The Nutrition Couch

Most Australians buy crumbed chicken from the supermarket regularly. Very few have any idea that some of those products contain as little as 28% actual chicken. This week Leanne and Susie go through every major supermarket crumbed chicken product on the Australian market, from Woolworths and Coles to Aldi and the big brands like Ingham's and Steggles, and rank them by actual chicken content. The results are genuinely surprising, and not always in the way you would expect. Then they cover new CSIRO research on protein needs for women in the menopausal transition, and the specific data point that explains why so many women are eating well but still not seeing the results they are looking for. In this episode: Every major supermarket crumbed chicken product ranked by percentage of actual chicken: the Woolworths products that come out on top, the Coles products that disappoint, the Aldi chicken schnitzel with only 28% chicken, and why the price you pay does not predict the quality you get Why Ingham's and Steggles crumbed products consistently fall short, and the one Steggles product Susie does recommend that is almost impossible to find outside of Costco Why crumbing chicken at home is always the better nutritional choice, what to use instead of standard supermarket breadcrumbs, and Susie's Bergen soy linseed crumb method The difference between a thin crust and a thick batter schnitzel and why it matters for the chicken percentage you are actually getting New CSIRO analysis of over 1,300 women in midlife: why most women in the menopausal transition are falling 35 grams short of optimal daily protein intake, what 1.2 grams per kilogram of body weight looks like in practice, and why breakfast and lunch are where women consistently fall short Why swapping dairy milk for oat milk and Greek yogurt for coconut yogurt can quietly remove 20 or more grams of protein from your day without you noticing The Alinas Bakehouse Seeded Brown Rice Gluten-Free Crackers reviewed: 52% seeds, five clean ingredients, almost three grams of fiber per serve, and why Susie is giving them five out of five Is it better to exercise in two 15-minute sessions or one 30-minute session? The research on accumulated daily movement, why the answer changes depending on whether your goal is cardiovascular health or strength building, and why the best routine is the one you will actually do consistently. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

GLP-1 medications are now so widely used that most people know someone who is on them or have been tempted to try them themselves. But the questions that come with these medications, how long, how much, what happens when you stop, and what about the black market options circulating online, rarely get answered clearly. This week Leanne and Susie work through the most frequently asked questions they receive about GLP-1 medications, with straight clinical answers rather than pharmaceutical company talking points. They also cover a brand new 2026 study on pork and weight loss that will reassure anyone who has been told they have to give up pork to lose weight. In this episode: Do you have to stay on GLP-1 medications forever? Susie's clinical answer, who actually needs long-term use versus who can come off them, and the weaning strategy she uses with clients Who these medications are and are not appropriate for: the specific thresholds around body weight, waist measurement, and family history that Susie uses before recommending them to a client How to prevent muscle mass loss on GLP-1 medications, why some degree of muscle loss is unavoidable in a calorie deficit, and why extreme calorie restriction makes this significantly worse Why rapid weight loss on GLP-1 medications causes the face and neck changes people are calling Ozempic face, and why slower, more gradual weight loss over six to twelve months is the better approach for every reason How to still enjoy food on these medications: why controlling the dose is the key, and what it should feel like when the medication is working properly Why retatrutide is not approved in Australia, what the TGA has said, and why the black market version being sold through beauty clinics and informal networks is not safe under any circumstances A brand new May 2026 study published in the Journal of Nutrition and Diabetes: what happened when habitual pork consumers followed a structured weight loss program, why 5.3% body weight loss is considered clinically significant, and what it means for how you think about pork in a healthy diet Why lean pork cuts are an underrated budget-friendly protein source, and Leanne's two favourite ways to cook pork that stretch a $20 to $22 cut into ten to twelve meals The Woolworths Potato Utopia duck fat potatoes reviewed: 91% potato, 2.9% duck fat, 188 milligrams of sodium, and a surprisingly modest nutritional profile for what is essentially an indulgent frozen side dish Is granola healthy? The honest answer, what to look for on the label, why portion size matters more than the granola itself, and the specific brands Susie reaches for See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Inflammation is everywhere right now. On Instagram, in wellness spaces, in your DMs. Everything from weight gain to brain fog to sore joints is being blamed on cortisol and chronic inflammation, and a growing number of people are convinced they cannot exercise, eat in a calorie deficit, or live normally because it will make their inflammation worse. So is any of this true? And is an anti-inflammatory diet actually a real thing? This week Leanne and Susie take on one of the biggest buzzwords in nutrition right now and give it a proper evidence-based look. They unpack what inflammation actually is and why the way it is being described online is often completely inaccurate, what the research on polyphenols and anthocyanins actually shows, and which foods are genuinely worth prioritising if reducing inflammation is your goal. This episode is proudly brought to you by Queen Garnet, Australia's antioxidant plum. Leanne and Susie share the research behind Queen Garnet throughout this episode, and you can find the full range at queengarnet.com. In this episode: The two types of inflammation and why they are completely different: why acute inflammation from exercise, injury, or illness is a normal and healthy response, and what chronic low-grade inflammation actually looks like and why it develops Why a single weekend of eating badly, a glass of wine, or a slice of pizza is not putting your body into a chronic inflammatory state, and the specific lifestyle patterns that do contribute to inflammation over time The misinformation that