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

[Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. You can read my full disclosure here.]

[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)

  • Save

Want more TTC tips, recipes + encouragement delivered straight to your inbox? Join the Contentment + Chaos community!
(+ get my favorite fertility-boosting smoothie recipe!)

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

FAQs

What is the fertility diet that works? ›

If you're looking to improve your fertility, focus on incorporating these foods into your diet: Unsaturated fats (avocados, olives, canola and olive oils, nuts, seeds, peanuts) Whole grains and legumes (beans, chickpeas, oats, farro, corn, arrowroot, quinoa) Fruits and veggies (aim for a colorful plate)

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.

What is a Mediterranean diet for fertility? ›

Results of the study concluded that women eating little to no red meat and more fruit, fresh vegetables, fish, legumes, whole grains and vegetable oils had between a 65 percent and 68 percent better chance of achieving pregnancy and giving birth than women who had the “lowest adherence” to the Mediterranean diet.

What foods make sperm thicker and stronger? ›

Omega-3 fatty acids, found in fish (such as salmon and sardines), nuts (like walnuts), and seeds (such as flaxseeds and chia seeds), are essential for sperm health. They help improve sperm quality, count, and motility, increasing the chances of conception.

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.

What drink decreases fertility? ›

In couples in which both the man and the woman drank 4 or more alcohol beverages per week, the live birth rate was decreased even further compared to those couples in which both partners drank less than 4 drinks per week (OR 0.79, 95% CI 0.66-0.96). These findings were largely felt to reflect failures in fertilization.

What foods to avoid for fertility? ›

Some things to cut out of your "fertility diet"
  • Simple or refined carbohydrates.
  • Trans fats.
  • Highly-processed foods.
  • Alcohol (couples actively trying to get pregnant or undergoing fertility treatment should avoid drinking alcohol)
  • Excessive caffeine intake (more than 500mg per day)

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.

How to conceive twins? ›

Do not leave having twins to chance. Increase the chances of getting pregnant with twins by getting pregnant in your 30s or later; finding a partner with a family history of twins; increasing your weight; breastfeeding regularly; consuming dairy products; and getting pregnant repeatedly.

Is pineapple good for fertility? ›

When it comes to fertility, the thought is by eating pineapple core after an in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycle or other fertility treatment, you'll have increased chances of an embryo implanting in your uterus. Unfortunately, there's no good scientific study that tells us bromelain can help with implantation either.

What is the egg warrior diet? ›

People following this diet undereat for 20 hours per day, then consume as much food as desired at night. During the 20-hour fasting period, dieters are encouraged to consume small amounts of dairy products, hard-boiled eggs and raw fruits and vegetables, as well as plenty of non-calorie fluids.

What is anti-inflammatory food for fertility? ›

Apples, onions, berries, brassicas and capers are a good source of quercetin, an important anti-inflammatory antioxidant. Fermented foods, such as kimchi, sauerkraut, kefir, kombucha and yoghurt, should be included regularly in your diet.

What is an anti-inflammatory diet for trying to conceive? ›

An anti-inflammatory diet consists of whole grains, fruits, vegetables, nuts, beans, herbs and spices, and fish. An anti-inflammatory diet helps to fight off many diseases and may help to improve the chances of conceiving.

Can you eat eggs everyday on the Mediterranean diet? ›

Based on their high cholesterol content, the Mediterranean Diet Foundation recommends to consume up to 4 eggs per week, as a healthy alternative to fish or meat [7], and the same amount (2–4 eggs per week) was indicated in the latest Italian dietary guidelines [8].

How can I make myself more fertile to get pregnant? ›

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

How can I increase my chances of getting pregnant? ›

Have sex regularly. The highest pregnancy rates occur in couples who have sex every day or every other day. Have sex near the time of ovulation. If having sex every day isn't possible — or enjoyable — have sex every 2 to 3 days a week starting soon after the end of your period.

What increases egg fertility? ›

A high-fat, low-carb diet improves overall fertility and egg quality by lowering inflammation (which otherwise reduces blood flow to the ovaries) and balancing your reproductive hormones. Fat also helps by giving your body the energy and cell growth support it needs to conceive.

How can I boost my fertility eggs? ›

How To Improve Egg Quality?
  1. Eat A Healthy Diet. One of the strategies to have high-quality eggs is to be in generally good health. ...
  2. Achieve A Normal BMI. The chances of getting pregnant can be increased with a normal body mass index. ...
  3. Boost Blood Flow. ...
  4. Manage Stress. ...
  5. Stay Away From Smoking And Alcohol.
Jul 27, 2022

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Otha Schamberger

Last Updated:

Views: 5769

Rating: 4.4 / 5 (55 voted)

Reviews: 94% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Otha Schamberger

Birthday: 1999-08-15

Address: Suite 490 606 Hammes Ferry, Carterhaven, IL 62290

Phone: +8557035444877

Job: Forward IT Agent

Hobby: Fishing, Flying, Jewelry making, Digital arts, Sand art, Parkour, tabletop games

Introduction: My name is Otha Schamberger, I am a vast, good, healthy, cheerful, energetic, gorgeous, magnificent person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.