“I’m doing keto.”

“I was on Whole 30.”

“I'm doing a cleanse.”

“I've been yo-yo dieting my whole life.”

If I had a dollar for every time I've heard something of this sort, I would be a rich woman. 

And to be honest, it breaks my heart a little bit each time…that’s precisely why I am a  at a fertility clinic. My goal is to supply everyone I meet with as much useful information as possible, especially when they fall prey to diet trends - which are incredibly difficult to sustain and aren’t necessarily good for their bodies or their fertility.

My wish is that everyone could simply embody a healthy lifestyle and be successful at maintaining it, but I know we all struggle in our own ways.

Why are these fad diets not a good idea when trying to conceive? Why should we always consider moderation over elimination and restriction? Why does what we eat play such a large role in your fertility?

Most importantly, which nutrition plan will actually boost your fertility?

Good news: it’s much simpler than you think!

How a Dietician Nutritionist Can Help You Optimize Your Fertility

My job here at is to help my patients sort through the fallacies out there and help them find a healthy way of eating - not a diet, but a sustainable lifestyle. My goal is to show each patient options that will help them along their path to fertility and prepare their body for a healthy pregnancy and baby.

Dietitians can get a bad rap…people are often afraid to tell us what they really eat or what diet they are actually following or what supplements they’re secretly taking. They are afraid we will judge them, tell them they are wrong or overwhelm them.

Please trust me when I say: I’m not here to judge you or your choices.

In fact, if you ask my colleagues, friends, and family, they would all be able to recite my motto perfectly: everything in moderation.

If you are in my office, I consider it my responsibility to steer you away from food guilt, diet fads, and unbalanced eating. Instead, I work to empower you with the tools that I know will help you achieve your goals - whether that be managing PCOS symptoms, , or preparing your body for a healthy pregnancy and baby. 

My goal? To offer you real options that fit your lifestyle - not to make you feel guilty about past or current food choices.

We all want the same thing here: for you to be healthy and happy and !

Want a step-by-step guide to preconception health?

Your Fertility-Friendly Nutrition Plan

For your and me, it’s not about a diet – it’s about embracing an overall healthy lifestyle. That’s why all those fad diets like keto, paleo, and cleanses aren’t ideal for your well-rounded wellbeing.

They are based on eliminating certain foods (or entire food groups) from your diet, and as you can probably tell by now, I am not a fan of elimination.

A good, fertility-friendly nutrition plan starts with balance and inclusion. In order to acquire that balance, I believe in basing your meals around three main food groups. Let's explore what they are!

Complex Carbohydrates

What this means:

The first thing to include in your diet are complex carbohydrates:

• Whole grains


• Ancient grains


• Fruits and vegetables that are high in fiber (without added sugar)

Give me an example:

Think lentils, legumes, quinoa, barley, bulgur, oats, winter squash, farro, and fresh or frozen fruits and veggies.

How do they help?

A car needs gas to go, right?  Carbohydrates are like gas for the human body! Carbs are the main source of energy our body needs to function. However, like with most things, the type we choose and how much we put in our bodies matters.

Complex or whole-grain choices (as opposed to their refined alternatives) are loaded with fiber which helps fill you up, slows the absorption of glucose into your bloodstream, and provides your body with lots of micronutrients like B vitamins (including folate!) that will be beneficial to you and your baby.

Where fad diets fail:

A diet without complex carbs (i.e. Keto and Whole 30) leaves you missing out big time. 

How to include in your diet:

Adding 1/3 to 1/2 cup of whole grains or starchy veggies with each meal can help give your body the energy it needs to fuel your brain, ovulation, baby, and more. Serve it as a side dish or add it to your salad (yes, they taste good cold too!) to help make a more balanced meal.

Healthy Fats

What this means:

Yes, include fats…but mostly the heart-healthy fats like omega 3s and monounsaturated fats.

Give me an example:

Think low-mercury fish (like salmon), nuts (walnuts are great), nut butters, olive oil, and avocado.

How does it help?

Choosing more mono and polyunsaturated fats can help improve insulin sensitivity and decrease inflammation. They can also improve your cholesterol levels, which we know can reduce time to pregnancy.

The rich and creamy taste and textures they often bring to a meal can help increase your satiety, which means we’re less likely to overeat too.

Where fad diets fail:

Yes, fat is fat; all are equally high in calories which can add up if we're not mindful, but not all fats are equal. If we lose focus on the healthier choices, we potentially allow trans fats in – these guys have been shown to increase the likelihood of infertility.

They contribute to more insulin resistance, increased inflammation, and do a number on our arteries, all of which are the opposite of what we are going for in our quest for fertility and overall good health.

How to include in your diet:

• Drizzle some olive oil on your veggies to boost the flavor


• Sprinkle some nuts or avocado slices on your salad for extra crunch and texture


• Spread some nut butter on your apple for a nutrient-dense snack.

Protein

What this means:

Protein is paramount. Super important for cellular growth, development, repair, and metabolism. Kind of a big deal! So where do we get it?

Give me an example:

Chicken, turkey, meat, beans, cheese, eggs, nuts, and low-mercury fish.

How does it help?

In a well-renowned study cohort, known as the , they found that getting more protein from plant sources rather than animal sources had positive impacts on ovulatory infertility.

Pairing your starchy grains with a protein can help slow the absorption of glucose into your bloodstream, which is great for glucose/insulin control.

Where fad diets fail:

Again…not all sources are created equal! Following a high-protein diet typically has us consuming higher amounts of saturated fats and cholesterol coming from animal protein sources. That means loading up on these choices “shifts your balanced plate,” therefore, the intake of all the other healthy stuff we’ve been talking about falls short.  