is actively harming people: why telling someone with PCOS that they cannot exercise or diet because it spikes cortisol and causes inflammation is not only incorrect but counterproductive Why the Mediterranean dietary pattern consistently outperforms every other approach when it comes to reducing inflammatory markers, and the specific foods driving that result A review of a randomized, double-blind controlled trial on Queen Garnet plum juice: what happened to blood vessel function and vascular inflammatory markers when participants consumed a high antioxidant juice alongside a high fat meal, even in a single meal occasion A 12-week randomized controlled trial on anthocyanin-rich foods and adipose tissue function: what researchers found about how polyphenol-rich whole foods may influence metabolic processes in fat tissue and why this matters for metabolic health What anthocyanins and polyphenols actually are, which foods contain the highest concentrations, and why the bright red, purple, and orange colours in fruits and vegetables are a direct indicator of antioxidant content The Queen Garnet Antioxidant Plum Nectar reviewed: why it has approximately six times the antioxidant content of blueberries, how to use it, who it is most beneficial for, and where to find it year-round when the fresh fruit is out of season. Available at queengarnet.com, with a 20% saving on subscription Practical daily habits that genuinely shift inflammatory pathways: extra-virgin olive oil, walnuts, herbs and spices, green tea, brightly coloured vegetables, and the case for seven to ten serves of fresh produce every day. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fast food chains are now launching burgers with 80 grams of protein and calling it high performance. But is that actually good for you, or has the protein craze officially gone too far? This week Leanne and Susie answer the question the fitness industry does not want to talk about: how much protein is actually too much, what your body does with the excess, and why the race to push protein higher in every product on the market is starting to work against the very goals it claims to support. Then they cover a brand new study published in JAMA Network Open that identified two very different dietary patterns linked to weight management through the menopausal years, including one that most people have never heard of and that contradicts almost everything being said about menopause diets online right now. In this episode: The new Grilled High Performance burger range: 80 grams of protein, over 700 calories, and why Leanne thinks even her beloved Grilled has gone too far with this one How much protein the body can actually utilise in a single meal, why the old 30-gram rule has been updated by recent research, and what happens to protein calories your body does not need Why small women are often overdoing protein at the expense of good fats, and why the macronutrient ratio matters as much as the total protein number A brand new 12-year study of over 38,000 women from the Nurses Health Study published in JAMA Network Open: the two dietary patterns most effective at preventing weight gain through the menopausal years, and why their results are surprisingly contradictory The planetary health diet and the low insulinaemic diet: what they actually are, how differently they approach carbohydrate and fat, and what Susie thinks the contrasting results reveal about the two main metabolic subtypes in perimenopause and menopause Why there is still no single magic menopause diet, and why working with a dietitian to personalise macronutrient ratios to your own glucose regulation and metabolic response remains the most effective approach A high-fiber vanilla custard from the South Australian Gourmet Food Company reviewed: who this product is actually for, why inulin is not Leanne's favourite fiber type for digestive health, and why she would reach for kiwi fruit or oats first How to take collagen and creatine consistently every day without having to force yourself to drink a shake: the coffee method, the yogurt method, the supplement stack, and why the research really does require eight to twelve weeks of daily use before results appear Why collagen peptides dissolve perfectly well in hot drinks despite what you may have heard, and the simple trick for avoiding clumping See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you have switched to oat milk because you think it is healthier than dairy, this episode has some important information for you. And if you saw Miranda Kerr's diet advice doing the rounds in the media this week, Leanne and Susie have thoughts. This week the team does a full ranking of every milk on the market, from full cream dairy to oat, soy, almond, coconut, and the new high-protein dairy milks, covering protein, calcium, fortification, what to check on the label, and who each one is actually best suited to. Then they respond to Miranda Kerr's widely covered restrictive diet recommendations with the specific nutritional corrections the media cycle did not bother to include. In this episode: Every milk ranked by protein, calcium, and overall nutritional quality: dairy milk, soy, oat, almond, coconut, high-protein dairy blends, and why the answer to which is healthiest is not what most people assume Why oat milk is higher in carbohydrate, lower in protein, and often sweetened without people realising, and why the barista varieties from cafes are frequently not calcium-fortified at all Why soy milk is Leanne's personal choice and her preferred dairy alternative for clients, including the phytoestrogen angle for women in perimenopause and menopause The one thing to always check when buying any plant milk, why 300 milligrams of calcium per cup is the number to look for, and what most people are missing when they pick up almond milk thinking it is a nutritious swap Miranda Kerr's diet recommendations fact-checked: no eggs, no kale, no sushi, no salmon, no sourdough, venison for breakfast, and caviar as a protein source. What is actually wrong with this, why it is a concern when mainstream media amplifies it, and why the foods she is avoiding are among the most nutritionally valuable you can eat Why you can absolutely cook with extra virgin olive oil and always could, and the claim about salmon and mercury that is not supported by the evidence The new Philadelphia Protein Cream Cheese exposed: why the regular light Philadelphia and the protein version are nutritionally near-identical per 100 grams, and why the only meaningful difference is that the serving size has been increased How to find leaner and cheaper cuts of meat as beef prices continue to rise, why pork is