Investigating the impact of the healthy gut diet on the incidence of gestational diabetes

Intervention group will receive dietary counselling by an Accredited Practising Dietitian with the aim to modify dietary behaviour. The target behaviour will be to eat for gut health. The intervention consists of: - Initial dietary counselling, up to 40 minutes long, delivered via telehealth, within 1 - 2 weeks of enrolment - Follow-up phone call 1 (approximately 2 weeks after the initial counselling session), maximum 20 minutes - Follow- up phone call 2 (at 28 weeks gestation), maximum 20 minutes - 1 - 3 text messages per week (motivational, informational, links to education material) from initial counselling session completion until 36 weeks gestation. Messages will be delivered via Telstra Messaging Service which does not monitor whether messages are received by participants. - Electronic or hard copy of dietary education, workbook, recipes, shopping lists/checklists designed specifically for this study. - Short videos via a social media page. Following the social media page is optional and this is provide to enhance participants' understanding of the Healthy Gut Diet should they choose to seek more information. The page can be viewed at participants' discretion. We will share recipes, Healthy Gut Tips (for example, cooking tips to increase resistance starch in foods or where to find fermented foods, or what foods are high in pre-probiotic fibre) and motivational messages (for example, other benefits of building a healthy gut such as long-term health or gut microbiome transfer to baby) as a post to the page (photo and content only post with written information) or as a short 'reel' (20 - 30 second video that summarises Healthy Gut recipes or 'tips'). We will not check participants' engagement with social media. These will be designed specifically for the study. The dietary intervention will focus on increasing the quantity and diversity of whole plant based foods, supplemented with lean animal or plant-based protein options and limiting discretionary foods and foods high in saturated fat. The healthy gut diet focuses on fibre-rich foods (wholegrains, fruit, vegetables, legumes, nuts, seeds) with adequate amounts of lean meat, chicken, fish (or alternatives) and to support a healthy pregnancy in accordance with the Australian Dietary Guidelines. Participants will also be encouraged to include naturally fermented (shop-bought) foods such as yoghurt, sauerkraut and sourdough bread (for example). The intervention workbook will provide a staged approach to increasing fibre-rich foods over 4 weeks to reduce discomfort associated with sudden increases to fibre intake. Adherence to the intervention will be monitored at each appointment by checking against attendance and individualised, participant-set goals. This will also be checked in the final survey (at 36 weeks) with self-reported adherence to dietary behaviour goals and frequency of using resources sent via text messages and accessing social media content.