Food is such an important part of fertility. You really are what you eat, particularly when it comes to your fertility and producing good quality eggs!

We all live busy lifestyles; working to pay the bills, struggling to have enough time to get to the gym, socialise with friends, stay on top of life admin and cook something from scratch for dinner that is healthy, nutritious and full of fertility boosting nutrients.

And don’t even let us get started about skipped breakfasts and rushed lunches, where ‘hanger’ leads to poor food choices.

We all know what we should be doing to be healthy and eat a balanced and nutritious diet but sometimes it’s just not that freakin’ easy is it?! And it gets even harder when you add in the additional emotional time and effort needed to cope with assisted conception treatment – headaches, fatigue, bloating… and you want me to cook something healthy for myself for dinner?!

Pro tip:  These are my top five tips to help you optimise your healthy eating and stay on track when life gets busy:

1. Plan, plan, plan – make a weekly meal plan that includes breakfast, lunch, dinner and any pre/post workout snacks that you will need.
2. You’re not Wonder Woman – be realistic about the time you will have to make those meals (for example, if you have a 5am start to get to a meeting, you are not going to be prepping a full breakfast and lunch before you leave the house, unless you really are some kind of wonder woman!).
3. Become a meal prep boss – prepare components of meals and snacks for the week in advance so you can just ‘grab and go’. Making more than you need of a meal and either freezing portions or eating the extra for another meal during the week is another great way to reduce workload.
4. Eat healthy fat – fat is great source of vitamins and other nutrients which are key for fertility. It will also keep you fuller for longer. Healthy fats include avocado, whole eggs, olive oil, salmon and nuts (in moderation!).  Try to ensure you have a portion of healthy fat with every meal – even if you have a snack!
5. Moderate your carb intake – make sure you are eating enough fruit and vegetables (8-10 portions a day is your goal) and try to avoid bulking up your plate with complex carbohydrates (rice, pasta, bread, potatoes) where you can.  The key is moderation and ensuring you balance your carbohydrate intake with sufficient fat and protein. This will avoid the sugar crashes that sabotage your good intentions.

I’ve included some great books and online resources for you to take a look at and get some inspiration from.

There’s a lot out there, so if you need some extra help navigating it all and coming up with an easy to manage, easy to follow plan, then please take a look at my 7 day and 90 day programmes, or consider the option of some 1:2:1 coaching time with me to really focus in on your goals and how we can support you to achieve your dream.