The Best Fertility Diet Meal Plan + Recipes • Contentment + Chaos (2024)

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[Disclaimer: I am not a doctor or medical practitioner. Any medical information is strictly my opinion based on research and personal experience, and not to be taken as advice. Always seek the advice of a licensed physician for your medical needs. Read my full disclaimer here.]

After finding the best fertility diet according to research (if you care about the research and why these recipes are good for fertility, check out the research here!), I put together the best fertility diet meal plan + recipes. First, here is a short recap of the keys to the best fertility diet:

Lots of..

–Monounsaturated fats (avocados, olive oil, etc.)…that helps with implantation. See this post.
–Fruits and veggies (if you are trying to follow traditional TCM, cook them first so you are eating “warming” foods)
–Plant-based protein (nuts, seeds, beans, legumes)
–Seafood (low in mercury, like salmon)

In moderation…

–High-fat dairy
–Whole grains instead of refined

Not much of (or no)…

–Animal-based protein
–Fast food/saturated fat

Read below for the meal plan + recipes! (And when you’re done, be sure to check out my fertility shopping list + list of meal ideas!)

The meals + recipes

Breakfast options:

1. My favorite: Steel-cut oats. Topping options: fruit like blueberries and raspberries, flaxseeds, and nuts.
I also add a little 2% milk (whole milk would be even better!). I buy the Quaker steel-cut oats. There are regular ones and instant ones—personally, I like the regular ones slightly better, but they take 25 minutes. If you don’t have that kind of time, the quick ones only take 3. Add a slice of multigrain bread with almond butter if you want or a banana.

2. Full-fat Greek yogurt (my dietician recommended Siggi’s!) topped with this homemade granola, raspberries, blueberries, strawberries (really whatever fruit you want) + flaxseeds (+any nuts you want too!)
Turns out homemade granola is really not hard to make…and then you can add in whatever nuts + seeds you want!

3. Special K Protein (Honey Almond/Ancient Grains) with 2% or whole milk + topped with fruit.
I used to only eat cereal for breakfast…and it’s still the easiest and quickest breakfast option for me when I’m in a hurry, even if it’s not the best option. One day I sat in the cereal aisle for a half hour reading the nutrition facts on cereal boxes, and I determined that this Special K is the best option for cereals when you are trying to get protein. So for those rushed mornings when you only have time to just pour yourself a quick bowl of cereal, try Special K + Protein (with full fat dairy milk and fruit)!

4. Smashed avocado + egg toast.
Use multigrain toast + organic, free-range eggs (prepared however you want — you could even do hard-boiled slices). My dietician recently clued me into just how important eggs are for reproductive health — she insisted I start eating several servings a week! Eat with a side of fruit.

5. Smoothies.
I experiment all the time with different combinations/amounts, but here are the things I add: spinach, liquid (I use milk, water, or orange juice), small scoop of almond butter, chia seeds, flaxseeds, frozen fruit combination (bananas, strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, and/or mango), + ice. The keys to a great smoothie are having an awesome blender (like this Ninja I have — it’s awesome) + making sure it’s super cold (hence the frozen fruit and ice). My dietician also recommended I add a scoop of these Collagen peptides for egg quality (the powder is tasteless and also includes protein). *Subscribe at the bottom of this page to get my favorite smoothie recipe delivered to your inbox!

Also: Ginger tea + lemon water.
I drink lemon (+ mint, sometimes) water throughout the day, but a lot at breakfast. I also make my own homemade ginger tea by smashing ginger and adding it to boiling water. Sometimes I add a bag of turmeric tea too.

Snack options (for whenever you want):

1. My favorite: Handful of nuts.
I keep a big jar of my own mixed nut blend on the kitchen table to grab a handful when I walk by — almonds, walnuts, and brazil nuts.

