There’s long been evidence to support the notion that a women’s diet before pregnancy impact her chances of conceiving, and reports continue to prove this point. The most recent was a study into the consumption of fast food and fruit pre-pregnancy, finding that excess consumption of fast food and too little consumption of fruit does in fact inhibit how quickly you can become pregnant.
The survey across women in Australia, New Zealand, the UK and Ireland asked 5,598 women a series of questions about their diet. The results showed that women who ate fast food four or more times a week took nearly a month longer to get pregnant than those who never or rarely ate it and had a 16% risk of being unable to conceive within a year.
The study also showed that women with the lowest fruit intake has a 12% risk of not conceiving within a year, with those who at fruit less than one to three times a month taking on average half a month longer to become pregnant than those who ate it three or more times a day.
However, the risk on not conceiving within a year was already 8% for the entire group, making the results seem less severe. The research methods of the study have also been called into question, as the results relied on women remembering their diet in the month before becoming pregnant once they were at 14-16 weeks.
The survey was gathered at this stage in the pregnancy by midwives, who asked the women how often they ate fruit, green leafy vegetables and fish, as well as fast food and various unhealthier options such as burgers, pizza, fried chicken and chips. Surprisingly, the experts found no association with eating fish or green leafy vegetables and the time it took to get pregnant.
Researchers have admitted that other unknown factors might have affected the result and acknowledge only a limited range of foods were incorporated- plus there was no information on the father's diet.
Despite this, the experts have confirmed that this research shows a correlation between the diet a woman has and the time it takes her to conceive. Prof Claire Roberts, who led the study, said, ‘These findings show that eating a good quality diet that includes fruit and minimising fast food consumption improves fertility and reduces the time it takes to get pregnant.’
Adding to the growing body of evidence that diet is an important factor in conception, other researchers not involved in the study have also confirmed the overall findings of the study. Dr. Gino Pecoraro, a senior Lecturer at the University of Queensland, said: ‘Generally, the study does support what most health professionals would intuitively believe - having a healthy diet is good for couples trying to conceive.
Click through to see healthy, high protein snacks you can eat on the go...
Grazia 20 Delicious High Protein Snacks
1 of 22Müllerlight Skyr Salted Caramel Müllerlight Skyr
That's right, your favourite yoghurt brand have entered the protein market and we could not be happier. This delicious Salted Caramel flavour yogurt is packed with 14g of protein and it's fat free! The thickness of a Skyr yoghurt coupled with the luxury of salted caramel...what more could you want?! Other flavours include Strawberry & Acai. We're drooling already.
2 of 22Halo Top Ice Cream
Just because you're eating to certain macros, doesn't mean you can't treat yourself. Luckily for us nutrient nuts, there are tons of health-conscious dessert companies. Our favourite? Halo Top ice cream. Not only do they have a dairy-free range for the lactose-free and vegan health conscious out there, they also have loads of flavours to choose from...
3 of 22Chilli Garlic Edamame
Boil your edamame for 5 minutes and rain, then heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil with ¼ teaspoon of red pepper flakes and 2 garlic cloves, sliced. Stir in the edamame after 1-2 minutes and you've got yourself some delicious peas to snack on.
4 of 22Hard Boiled Eggs and Avocado
They might not be the easiest snacks to make, but they're FILLED with protein at 13g per egg. Combine with some avocado for some healthy fats, it's both delicious and nutritious.
5 of 22Chocolate Protein Cake
The ultimate what can I do with this leftover egg problem solver, making a protein cake is as simple as mixing one egg with one scoop of protein power and microwaving it for 1 minute. It's not going to be the tastiest snack in the world, but it's something you can do in minutes when you really need your cake fill. If you've got some time to kill, or you want more than just a quick fix, try this recipe.
6 of 22Mixed Nuts
Almonds and peanuts have the highest protein content, throw them together and you've got yourself a snack you can pick at all afternoon.
7 of 22Chicken Bites
You could buy these in any supermarket, but make them yourself at home and you'll avoid that strong, strange smell in the office. Cut a chicken breast into chunks, fry with your seasoning of choice and pop into a Tupperware box for the next day. Easy, simple and protein packed.
8 of 22Prawn Skewers
Delicious and protein-packed, these prawn skewers will brighten up any dull afternoon. Find the perfect recipe for smoked paprika prawns here.