How to include in your diet:

Keep your servings in check (3 oz of meat is equivalent to a deck of cards), choose lean cuts of meat, trim the fat from the edges, and include plant-based choices like lentils, legumes, nuts, and seeds often.

Want some fertility-friendly recipe inspiration?

Best Fertility Nutrition Tips

Beyond the three pillars of a great meal (complex carbohydrates, healthy fat, and lean protein), I can share with you my other never-fail tips on nutrition.

I live by these rules myself, and I truly believe in their ability to offer a high-quality life.

Pssst...wondering specifically? Check out our Nurse Practitioner's complete guide. 

Eat the Rainbow

Imagine a beautifully colored rainbow…that’s what your dream plate should look like! Try your best to have a variety of colors on your plate at as many meals as possible. Greens, reds, yellows, etc.

Including colorful fruits and vegetables can help keep your calorie level in check while providing you with a variety of vitamins and minerals beneficial for fertility.

For instance, vitamin C rich sources (i.e. broccoli, kale, oranges, peppers) can help with , and vitamin A rich sources (i.e. spinach, sweet potatoes, carrots, pumpkin, eggs) can help with , , and . All good things, especially if you're trying to prepare your body for a healthy pregnancy and baby.

Don’t Forget the (Whole) Milk

Yes, FULL-fat dairy, I say! I know what you are thinking…we have just been talking about staying away from saturated fats found in animal products, and you have probably always heard that low-fat dairy is the healthier choice…and it is for the general population.

However, another found a serving or two of whole milk or full-fat dairy can actually have a beneficial effect on ovulatory infertility! That means enjoying a serving or two a day of whole milk, full-fat yogurt, cottage cheese, and yes, ice cream can not only be delicious, but helpful to fertility.   

Equally beneficial is the calcium and vitamin D you will be getting from that dairy to keep your muscles, bones, and heart healthy. Additionally, higher vitamin D levels are associated with better egg quality and healthier pregnancies. It’s a win-win-win!

Not a dairy milk drinker? There are many lactose-free alternatives and fortified almond/nut milks to help you get the calcium you need. 

All About Balance

That means pairing your complex starchy grains with heart-healthy fats and lean protein sources with vitamin-rich veggies. In addition to your colorful plate, make sure there is a wide variety of types of food.

This helps keep blood sugar in check and helps manage weight, leaving you satisfied and less likely to feel the need to add more or snack later. Plus, it helps to ensure you are getting all of the nutrients you need to foster fertility.

What to Limit

You’ve made it this far in your , you may as well get the whole story! You have your eye on the prize, baby!

For the record, I really dislike the word “avoid,” because I know we all live real lives, and it’s not always feasible to 100% “avoid” certain food products/groups. So instead of “foods to avoid,” let’s go with “foods to limit.”

So, here are a few things to try to limit, as best you can:

• Highly processed foods, refined carbohydrates (like white bread), and simple sugars.


• Trans/hydrogenated fat and limiting saturated fats - these guys can be pro-inflammatory, and eating less of these, including less red meat, has been found to be beneficial for pregnancy, not to mention healthier for your heart in general. 


• The unknowns - artificial sweeteners, environmental contaminants (BPA), etc.

Long story short? It’s best to stick with whole foods and ingredients you can pronounce.

Nutrition + Physical Activity = A Winning Combo

Another big professional and personal motto for me (in addition to “everything in moderation”) is it all comes down to “good self-care.” You know, “put your oxygen mask on first” type stuff.

In addition to eating healthfully, good self-care includes exercising. Of course, this isn’t the first time you’ve heard that, and it will certainly not be the last, but this time around, let’s try and think of exercise as a personal gain.

You get to exercise! You get to improve your health simply by devoting 15, 20, 30, or however many minutes to moving your body.

When you’re navigating fertility struggles, it can be helpful to celebrate the processes in your body that function perfectly…like walking, stretching, running, or any other movement that feels good. It can also be a nice distraction, having something else to focus on besides your next two-week wait!

Benefits of Exercise on Fertility and Nutrition

Let’s break it down: why do we actually need physical activity? Why is it such an important part of a healthy mind/body equation?

can help with the following:

• Achieving or maintaining a healthy body weight


• Improving glucose/insulin sensitivity


• Improving cholesterol levels


• Reducing the risk of diabetes during pregnancy


• Improving our mental health and – two of my favorite benefits

Dealing with insulin resistance? Read this:

Next Steps to Improve Fertility and Overall Health

If any of these recommendations feel like a struggle for you, take baby steps (pun intended):

• Try one new change each day (or week!) instead of doing it all at once. Try a new whole grain or veggie, walk slightly longer or faster more days this week, or sign up for that you’ve been eyeing.


• Eat mindfully! Enjoy your food knowing you're making healthy changes to take care of yourself and your future baby.


• Practice journaling – this can help in practical ways (like keeping you accountable with your progress) and with overall mindfulness (helping you reflect on your progress). .


• Set aside 5 minutes for reflection and appreciation – what sort of progress are you making, and do you see areas to build upon? More importantly, how you are feeling? Maybe this is through meditation, the aforementioned journaling, or a phone call with a . You deserve to take a moment to appreciate how hard you are working for yourself and your future family.  


• Take advantage of offerings in your fertility clinic ! These will undoubtedly help you embody wellness. At the end of the day, your diet is just one piece of the wellness picture (albeit a big one!) so it’s important to factor in other ways of caring for yourself and optimizing your fertility.   

You're Not Alone on This Journey

So, , my judgment-free zone. We are in this together, bite by bite, step by step. Taking care of your nutrition and overall health now will help put some of the control back in your hands.

It all comes down to giving yourself the best chance to conceive, whether that’s with fertility treatment or naturally. Either way, a healthy mind/body will improve . Let's embark on this journey together! You've got this.

Want personalized nutrition advice?