2. Hard boiled egg

3. Fresh fruit

4. Vegetables (with hummus if you want)

5. String cheese

Lunch options:

1. My favorite: Salmon chopped salad
This chopped salad is the ultimate fertility super salad — seafood, leafy greens, olive oil, and avocados! (And it’s delicious!) I add spinach to the romaine blend + use the recipe for the salmon that you can find below in my dinner options, although I’m sure the one listed here is delicious too. Find the recipe here: Salmon chopped salad

2. Indian vegetable curry sliders (aka Pav Bahji)
This C+C original recipe packs a delightful blend of anti-inflammatory herbs and spices: ginger, garlic, turmeric, cayenne pepper, and cinnamon. Did I mention it’s delicious?

3. High-protein vegan salad
This made just enough for my husband + I for almost the whole week! Even though this is a salad, the quinoa, chickpeas, and seeds leave you feeling full. Find the recipe here: High-protein vegan salad

4. Sweet potato burrito bowls
Disclaimer: this isn’t 100% fertility-diet perfect (there are some canned veggies — buy organic when you can or use fresh!). And I cheat a little and still use white rice…or you could swap out the white rice for brown + then totally skip the broth. I often will make a big batch of these on Sunday and put in containers for easy take-and-go lunches for the whole week! Find the recipe here: Sweet potato burrito bowls

**Update: Although I still like the previous recipe, I recently made this similar recipe with my new cast iron skillet…it was amazing and even more fertility friendly! (Instead of the rice in the previous recipe, you get chicken — even better! And if you don’t have a cast iron skillet, it’s worth buying one for this!!)

5. Baja grain bowls
Panera-inspired, gluten free, super simple grain bowls that are great for meal prep! (If you’re cooking-challenged, you can do these!) Find the C+C original recipe here.

Bonus (obvious) idea: Any of your dinner leftovers
The easiest meal prep!

Dinner options:

1. My favorite: Grilled salmon with steamed broccoli + brown rice
Another salmon recipe…but it’s so good! If you don’t think you like fish or seafood, try it anyway — I didn’t think I did until I tried this recipe. I use the salmon marinade here. I usually steam the broccoli (if you don’t have a basket steamer, you need one) or roast it in the oven (though maybe a little less healthy than steaming, this is the BEST roasted broccoli recipe!). Serve with brown rice or quinoa.

2. Whitefish tacos with pineapple salsa + avocado crema
Again, if you don’t usually like fish, I challenge you to try this C+C original recipe.

3. Vegetarian chili
This recipe is DELISH. For real. I’m not going back to chili with meat!

4. Homemade pesto pasta + side salad
More like a big salad + side of pasta! Use either chickpea pasta, whole grain pasta, or pasta + protein (I have tried all three — pasta + protein is definitely the best in terms of flavor but chickpea in terms of healthiness — try that at your own risk!) To make homemade pesto, I follow this recipe. Add extra olive oil! It’s awesome. Don’t forget a giant salad…with a healthy dressing like this homemade lemon, italian, or balsamic vinaigrette.

5. Detox turmeric lentil soup
The turmeric in this recipe helps reduce inflammation…and again, lentils are an awesome source of protein! I was afraid this soup would be too turmeric-y for me (I just added 1 Tb. of turmeric)…but not at all! Find the recipe here: Turmeric lentil soup

*Don’t forget to check out my fertility shopping list + list of meal ideas!

The Best Fertility Diet Meal Plan + Recipes • Contentment + Chaos (2)

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The Best Fertility Diet Meal Plan + Recipes • Contentment + Chaos (2024)

FAQs

What is the fertility diet that works? ›

Research has suggested that diets high in things like whole grains, vegetables, fruit, and fish are associated with improved fertility (particularly in females);1 they can also help you get off to a healthy start in pregnancy.

What is the fertility diet summary? ›

The Fertility Diet outlines ten key diet and exercise changes women can make to increase their chances of ovulation, outlined below: Avoid trans fats. Use more unsaturated vegetable oils, such as olive oil and canola oil. Eat more plant-based protein, like beans and nuts, and less animal protein.

