We all have them… those little food habits that creep into our week and quietly derail our goals. Maybe it’s finishing the kids’ lunchbox leftovers, grabbing a sausage sizzle at Bunnings, or rewarding yourself with late-night snacks after dinner.

In this episode of The Nutrition Couch, dietitians Leanne Ward and Susie Burrell unpack the most common bad food habits holding women back — and how to break them without guilt or restriction.

Here’s what we cover:
The everyday food habits that add hundreds of extra calories without you realising
Why “just in case” snacks, grazing all weekend, and skipping meals can backfire
New research on ultra-processed foods showing they reduce weight loss and increase cravings
Our supermarket product review: a better-for-you dip and cracker snack pack
Listener question: Are two-minute noodles and other noodles really that bad?

Whether you’re trying to lose weight, improve your gut health, or just feel more in control of your eating, this episode is packed with practical strategies and fresh insights you can use straight away.

We all have them&hellip; those little food habits that creep into our week and quietly derail our goals. Maybe it&rsquo;s finishing the kids&rsquo; lunchbox leftovers, grabbing a sausage sizzle at Bunnings, or rewarding yourself with late-night snacks after dinner.
In this episode of The Nutrition Couch, dietitians Leanne Ward and Susie Burrell unpack the most common bad food habits holding women back &mdash; and how to break them without guilt or restriction.
Here&rsquo;s what we cover:
<ul>
<li>The everyday food habits that add hundreds of extra calories without you realising</li>
<li>Why &ldquo;just in case&rdquo; snacks, grazing all weekend, and skipping meals can backfire</li>
<li>New research on&nbsp;ultra-processed foods showing they reduce weight loss and increase cravings</li>
<li>Our supermarket product review: a better-for-you dip and cracker snack pack</li>
<li>Listener question: Are&nbsp;two-minute noodles and other noodles really that bad?</li>
</ul>
Whether you&rsquo;re trying to lose weight, improve your gut health, or just feel more in control of your eating, this episode is packed with practical strategies and fresh insights you can use straight away.

Unlock your best health in just 30 minutes a week. Join the thousands of listeners who’ve transformed their lives with The Nutrition Couch, Australia’s top-ranked nutrition podcast. Each Wednesday at 6am AEST, dietitians Leanne Ward and Susie Burrell deliver powerful, bite-sized advice that’s easy to implement and designed to make healthy living simple and enjoyable.

Ready for a healthier you? Subscribe now and start your journey with actionable tips that fit seamlessly into your busy life. Don’t wait—your path to better health begins here with The Nutrition Couch.

Unlock your best health in just 30 minutes a week. Join the thousands of listeners who’ve transformed their lives with The Nutrition Couch, Australia’s top-ranked nutrition podcast. Each Wednesday at 6am AEST, dietitians Leanne Ward and Susie Burrell deliver powerful, bite-sized advice that’s easy to implement and designed to make healthy living simple and enjoyable.
Ready for a healthier you? Subscribe now and start your journey with actionable tips that fit seamlessly into your busy life. Don’t wait—your path to better health begins here with The Nutrition Couch.

The Nutrition Couch

Welcome to The Nutrition Couch, a weekly podcast from two of Australia’s leading dietitians & nutritionists, Susie Burrell & Leanne Ward. This is the first nutrition podcast that looks at weekly food & health trends. Every Sunday at 7am AEST, we will be uploading an episode that covers nutrition news, trending food products, case studies and we will also be answering our listener questions. Don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast so you never miss an episode and follow us on social media @the_nutrition_couch_podcast to ask us questions & see our food product reviews.

Are bad food habits secretly sabotaging your health? Leanne and Susie reveal the everyday eating patterns that derail weight loss, unpack new research on ultra-processed foods, review a supermarket snack, and answer your noodle questions.

Bad Food Habits That Sabotage Your Health (and How to Break Them)

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/fa326977-3de5-4283-9b8b-af3500c58607/clips/05651d8f-14b1-4661-9648-b33e00aa4852/transcript

If you’re trying to lose weight, manage stress, or just feel better in your body, this episode connects the dots between what’s on your plate and how you actually feel.

This week on The Nutrition Couch:

A viral article claims cottage cheese, berries and seeds are the “best breakfast for weight loss.” We unpack whether it’s genuinely superior — or just smart marketing.