underrated as a high-protein budget option, why slow cooker cuts are one of the best investments in your weekly food budget, and what to do if the supermarket sells you a fatty cut you cannot use See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you watched the ABC Four Corners food fraud documentary and felt unsettled but were not quite sure what to do with the information, this episode is going to help. Leanne and Susie cut through the noise, share their honest dietitian response to what was actually alarming versus what was sensationalised, and give you the practical takeaways that matter. Then they expose one of the most misleading supermarket product launches in recent memory, and explain something most women who exercise regularly do not want to hear: the workouts you are calling strength training probably are not. In this episode: The ABC Four Corners documentary Duped: what Leanne and Susie actually think, what the investigation got right about tomato products and country of origin claims, why supermarkets and food regulators are equally responsible for the lack of accountability, and what you can practically do to reduce your exposure Why claims of Australian-made or Italian-grown do not always mean what you think they mean, and which food categories are most likely to be affected by supply chain substitution The xanthan gum research: a new study linking this common food additive to mild colon inflammation and changes to the gut microbiome in animal models, what a large French cohort study of over 100,000 adults found about emulsifier intake and cancer risk, and who specifically should be paying closer attention to this ingredient Primo's new High Protein Ham range exposed: how they appear to have increased the protein content without meaningfully changing the product, why the World Health Organization classifies processed red meat as a carcinogen, and the much cheaper and far better protein sources Leanne and Susie recommend instead Why going to the gym and lifting weights is not the same as strength training, what progressive overload actually means and why most women are not doing it, and why Pilates with one-kilo dumbbells is not building the bone density and muscle mass the guidelines are recommending The bone health case for proper strength training: how mechanical load stimulates osteoblasts to lay down new bone, why this matters more from your 40s onward as estrogen declines, and the most practical way to get started if you genuinely do not know whether you are doing enough See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you have already done the hard work, lost a decent amount of weight, and are now staring at the same two or three kilos that simply will not budge, this episode is going to make a lot of sense of what is happening and exactly what to do about it. Leanne and Susie break down the real physiology behind why losing the last few kilos is significantly harder than losing the first ten, why the strategies that got you here are not the ones that will get you there, and the specific changes that actually move the needle when you are already doing most things right. Then they do the research nobody wants to do themselves: wading through the menus at Eljana, Grilled, Nando's, A Perto, Guzman y Gomez, Subway, Betty's Burgers, Fishbowl, and more to find the lowest calorie, highest protein options you can actually order without sacrificing the whole meal. In this episode: Why losing 30 kilos is genuinely easier than losing three, the physiology of why the human body resists leanness, and why everything that worked before will eventually stop working Why going to bed slightly hungry is actually a useful signal when you are trying to lose the last few kilos, and why the fear of hunger is one of the main things holding people back Why eating earlier rather than eating less can be one of the most powerful and sustainable strategies for shifting stubborn body fat, and how to apply it practically around a busy family schedule Why some people need to do less exercise, not more, to finally see the scale move, and how to tell which camp you are in The role of the weekend in undoing five days of good eating, why most people are maintaining rather than losing without realising it, and the one change that breaks the cycle The lowest calorie, highest protein options at Eljana, Grilled, Nando's, A Porto, Guzman y Gomez, Subway, Betty's Burgers, Fishbowl, and KFC. Specific menu items named, calorie counts given, and honest advice on what is actually worth ordering versus what just looks healthy Why Guzman y Gomez burritos and bowls are significantly higher in calories than most people assume, and the menu hack that most people would never consider Why a well-chosen burger from Grilled or Nando's is often a better nutritional choice than sushi, and what to ask for to drop the calorie count further without sacrificing the meal The Arnott's Quattro Caramel and Peanut Bar reviewed: 140 calories, five grams of protein, 33 ingredients, and the honest debate between Leanne and Susie about whether it is genuinely healthier than a chocolate bar or simply better marketing The vitamin C question answered with the actual evidence: does it prevent colds, does it shorten them, and is there anything better to take in winter if that is your goal See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you or someone you know is on a GLP-1 medication like Ozempic, Wegovy, or Mounjaro and the results have plateaued, or the weight is starting to creep back, this episode has the explanation you have been looking for and it is probably not what your doctor told you. This week Susie breaks down exactly why these medications stop working for so many people, what is actually going wrong metabolically, and what to do about it instead of just increasing the dose. Then Leanne takes over for a genuinely useful segment on the Coles and Woolworths home brand products both dietitians buy every single week, which ones are just as good as the branded version, and which ones they would never swap out. In this episode: Why GLP-1 medications like Mounjaro, Ozempic, and Wegovy stop working: the two metabolic patterns Susie sees most commonly in her clients, and why increasing the dose is often exactly the wrong response Why dramatically reducing calorie intake without addressing muscle mass and exercise will always lead to a plateau, and the counterintuitive reason why eating a little more and reducing the dose can actually restart results Why muscular, active women are particularly vulnerable to GLP-1 plateaus, and how being in carbohydrate no man's land sabotages fat burning even when the medication is working properly Why these