9 of 22Chia Seed Pudding
Mix 2 tablespoons of whole chia seeds with ½ cup of milk, whichever you like, and refrigerate for 3 hours minimum (overnight is best). Top with peanut butter, fruit, chocolate- whatever you want! With almond milk, this great dessert has 5g of protein per serving, but that will increase depending on what type of milk you use.
10 of 22Black Bean Hummus
Hummus itself isn't that great when it comes to fat and protein content, black bean hummus however has all the nutritional benefits of beans while still being the perfect carrot dip. If you fancy trying to concoct your own black bean hummus, try this recipe.
11 of 22Nut Butter Balls
Combine ½ cup of rolled oats, ½ nut butter of choice, 1 splash of milk and add 2 scoops of your favourite protein powder for an extra kick of protein! Roll the mixture into these teeny balls and you've got a tonne of delicious, healthy snacks for the day.
12 of 22Nutter Butter, The Low Maintenance Way
There's a reason you always see bodybuilders piling peanut butter into their protein shakes, it has a high protein content. Try it as a snack by scooping it on some fruit and veggies like apple or celery sticks.
13 of 22Protein Cookies
Beware of everything you can find on the market. Most things that say 'PROTEIN' in big letters have an average amount of protein and are supplemented by more carbs and fats. Go to protein specific websites if you don't trust your baking skills, but expect them not to be the same as the real thing… I've had my heart broken far too many times. Try out this recipe if you're a dab hand in the kitchen.
14 of 22Pumpkin Seeds
Having a handful of these in your bag will give you an 8g protein boost whenever it's needed. If you have time to make them a little extra, coat them in curry powder and roast for 20 mins at 175 degrees.
15 of 22Broccoli and Cauliflower
It might be a bit random to whip out some steamed veg at your desk, but with 10g of protein per serving they're worth the dodgy looks. If your worried about the blandness of it all, try making up some gravy. If there's ever a reason to add gravy to anything, you have to do it.
16 of 22Roasted Chickpeas
You can put chickpeas with any herb mix you like and roast them in the oven for 45 minutes at 175 degrees for an easy, simple snack for the next day. We like to coat ours is a mixture of cumin, garlic powder, chili powder, oil and salt and pepper for an extra kick (just whisk the ingredients together and coat your chickpeas in it before baking!)
17 of 22Sticky Beef and Cashews
It might sound more like lunch than a snack, but when you need to meet a certain protein intake, you've got to get it where you can. These little combinations of steak, cashew nuts and broccoli are nutritious and filling. Check out the recipe here.
18 of 22Tuna and Crackers
Random, we know, but combine your tuna with pesto or salad cream and slab it on some whole wheat crackers- you've got yourself a rival to the old cheese and crackers fan favourite. Well, maybe not a great rival, but a protein rival for sure.
19 of 22Mixed Bean Salad
Beans contain SO much protein, 15g per serving depending on what type you like. Combine three of your favourite types of bean in a bowl, we go for kidney, cannellini and garbanzo. Lash some of your chosen salad dressing on top and you have a mid-afternoon salad to boost your spirits during the 3pm slump. If you want to be a little extra, add some red onion, celery, spring onion and rosemary for more vegetable goodness.
20 of 22Mini Turkey Burgers
These will take a tad more effort, but a mini-serving of burger goodness HAS to surpass your usual midday pringles. Turkey has is higher in protein than chicken or beef, and has a better fat to protein ratio. Simply mix your ground turkey mix with some egg yolk and seasoning of choice, roll into mini burgers and fry for 5 minutes on both sides. You can eat the burgers alone, with mini rolls or if your SUPER on them gains make some lettuce wraps out of gem lettuce. Throw some salsa alongside it and you've got yourself a filling, nutritional mid-afternoon snack.
21 of 22Protein Shake
Easy if you need a snack on the go, throw a banana, spinach, milk and your favourite protein powder into a blender and your good to go. You can add protein high extras like peanut butter, Greek yogurt or oats if you want a thicker smoothie.
22 of 22Tzatziki Dip
Whether you want it on its own or with some fruit of choice, Tzatziki is a delicious mid-afternoon dipping snack made with Greek yogurt which has 10g of protein per serving. The highest protein yogurt is Skyr Icelandic style, (which you can buy in Lidl and Tesco!) with 16.5g of protein per serving depending on what flavor you buy. Follow this recipe to turn your yogurt into Tzatziki and you have the perfect dip for your veggies.