Plus, a major Australian dataset of over 45,000 people has found a strong link between higher fruit and vegetable intake and lower psychological distress. Women in particular saw greater benefits at higher vegetable serves.

We break down:


Why protein + fibre still matters at breakfast


Whether cottage cheese is worth the hype


The gut–brain connection and mood regulation


How many veggie serves actually make a difference


The sugary drink–depression link


A new high-protein Coles Perform barramundi option


And the viral “Japanese cheesecake” trend (and why it’s not actually cheesecake)

If you want simple, science-backed ways to support fat loss, mood and energy — without extremes — this one’s for you.

If you&rsquo;re trying to lose weight, manage stress, or just feel better in your body, this episode connects the dots between what&rsquo;s on your plate and how you actually feel.
This week on The Nutrition Couch:
A viral article claims cottage cheese, berries and seeds are the &ldquo;best breakfast for weight loss.&rdquo; We unpack whether it&rsquo;s genuinely superior &mdash; or just smart marketing.
Plus, a major Australian dataset of over 45,000 people has found a strong link between higher fruit and vegetable intake and lower psychological distress. Women in particular saw greater benefits at higher vegetable serves.
We break down:
<ul>
<li>
Why protein + fibre still matters at breakfast
</li>
<li>
Whether cottage cheese is worth the hype
</li>
<li>
The gut&ndash;brain connection and mood regulation
</li>
<li>
How many veggie serves actually make a difference
</li>
<li>
The sugary drink&ndash;depression link
</li>
<li>
A new high-protein Coles Perform barramundi option
</li>
<li>
And the viral &ldquo;Japanese cheesecake&rdquo; trend (and why it&rsquo;s not actually cheesecake)
</li>
</ul>
If you want simple, science-backed ways to support fat loss, mood and energy &mdash; without extremes &mdash; this one&rsquo;s for you.

A viral “best breakfast for weight loss” is everywhere — but is it actually superior? Plus, new Australian research links higher fruit and vegetable intake with lower psychological distress. Leanne and Susie break down the science, the supermarket finds, and the viral trends.

The ‘Best’ Weight Loss Breakfast? Plus the Veggie–Mental Health Link You Need to Know

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/fa326977-3de5-4283-9b8b-af3500c58607/clips/6ec769a3-748b-4630-9fdf-b3f400be520c/transcript

Is brain fog getting worse in menopause?

Trying to lose weight but nothing works anymore?

This episode explores new research on creatine and cognition — and why willpower isn’t the real reason weight loss stalls.

Here’s what we cover:
A new 8-week randomised controlled trial on creatine in peri- and menopausal women
What actually improved: memory, mental fatigue and cognitive performance
Why women may store less creatine than men
Whether all forms of creatine are equal

Plus:
CSIRO data from 78,000 Australians shows why structured meal planning leads to more weight loss
Why willpower fails when planning is absent
The psychology behind “starting again Monday”

We also review the new Cobs Popcorn Bars — are they really a healthy lunchbox option?

And we answer a listener question: why are your measurements dropping but not the scale?

Leanne and Susie are dietitians and co-founders of Designed by Dietitians. As always, the discussion is evidence-led and practical.

Is brain fog getting worse in menopause?
Trying to lose weight but nothing works anymore?
This episode explores new research on creatine and cognition &mdash; and why willpower isn&rsquo;t the real reason weight loss stalls.
Here&rsquo;s what we cover:
<ul>
<li>A new 8-week randomised controlled trial on creatine in peri- and menopausal women</li>
<li>What actually improved: memory, mental fatigue and cognitive performance</li>
<li>Why women may store less creatine than men</li>
<li>Whether all forms of creatine are equal</li>
</ul>
Plus:
<ul>
<li>CSIRO data from 78,000 Australians shows why structured meal planning leads to more weight loss</li>
<li>Why willpower fails when planning is absent</li>
<li>The psychology behind &ldquo;starting again Monday&rdquo;</li>
</ul>
We also review the new Cobs Popcorn Bars &mdash; are they really a healthy lunchbox option?
And we answer a listener question: why are your measurements dropping but not the scale?
Leanne and Susie are dietitians and co-founders of Designed by Dietitians. As always, the discussion is evidence-led and practical.