medications should never be given without dietitian support, and what to actually focus on if you want to come off them eventually without regaining the weight The Coles and Woolworths home brand products Leanne and Susie buy every single week without hesitation: rolled oats, canned legumes, passata, frozen vegetables, cottage cheese, Greek yogurt, chicken breast bites, marinated chicken, and more. Specific product names, aisle locations, and honest reasons why Why the Coles Kitchen frozen grilled vegetables and the Woolworths chicken breast bites are non-negotiables in both shopping trolleys, and the specific products in the Coles Perform and Coles Kitchen ranges that keep making it back onto the list The Aldi Gourmet Protein Bar reviewed: 10 grams of protein, 37% nuts and seeds, less than a dollar per bar, and a price-per-protein calculation that puts most supermarket bars to shame. What the ingredient list actually contains and who this bar is genuinely suited to Continuous glucose monitors: who actually needs one, why Leanne and Susie have both turned down paid partnerships with CGM companies, and the specific situations where they might genuinely be useful versus where they are more likely to create unnecessary food fear See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Most people have no idea what actually happens to body fat when they lose it. They assume it is sweated out, burned off somehow, or just disappears. The real answer is both surprising and genuinely fascinating, and it changes how you think about fat loss entirely. This week Leanne and Susie open with the science behind what actually happens to fat cells when you lose weight, why fat cells shrink rather than disappear, and what that means for keeping weight off long term. Then they get into the practical stuff: their best tricks for avoiding that slow winter weight creep that catches so many people out between June and August. In this episode: The surprising science of fat loss: where body fat actually goes when you lose it, why the answer involves your lungs and not your sweat glands, and what happens to fat cells after you lose weight that makes maintaining that loss genuinely harder than most people realise Why fat cells shrink rather than disappear, what that means for long-term weight management, and why working with a dietitian to maintain weight loss is often more important than working with one to lose it The winter weight gain conversation: why it happens, why exercise drops off before food quality does, and the three practical strategies Leanne and Susie use with clients every winter to come out the other side feeling good in their clothes Why a hot lunch makes more difference to afternoon cravings than most people expect, the slow cooker approach to packing in protein and vegetables without giving up comfort food, and the specific swaps that lighten up winter favourites without removing the enjoyment The new Moccona Protein Latte Coffee from Woolworths: 10 grams of protein, $10 for eight serves, bovine collagen as the first ingredient. What Leanne and Susie actually think, who it is and is not for, and the important protein quality point about collagen that most people buying this have not considered Why making your coffee on dairy or soy milk at home gives you a comparable amount of protein with significantly less processing, and why the caffeine content of this product is lower than most people would expect The oxalate question answered plainly: do oxalates in spinach and leafy greens actually block iron absorption, should you be avoiding them with iron-rich meals, and the only situation where oxalates genuinely warrant attention in your diet See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you have taken iron supplements for months and your ferritin still is not coming up, there is a physiological reason for that. And it is not your fault. A study published in The Lancet Haematology found that taking iron supplements on consecutive days actually blocks absorption due to a hormone called hepcidin, and that alternate-day dosing improved iron uptake by 40 to 50%. This is one of the most practically useful pieces of research the show has covered, and Leanne and Susie break it down clearly so you know exactly what to do differently. This week also includes a straight-talking collagen segment, the fibre maxing trend assessed honestly, and a review of the new Woolworths high-protein meal range. In this episode: The fibre maxing trend on TikTok and Instagram: why Leanne and Susie actually support the idea, what most people get wrong about increasing fibre too quickly, and why processed fibre from bars and wraps is not the same as fibre from whole foods Why consistency with fibre matters more than volume, what happens to your gut during travel and weekend eating, and the three things that need to work together for good digestive health The Lancet Haematology iron absorption study: what hepcidin is, why it blocks iron absorption for 24 hours after a high dose, and why taking iron every day may actually be preventing your levels from improving Why alternate-day iron supplementation improved absorption by 40 to 50% compared to daily dosing, and the practical implication for how much to take and when Whether an iron infusion is still preferable for people who struggle with oral supplements, why follow-up blood tests are essential, and the one mistake Leanne sees women make once they start feeling slightly better The new Woolworths Teriyaki Chicken Bowl reviewed: 35 grams of protein at $12, brown rice, edamame, and quinoa, what a client who tried it actually said, and whether frozen meals might genuinely be the better option in this category The collagen evidence honestly assessed: what the research actually shows for skin, joints, and wrinkle depth, why you need to take it daily for 8 to 12 weeks to see results, and the specific trademarked peptide called Verisol that has the most clinical research behind it Why marine collagen is not superior to bovine collagen despite what you have seen online, how much you need for skin versus joint health, and why some brands charging $80 to $90 are not giving you anything better than a well-formulated $37 option See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you shop at Aldi regularly or have been thinking about adding it to your grocery rotation, this episode is going to save you time and money. Leanne and Susie share their personal Aldi favourites, the specific products they recommend to clients, and the ones that look good but do not stack up. And if you have ever used AI to get nutrition advice, track your intake, or build a meal plan, there is a study published earlier