01/07/2026
As dietitians, we’ve worked with many women who are doing everything “right” to prepare for pregnancy... but are unknowingly under-fuelling their bodies.
It’s one of the most overlooked aspects of fertility nutrition. The focus is often on what to eat, but for many women, how much they’re eating can be just as important.
Many women have spent years dieting, often since they were teenagers. Small portions, skipping meals, over-exercising or simply putting everyone else’s needs before their own. These experiences can lead to metabolic adaptation, where the body becomes more efficient at conserving energy when it senses that food is scarce.
While this adaptation is protective, it can also affect systems that aren’t essential for immediate survival, including reproductive function.
This doesn’t mean everyone who’s dieted will struggle to conceive. But if you’ve spent years restricting food and are now trying for a baby, it’s worth considering whether your body needs time (while eating enough calories) to feel safe enough to prioritise reproduction.
We know this can be a sensitive topic, especially for anyone trying to conceive. We hope this post encourages you to see food and nutrition through a different lens - one that’s about supporting your body, not restricting it, and giving it the energy it needs to thrive.
If you have any questions, we’re happy to answer 💛
