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Holiday Preconception Prep

Tips for Avoiding the Top 3 Seasonal Fertility Traps

By Kim Seidel

Broccoli and cauliflower on the vegetable platter, for instance, contain compounds that help to detoxify the body and balance hormones. Almonds and other nuts – skip the milk-chocolate-covered ones – contain healthy fats, Heller says. When eaten in moderation, nuts help to stabilize blood sugar.

Hummus dip, which contains sesame paste and chick peas, is a good source of healthy fats and fiber. "If you absolutely have to have a sweet snack, look for the berries on the fruit plate and indulge in a tiny piece of dark chocolate, both a source of antioxidants," Heller says. "As always, education and moderation is the key."

In general, stay more than six feet away from the buffet table, says Uche Odiatu, a certified personal trainer in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Physically being farther away makes it more challenging for you to mindlessly eat to excess.

"Crave the conversation more than the food," says Odiatu, co-author of The Miracle of Health: Simple Solutions Extraordinary Results (John Wiley & Sons, Jan. 2009). "Focus on the relationships you want to build, mend and grow during a party, and you will find your attention moving toward connecting with people vs. the holiday 'cheese ball and crackers.'"

A former fertility patient, Mary Williams of Berwyn, Ill., followed the experts by eating something nutritious before holiday events. "Then at the party, I ate something small so not to offend the host," she says. "I usually allowed myself one small piece of something I enjoy, such as a cookie or a small pie slice, just as a reward."

Williams avoided the buffet lines at all costs, even if she ordered off the menu instead. "There's no way to monitor plateful after plateful of food," she says.

Want to see more?

• All I Want for Christmas Is a Baby: Infertility During the Holidays
• Surviving Family Celebrations: Holiday Gatherings and Infertility
• Healthy Eating During Preconception: Good Nutrition While You're Trying to Conceive
• Check out our Article Library.
• Talk about it!