this year that you genuinely need to hear about. In this episode: The Aldi products Leanne and Susie actually buy and recommend, across fresh produce, protein, dairy, snacks, frozen meals, and a few honest indulgences. Specific product names included, no vague recommendations Why the leafy greens at Aldi outperform the major supermarkets for freshness and shelf life, and how to store them to make them last even longer The Aldi protein yogurt, low-carb protein bread, beetroot hummus, tuna bean cups, and almond butter that both dietitians put on their regular shopping list and why A new study from March this year published in Frontiers in Nutrition comparing AI-generated diet plans against dietitian-designed plans: AI underestimated calories by up to 600, protein by 20 grams, and carbohydrates by 100 grams. Not a small margin of error, a significant one Why the false confidence AI creates around calorie and nutrient counts is the real danger, and the specific situations where Leanne and Susie would and would not use it in a nutrition context The Mission Carb Balance wrap reviewed: 16 grams of fibre and four grams of carbohydrate per wrap, a five-star health rating, and Leanne's strong views on why this product is not what it appears to be Why ultra-processed, low-carb wraps with modified wheat starch, wheat gluten isolate, and 16 grams of added fibre are a problem for most women's digestive health, and what to eat instead The creatine and heat question answered properly: can you add creatine to porridge, baked oats, or warm drinks without losing its effectiveness? What temperatures and time frames matter, and the one mistake Leanne sees clients make all the time with their creatine drink bottle See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Six Australians have developed acute liver failure after purchasing counterfeit weight loss peptides online. The TGA and the Victorian Department of Health have both issued urgent warnings this week. And yet these products are still a Google search away from anyone who wants them. If you have seen retatrutide or any weight loss peptide being promoted on TikTok or Instagram, or you know someone who has bought one through a gym contact, a beauty clinic, or an online supplier, this episode is essential listening. Leanne and Susie cover the full picture this week: what these peptides actually are, why buying them outside of a prescription is genuinely life-threatening, and what you should do instead if weight loss medication is something you are considering. In this episode: The breaking Australian story: six people in acute liver failure after purchasing counterfeit retatrutide, what happened, how they obtained it, and the urgent warning now issued by the TGA and the Victorian Department of Health What retatrutide actually is, where it is in the clinical trial process, and why it is not approved in Australia regardless of what you have seen promoted online Why buying weight loss peptides outside of a prescription is not a grey area: the comparison to buying illicit drugs off the street, what contaminants and counterfeit ingredients can do, and why there is no coming back from liver failure The right way to access weight loss medication in Australia if it is appropriate for you, what a proper prescription process looks like, and why doing it correctly is not as difficult or expensive as people assume New research from over 83,000 people published in the Journal of Nutrition: which of the five most well-regarded healthy eating patterns performs best for people with high blood pressure, and why the result confirms what dietitians have been saying for decades What the DASH diet actually requires in terms of fruit and vegetable intake, why most people who think they are following it are not eating anywhere near enough plant food, and the sodium-to-potassium ratio that makes the biggest difference to blood pressure The Campbell's Gut Goodness Bone Broth reviewed: 20 grams of protein per pack, Monash low FODMAP certified, acacia prebiotic fibre, less than 300 milligrams of sodium per serve, and a clean ingredient list that genuinely impressed both Leanne and Susie Thaumatin: what it is, where it comes from, why it sounds more alarming than it is, how it compares to stevia and monk fruit, and whether it is safe to consume See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Most women who are trying to eat well are getting carbohydrates wrong. Not because they are eating too many, which is what they usually assume. Often because they are eating too few of the right ones and too many of the wrong ones at the wrong times. This week Leanne and Susie break down one of the most misunderstood topics in women's nutrition, what too little carbohydrate actually looks like in the body, what too much of the wrong kind does over time, and how to find the sweet spot that matches your actual activity level, hormones, and goals. Plus, PCOS has a new name. Published in The Lancet in May this year, it is now being referred to as PMOS, and the reason behind the change tells you a lot about how the medical world is finally starting to understand this condition more accurately. In this episode: Why PCOS has been renamed PMOS in a landmark article published in The Lancet, what the name change actually reflects about the condition, and why it matters for the 8 to 13% of women living with it right now The surprising truth about polycystic ovaries: why there are not actually more cysts, and what is really happening in the ovaries of women with this condition Why an anti-inflammatory diet, inositol, and working with a dietitian long-term are central to managing PMOS, and why medication alone will not move the needle the way lifestyle can The signs you are not eating enough carbohydrate: ongoing fatigue despite normal blood tests, poor exercise performance, constant cravings, difficulty concentrating, and never feeling full after meals The signs you are eating too many of the wrong carbohydrates, why the combination of too few quality carbs and too many refined ones is the pattern Leanne and Susie see most consistently in their clinics Why being in carbohydrate no man's land, not low enough for ketosis but not high enough to support metabolism, is one of the most common reasons women stall when trying to lose body fat How carbohydrate needs are highly individual and change depending on body size, activity level, hormones, life stage, and whether you are breastfeeding, perimenopausal, or training intensively The quality carbohydrates to focus on at each meal, and the refined ones that are quietly slipping in while women are avoiding rice at lunch and sweet potato at dinner The new Uncle Tobys Protein Quick Oats reviewed: where the 8 to 9 grams of protein is actually coming from, whether it is enough for women with fat loss or body composition goals, and when Leanne would and would not recommend it The best frozen fish in Australian supermarkets ranked: Sealord, Birdseye, Findus, the Coles wild caught fish fingers, and the steam fresh range reviewed by fish percentage, protein, and taste Work with Leanne or Susie: Winter is one of the best times to work with a dietitian, with fewer social events and more structure. Leanne is at leannewardnutrition.com.au and Susie is at susieburrell.com.au. Shop Designed by Dietitians: Support your protein, creatine, magnesium, and collagen needs with science-backed supplements at designedbydietitians.