In this episode, dietitians Leanne Ward and Susie Burrell discuss emerging research on creatine supplementation in perimenopausal and menopausal women, including its potential role in supporting cognitive function, mental fatigue and brain energy metabolism. They also examine large-scale CSIRO weight loss data showing why structured meal planning predicts better results than relying on willpower alone. The episode includes a supermarket review of Cobs Popcorn Bars and a practical discussion on body composition changes, including why measurements may drop even when scale weight does not.

Menopause Brain Fog, Creatine & Why Your Weight Loss Isn’t Working

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/fa326977-3de5-4283-9b8b-af3500c58607/clips/4abbba19-2b32-491b-a1af-b3ed00c1eede/transcript

Peptides are the newest anti-ageing obsession.

Injected. Micro-dosed. Marketed as skin-saving, hormone-balancing, fat-loss miracles.

But are peptides actually evidence-based… or just another expensive wellness trend?

In this episode of The Nutrition Couch, we break down the truth about peptides, influencer marketing, regulation gaps, and what the science really says before you spend hundreds of dollars chasing “anti-ageing”.

🧬 Peptides: What You Need to Know
What peptides actually are (and why you already consume them daily)
The crossover with GLP-1 medications
Why buying peptides online is risky
The regulation problem most people don’t realise
The anti-ageing basics that outperform supplements

🌾 TikTok “Fibremaxxing”
Are Australians really low in fibre?
Whole food fibre vs added inulin and chicory root
How to increase fibre without bloating
The weekend eating trap that ruins gut health
The simple formula to hit 25–30g per day

🥣 Product Review: High-Protein Cereal
Coles’ new high-protein cereal analysed
Why protein on the label isn’t enough
The key ingredient missing
Who it might suit

🥤 Coke Zero vs Diet Coke
Is diet soft drink actually bad?
Aspartame and cravings
How often is too often?
How to reduce reliance without extremes

If you care about anti-ageing, gut health, fibre intake, weight regulation, or cutting through online nutrition misinformation — this episode will give you clarity.

For evidence-based supplements, explore Designed by Dietitians at designedbydietitians.com.

Peptides are the newest anti-ageing obsession.
Injected. Micro-dosed. Marketed as skin-saving, hormone-balancing, fat-loss miracles.
But are peptides actually evidence-based&hellip; or just another expensive wellness trend?
In this episode of The Nutrition Couch, we break down the truth about peptides, influencer marketing, regulation gaps, and what the science really says before you spend hundreds of dollars chasing &ldquo;anti-ageing&rdquo;.
🧬 Peptides: What You Need to Know
<ul>
<li>What peptides actually are (and why you already consume them daily)</li>
<li>The crossover with GLP-1 medications</li>
<li>Why buying peptides online is risky</li>
<li>The regulation problem most people don&rsquo;t realise</li>
<li>The anti-ageing basics that outperform supplements</li>
</ul>
🌾 TikTok &ldquo;Fibremaxxing&rdquo;
<ul>
<li>Are Australians really low in fibre?</li>
<li>Whole food fibre vs added inulin and chicory root</li>
<li>How to increase fibre without bloating</li>
<li>The weekend eating trap that ruins gut health</li>
<li>The simple formula to hit 25&ndash;30g per day</li>
</ul>
🥣 Product Review: High-Protein Cereal
<ul>
<li>Coles&rsquo; new high-protein cereal analysed</li>
<li>Why protein on the label isn&rsquo;t enough</li>
<li>The key ingredient missing</li>
<li>Who it might suit</li>
</ul>
🥤 Coke Zero vs Diet Coke
<ul>
<li>Is diet soft drink actually bad?</li>
<li>Aspartame and cravings</li>
<li>How often is too often?</li>
<li>How to reduce reliance without extremes</li>
</ul>
If you care about anti-ageing, gut health, fibre intake, weight regulation, or cutting through online nutrition misinformation &mdash; this episode will give you clarity.
For evidence-based supplements, explore Designed by Dietitians at designedbydietitians.com.

Peptides are trending in the anti-ageing world — but are they overhyped and unregulated? We unpack peptides, GLP-1 crossover, fibremaxxing, high-protein cereal, and whether Coke Zero is actually bad for you.

Peptides for Anti-Ageing: Overhyped, Unregulated, and Not Worth Your Money?

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/fa326977-3de5-4283-9b8b-af3500c58607/clips/f16daba9-e6b3-4ef5-b4a1-b3e600b4800f/transcript

Bad Food Habits That Sabotage Your Health (and How to Break Them)

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