feeding – how to overcome anxiety and feel empowered during allergen introduction
• Practical tools – how products like AllerStart and Le Puree make the process simple, safe, and stress-free

We’ll also be sharing an exclusive launch offer for all of you parents who are navigating the food introduction stage with your child/ren. 

This episode is proudly sponsored by:

✨ AllerStart Kit + Le Puree - First Bites Single Ingredient Veggie & Fruit Purees as an “Allergen Introduction Bundle” for $60. Developed by paediatricians, GPs, dietitians, and food scientists, this is the first allergen kit to include fish and shellfish and introduces the top 11 allergens. Made with real food rather than processed ingredients, it’s designed to be simple and stress-free — just sprinkle, mix, and serve, with no guesswork or overwhelm.

✨ 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.

Today we’re pulling back the curtain on our everyday lives as nutritionists — sharing the healthy habits we’ve built for ourselves and our families that now run on autopilot. These aren’t overwhelming “all-or-nothing” routines, just simple, sustainable practices that add up to a big difference over time.

Think of this episode as a little peek inside our kitchens, pantries, and daily rhythms. Grab your notepad, because you might hear something you’ll want to try yourself. And remember, building habits takes time — give yourself at least 12 weeks to let the positive ones outweigh the old patterns.

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.

Creatine isn’t just for gym junkies and bodybuilders — but is it really all it’s cracked up to be? In this episode of Barely Balanced, we’re breaking down creatine from a clinical nutritionist’s perspective.

We’ll cover:

• What creatine actually is (spoiler: your body already makes it!)

• The science-backed benefits beyond muscle growth

• Common myths that need to be left in the 90s

• How to dose it safely (and whether you really need to “load”)

• What to look for in a quality brand

If you’ve been curious about whether creatine deserves a place in your daily routine — or you’ve been side-eyeing that white powder in the supplement aisle — this chat is for you.

Show Sponsors:

Chief NutritionWe love Chief products because they do what so many bars and snacks on the market don’t: they use real, wholefood ingredients that actually nourish your body. No weird additives, no hidden nasties — just nutrient-dense, high-quality fuel that gets our clinical nutritionist tick of approval. Perfect for busy days, post-gym snacks, or keeping mum-life energy steady.
👉 Check them out at www.wearechief.com.au and use code barelybalanced for 20% off your order.

All Things BetterSupplements that actually work. All Things Better takes the confusion out of supplementation by focusing on evidence-based, high-quality formulas that deliver results without the fluff. When we say better, we mean it.

www.allthingsbetter.com.au

Today we’re joined by the incredible Laura from @alifeworthnourishing and @chiefnutrition. Laura is a Nutritionist who has made a name for herself with her pack-flipping content and honest product reviews across social media.

In this episode, she takes us behind the labels – teaching us what to look out for on the back of a packet, how certain ingredients can impact the way we feel, and her best tips for navigating the supermarket shelves with confidence.

We chat all things:

• What sneaky ingredients to look out for when reading food labels

• How additives and preservatives can affect your mood, energy and gut health

• Marketing tricks that make products seem “healthy” when they’re not

• Simple swaps to make your weekly shop healthier (without blowing the budget)

• Laura’s favourite go-to products and brands she trusts

You can connect with Laura over on Instagram @alifeworthliving and via her website: https://www.alifeworthnourishing.com/

Recipes we mentioned:

• Carrot Cake Muffins
• Marshmallow

Nourished Ebook

Podcast Sponsor:

This episode is proudly sponsored by Chief Nutrition. As always, we only share brands we personally love and trust. Use the discount code BARELYBALANCED at checkout to save on your next order.

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.