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Everyone is asking AI about their diet. Recipes, meal plans, protein targets, what to eat for weight loss. And some of what it spits out is genuinely useful. Some of it is wrong. And some of it, as one American celebrity found out the hard way after buying a fake celebrity-endorsed Jell-O diet, can actually make you unwell. This week Leanne and Susie give their honest take on exactly what AI can and cannot do when it comes to nutrition, where it is actually worth using, and the specific reasons why it will never replace the kind of personalised advice that accounts for who you actually are. Then they go deep on one of the most-requested topics the show has ever had: a comprehensive guide to the best gluten-free products in Australian supermarkets right now. In this episode: The Jell-O diet scandal that kicked off this conversation, why fake celebrity diet endorsements generated by AI are now a genuine public health concern, and how to spot them Where AI genuinely helps with nutrition, including getting recipe ideas from pantry leftovers, converting a meal plan into a shopping list, and even making your food photography look better The critical limitations of AI diet advice: why it defaults to population averages, cannot account for your individual nutrient needs, does not know the Australian supermarket, and will simply agree with whatever you tell it rather than pushing back when you are wrong Why accountability is the single biggest thing AI cannot replicate, and why that matters more than most people realise when it comes to actually getting results The gluten-free product guide for Australian supermarkets in 2025: Leanne and Susie's current recommendations across bread, crackers, cereals, frozen meals, sauces, snacks, and more, including the specific brands and products they actually recommend to their celiac and gluten-intolerant clients Why newly diagnosed celiac clients make one consistent mistake with gluten-free eating, and the simple shift that saves money and dramatically improves nutrition at the same time The Health Lab Pistachio and Rose Protein Super Treat reviewed: beautiful packaging, white chocolate as the first ingredient, and 12% saturated fat. Is it a protein bar or a chocolate bar with good PR? How to eat well after leaving home on a tight budget: the smartest protein sources for young people who have zero cooking experience, very little money, and a toaster Shop Designed by Dietitians: If your diet needs a boost of protein, creatine, magnesium, or collagen, explore the evidence-based range formulated by two Australian dietitians at designedbydietitians.com Keep sharing The Nutrition Couch with the people in your life who need it. Over 5.5 million downloads and counting. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you are thinking about having a baby in the next year or two, or you have been trying for a while and wondering if your nutrition could be doing more, this episode is a genuinely useful place to start. And if you are in your 20s or 30s and have not had a blood test recently because you feel fine and assume everything is probably okay, Leanne and Susie have something to say about that too. This week on The Nutrition Couch, they dig into the nutrition and lifestyle strategies that actually move the needle on fertility outcomes, what the research says about diet patterns, key nutrients, and male fertility, and the common mistakes that quietly work against conception that most women have never been told about. In this episode: The Australian longitudinal study of over 5,000 women linking anti-inflammatory dietary patterns to better fertility outcomes, and what that actually looks like on a plate day to day The key nutrients that appear time and time again in fertility research: omega-3s, vitamin D, vitamin E, and natural folate, why food sources beat supplements in almost every case, and the one supplement Susie did take during pregnancy The MTHFR gene mutation: what it is, how common it is, why women with this mutation should not be taking synthetic folate in standard prenatal supplements, and how to find out if you have it Why male fertility contributes to 40 to 50% of fertility challenges and is chronically overlooked, and what partners should actually be doing differently The under-eating and overtraining pattern that silently disrupts ovulation and hormonal health even in women who appear to be doing everything right The truth about caffeine and fertility: the research does not say what most people assume, and Susie explains exactly how much is genuinely safe if you are trying to conceive The blood tests Leanne recommends for every woman in her 20s and 30s, including the ones most GPs do not automatically order, and the vague symptoms that are easy to dismiss but might actually signal something easily fixed Why low ferritin is one of the most underdiagnosed and undertreated issues in young Australian women, and Susie's case study of a client whose iron had been dangerously low for two decades without anyone properly addressing it The Harvest Pantry Protein Smoothie reviewed: clean ingredients, impressive packaging, and a protein claim on the front of the pack that requires an asterisk the size of a footnote to actually be true The nine-month-old baby and solids question: how much milk is too much, why iron should be the focus of every meal at this age, and the feeding order that makes a bigger difference than most parents realise Shop Designed by Dietitians: Looking to support your protein, creatine, magnesium, or collagen intake with evidence-based supplements made in Australia? Visit designedbydietitians.com Keep sharing The Nutrition Couch with the women in your life. This is exactly the kind of episode worth passing on. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Most Australians eat chicken schnitzel regularly. Most are unknowingly buying one where barely a third of the product is actually chicken. This week Leanne and Susie went through every pre-crumbed and frozen chicken schnitzel option across Coles, Woolworths, and Aldi, checked the labels, compared the protein and chicken percentages, and came back with a definitive ranking of which ones are genuinely worth buying and which ones are quietly ripping you off. Spoiler: the best option in the whole supermarket is not what most people expect. In this episode: A full ranking of supermarket chicken schnitzels by chicken percentage and protein content, including the specific products from Woolworths, Coles, Aldi, Lilydale, Steggles, and Cleavers Organic that Leanne and Susie actually recommend Why some schnitzels are as low as 28% chicken, what is filling the rest of the product, and the one word to look for on the label that almost always signals a better option Why a chicken schnitzel from the supermarket has roughly half the protein and double the calories of a plain chicken breast, and how to build it into a meal without undoing your nutrition goals How to make a significantly better version at home in under 10 minutes using ingredients you probably already have, including an air fryer method Susie swears by New research from a 25-year longitudinal study at the University of Manchester on breakfast timing, cognitive ageing, and why the timing of your meals in older age is a more important health marker than most people realise Why your parents eating dinner at 5pm might actually be a sign they are ageing well, and the subtle shift in meal habits that can signal early cognitive decline worth paying attention to Flavoured Medjool dates: the True Dates range reviewed, why dates have a significant health halo that the numbers do not fully support, and when Leanne actually recommends them to clients The high-protein yogurt question answered: is it actually worth paying more for Chobani, YoPro, or Coles Perform over standard Greek yogurt, and when does the extra protein genuinely matter Shop Designed by Dietitians: If your protein, creatine, magnesium, or hydration needs a bit of a boost, explore the full evidence-based range at designedbydietitians.com Keep telling your friends about The Nutrition Couch so this show can keep reaching the people who need it. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you have a family history of dementia or Alzheimer's and you have been wondering what you can actually do about it now, this episode has something important for you. New Australian research from the Australian National University has found that people consuming higher amounts of magnesium daily had measurably better brain health as they aged, with brains appearing roughly a year younger at midlife compared to those eating the recommended daily amount. The problem is that most Australians are not even hitting the baseline, let alone the levels associated with brain protection. Leanne and Susie break down what the research actually means, where magnesium is found in food, why so few people are getting enough, and what to look for if a supplement is the right option for you. Plus, with apples hitting $8 a kilo and oranges at $10, they share their honest, practical strategies for eating enough fruit without the supermarket bill becoming genuinely painful. In this episode: The Australian National University study on magnesium and brain health: what 550mg per day actually does to your brain at midlife, why the standard recommended intake is not enough, and why women with a family history of dementia or Alzheimer's should be paying close attention right now The best dietary sources of magnesium, why most busy women are falling well short of even the basic target, and the specific forms to look for if you are considering a supplement Why cheap magnesium supplements are largely a waste of money, what magnesium oxide actually does in the body, and the forms that are genuinely well absorbed Fresh fruit prices in Australia right now: why apples and oranges have become a budget item worth thinking carefully about, and the smartest ways to keep fruit in your diet without overspending The case for frozen berries, tinned fruit in natural juice, baby-sized fruit portions, and a Saturday morning market trip that Susie says changes the weekly grocery bill significantly The Heart and Soul Mexican chicken and bean soup: a different flavour, a whole food base, and $4.50 a pouch. Leanne and Susie give their honest verdict including the one number on the nutrition panel that gives them pause The post-workout dinner question answered properly: can you skip dinner after an evening workout, what to eat instead, and why the timing of your meals matters more than most people realise Why Leanne says the answer to "can I skip dinner" is almost always no, and what a balanced post-workout snack actually looks like if a full meal is not realistic Shop Designed by Dietitians: The Designed by Dietitians RESTORE triple magnesium blend uses three clinical forms of magnesium chosen specifically for absorption, sleep support, and muscle recovery. If you are not hitting your magnesium through food, it is worth a look. Find it at designedbydietitians.com Join the private Designed by Dietitians Facebook community for exclusive content, upcoming webinars, and giveaways. DM Leanne or Susie on Instagram for the link. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You picked the toastie instead of the burger. You got sushi instead of a sandwich. You grabbed rice crackers instead of chips. You are making the healthy choice, right? Not always. And this week Leanne and Susie are talking about exactly that, the foods that feel like the lighter option but are quietly adding a lot more to your day than you realise. No guilt, just the information you actually need to make better calls when you are busy, hungry, and eating on the run. In this episode: The cafe and bakery foods that seem like a sensible choice but regularly clock in at 500 to 700 calories, including the toasted sandwich that is closer to a croissant than you think Why sushi is not the light lunch most women believe it is, and what is actually happening when you compact that rice into three or four rolls The rice cracker trap: why 10 rice crackers are nutritionally equivalent to two slices of bread, and which crackers are genuinely worth buying Why hummus should not be counted as a protein source, and what to eat instead if protein is actually your goal at lunch The new research linking ADHD and perimenopause: women with ADHD were twice as likely to experience perimenopausal symptoms in a recent European study, and what that means for how this group should be eating through the day Susie's practical