Is a low fodmap diet good for fertility? ›

If you don't have endometriosis, IBS (irritable bowel disease) or unexplained gastrointestinal problems, there is no known benefit of FODMAPs for fertility.

What drink decreases fertility? ›

One study of more than 1200 Danish men aged 18-28 found that men who drank five units of alcohol per week (about three beers or three wines) had lower sperm counts and lower sperm quality measures than men who did not drink alcohol.

What foods make you extra fertile? ›

But you may be able to give your fertility a boost by including these foods:
  • Walnuts. Walnuts are an easy-to-eat food that boosts ovulation and keeps sperm healthy. ...
  • Tomatoes. Tomatoes are a good source of vitamins A and C. ...
  • Citrus fruits. ...
  • Full-fat dairy. ...
  • Beans and lentils. ...
  • Sardines and salmon.
Oct 30, 2023

Which fruit is best for fertility? ›

Berries. Blueberries and raspberries are loaded with natural antioxidants and anti-inflammatory phytonutrients, which may help boost both female and male fertility. Like citrus, they're high in folate and vitamin C, which can help with fetal development down the road.

Which juice is best for getting pregnant? ›

3. Citrus Fruits: Oranges, grapefruits, lemons, and other citrus fruits are packed with Vitamin C, vital for enhancing fertility. 4. Avocados: High in folate, avocados support the health of eggs and sperm and reduce the risk of miscarriage.

What is the best bread for fertility? ›

The waitress drops a piping hot basket of bread on your table, and you immediately are faced with the most important decision of your life: do you choose white or whole-wheat bread? If you are trying to get pregnant (or live long enough to play with those kids), you should choose the whole-grain bread.

Why do I feel worse on low FODMAP diet? ›

You may also be eating more starches and sugars from hyper-processed gluten free, low FODMAP packaged foods than usual, which may overwhelm the absorption capacity of a sensitive, hyper-active gut. If you suspect this, try eating more fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds and see how you feel.

Does low carb help you get pregnant? ›

For example, one recent analysis of 14 randomized controlled trials found that women who consumed less calories and refined carbs were more likely than control interventions to result in pregnancy, as well as in weight loss and improvements in ovulation.

What foods are unlimited on low FODMAP diet? ›

Instead, base your meals around low FODMAP foods such as:
  • Eggs and meat.
  • Certain cheeses such as brie, Camembert, cheddar and feta.
  • Almond milk.
  • Grains like rice, quinoa and oats.
  • Vegetables like eggplant, potatoes, tomatoes, cucumbers and zucchini.
  • Fruits such as grapes, oranges, strawberries, blueberries and pineapple.

What do I take to get pregnant faster? ›

If you're trying to conceive, you may want to start taking a prenatal vitamin. These tend to contain higher levels of vitamins known to support both fertility and pregnancy, like folic acid and B vitamins. Just be sure to do some research before choosing one, as vitamins and supplements aren't regulated by the FDA.

How to become more fertile as a woman? ›

To protect your fertility, make these healthy lifestyle choices:
  1. Don't smoke. Tobacco use is linked with lower fertility. ...
  2. Limit or avoid alcohol when trying to conceive. Heavy drinking is linked with an higher risk of problems ovulating. ...
  3. Limit caffeine. ...
  4. Don't exercise too hard or too long. ...
  5. Avoid toxins.
Jan 9, 2024

What foods improve egg quality? ›

The general advice for eating to achieve healthy eggs and sperm is to have a well-balanced diet which includes:
  • Plenty of fruit and vegetables a day.
  • Complex carbohydrates – whole grains like brown rice, oats and wholemeal bread.
  • Organic foods where possible.
  • Oily foods such as fish, nuts, seeds and oils.
  • Avoid trans fats.

What is a good fertility cleanse? ›

Drink plenty of fluids – aim for 1 litre (35fl oz) of filtered water daily and also include a variety of herbal teas. Each day of the detox starts with a glass of hot water with a little lemon or lime juice added. This combination is very alkalizing and supports liver cleansing.

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