nutrition strategies for women managing both ADHD and perimenopausal symptoms, including why savoury, bulky meals and structured eating windows make a bigger difference than any supplement A full breakdown of the types of ADHD most commonly seen in adult women, and why the hyperactive young boy stereotype has nothing to do with how it typically presents in women in their 30s, 40s and 50s The Coles Kitchen Chicken and Corn Soup: 21 grams of protein, under 200 calories, $4.50. Leanne and Susie revisit one of their all-time favourite supermarket finds and explain how to build it into a genuinely complete lunch Matcha versus coffee versus chai: is matcha actually better for you, or is it just more photogenic? Leanne breaks down the caffeine, L-theanine, and antioxidant research, and gives her honest verdict on the Starbucks matcha latte trend Shop Designed by Dietitians: Looking for evidence-based supplements made in Australia by two busy dietitian mums? Visit designedbydietitians.com to explore the full range. Keep telling your friends about The Nutrition Couch so this show keeps reaching the women who need it most. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The pub has quietly become one of Australia's most budget-friendly options for a family dinner out. And with the cost of groceries where they are right now, that is not going to change any time soon. But if you are trying to eat well, the pub menu can feel like a minefield. Do you order the salad you do not actually want? Ignore the chips? Feel guilty for choosing the schnitzel? This week Leanne and Susie are cutting through all of it with their honest, practical, no-guilt guide to eating at the pub, the RSL, and anywhere else that serves a $18 special. Plus they take aim at Subway's new high-protein marketing claims, and the numbers are not pretty. In this episode: How to navigate a pub menu without ordering a salad you do not feel like and still ending up hungry an hour later, including the exact strategies Leanne and Susie use themselves Why splitting a meal is often the smartest move at a pub, and how to do it without missing out on protein The entrée trap: which pub starters are quietly adding hundreds of calories before your main even arrives, and which ones are genuinely worth ordering Why the pub salad is often not the healthy option it appears to be, and what to order instead if your goal is to keep calories in check Subway's new Packed with Protein range: Leanne deep-dived the nutritionals so you do not have to, and what she found about that 54-gram protein footlong will genuinely surprise you Why the Subway wrap is almost never the healthier choice over the bread, despite what most people assume The chocolate-coated health bar that is being heavily marketed to pregnant and breastfeeding women. Leanne and Susie break down the ingredient list and the saturated fat content, and explain why it has more in common with a chocolate bar than a snack bar The listener question: is a mini Coke a few times a week really a problem? Leanne and Susie give an honest, nuanced answer that is more useful than a simple yes or no Shop Designed by Dietitians: Looking for supplements that are actually formulated to clinical doses with real ingredients? Visit designedbydietitians.com to explore the full range. Keep telling your friends about The Nutrition Couch and join the private Designed by Dietitians Facebook community for exclusive content, giveaways, and free webinar recordings. DM Leanne or Susie on Instagram for the private link. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You have probably seen them all over your Instagram feed. Beef liver supplements, sold as a natural, ancestral, high-iron fix for tired, depleted women. But before you add one to your cart, Leanne and Susie have something important to say. This week on The Nutrition Couch, they dig into the iron conversation that so many women desperately need to have, including why your doctor might have told you your iron is fine when it is anything but, why infusions are often the only real solution when stores are genuinely low, and exactly why beef liver supplements are one of the most overhyped products circulating on social media right now. If you are tired, breathless, foggy, or just never quite feel rested no matter how much sleep you get, this episode might be the most useful 40 minutes you spend this week. In this episode: Why ferritin is the iron marker that matters most and why a result your doctor calls normal can still leave you feeling exhausted, foggy, and completely flat The real daily iron requirements for women across different life stages, including why pregnancy and breastfeeding can leave stores so depleted that supplements alone simply will not cut it Why iron supplements can be so rough on your gut, which forms tend to be better tolerated, and why liquid over capsule is often the smarter starting point The signs that your iron might be low that most women overlook, including restless legs at night, breathlessness on easy walks, and waking up exhausted after a full night of sleep The best food sources of iron ranked, including the ones that most women are not eating nearly enough of, and the vitamin C pairing that makes all the difference to absorption What to avoid when taking iron and why washing your tablet down with coffee or tea is quietly undoing your efforts Beef liver supplements: Leanne looked up more than ten brands and the numbers are damning. Why these products are providing a fraction of what your body actually needs, what they cost versus what you get, and why they are not a therapeutic solution for anyone with genuinely low iron A supermarket hot chocolate review comparing Jarrah, Avalanche, Cadbury and Lindt, what the nutrition panels actually reveal, and why some functional hot chocolates retailing at $60 should be approached with serious caution A review of the new Birdseye scalloped potato with paprika from the frozen vegetable range, and why the nutritionals are stronger than you might expect Shop Designed by Dietitians: If you are looking for a genuinely functional hot chocolate to wind down this winter, REST by Designed by Dietitians is formulated with magnesium glycinate, glycine, L-tryptophan, passionflower, chamomile, and jujube extract for sleep and nervous system support, with no artificial sweeteners and a whole milk powder base for that creamy mouthfeel. Find it at designedbydietitians.com Join the private Designed by Dietitians Facebook community for exclusive giveaways, webinar recordings, and content you will not find anywhere else. DM Leanne or Susie on Instagram for the private link. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.