Holidays

7 Tips to Get Back On Track After the Holidays When TTC

July 7, 2025 by Olha Hutsman Leave a Comment

The holiday season is a time for joy, nostalgia, unwinding, and celebrating the past year.

For some people that may not require a huge break in their routine… But for others, the holidays mean limited physical activity, eating more sweets, and not practicing as much self-care as usual.

Taking a break from the routine is good for the soul, and hopefully, you enjoyed the holiday season thoroughly with ZERO guilt. And while eating your favorite treats and lounging on the couch is certainly enjoyable, over the long term it is not doing wonders to support your fertility.

But now that the peppermint mochas and Christmas caroling have come to an end, you may be wondering how in the world you will get back on track to practice good habits that support your fertility goals in the new year??

In this post, you will learn some tips on how you can get back in fertility-supporting shape after taking some time off from your healthy habits.

Remember even if you’re struggling with infertility or facing fertility treatments (e.g., IVF or IUI) over this next year, the lifestyle changes you make can have a big impact!

7 Tips to Get Back on Track After the Holidays

Drink, Drink, Drink! (Water, that is)

Your holidays may have been filled with boozy drinks or sugary mocktails. Whatever your beverage of choice, countering it with some good old fashioned H2O could help your body hydrate – a key factor to overall wellness. Water will give your body the fluid it needs without adding unnecessary calories to your overall diet – something we could all use after the holiday season (even if we couldn’t attend holiday parties or family events – thanks covid).

Don’t Do Too Many Things At Once

Swearing off sugar, promising to exercise for two hours every day, and cutting caffeine cold-turkey is a recipe for a rebound very quickly. One (or two) months of participating in less-than-healthy behaviors won’t make or break your fertility goals, and you shouldn’t feel like you have to “fix” the situation by trying too many things at once. Pick one or two lifestyle goals. And after a few weeks, add two more. Keep doing this until you are back on track.

Commit to Moving Your Body

Even when it is cold outside, there is no reason why you can’t get your blood flowing. A little movement is good for your fertility as well as your mental health. Dance around your bedroom or do an online yoga session. Whatever you have to do to get your body off of the couch will help you immensely.

Start Your Day Off With Veggies

Vegetables don’t have to be served just in salads. Starting your day off with some veggies will give you a boost of fiber, vitamins, and minerals that help you meet your nutrition goals and support your fertility efforts. From whipping up a green smoothie to sautéing some bell peppers and onions along with your scrambled eggs, sneaking in some veggies is simple to do with a little creativity.

Recipe Inspiration: Blue-Green Goddess Smoothie

Ingredients:

1 frozen peeled banana
1 cup frozen blueberries
1 cup chopped zucchini — peel on
1 Tablespoon milled flax seeds
½ cup milk or milk-alternative of choice
2 Tablespoons almond butter
1 cup ice

Instructions:

Add all ingredients to a blender and blend until smooth. Enjoy!

Get Good Quality Sleep

While the holiday season can be fun, it often means falling off track when it comes to sticking to our regular bedtime. This can result in not getting enough sleep, which can wreak havoc on your fertility. Prioritize getting 7-8 hours of quality sleep every night by practicing good sleep hygiene (turning screens off an hour before bedtime, no caffeine after noon, going to sleep in a cold and darkroom) and your body will thank you for it.

Get Rid of Triggering Foods

If you know that you have no self-control when a pumpkin pie is in your fridge or homemade gingerbread cookies are in your cookie jar, don’t keep them in your house. The temptation may be too strong for you to resist binging and eating too large of a portion. Instead, give the treat to your neighbor or friend who will likely enjoy it very much.

Satisfy Your Sweet Tooth With Fruit

Holidays can get some people in the habit of having sugary food all the time. And since everywhere you turn over the holiday season you will find candy canes and rum balls, it is no wonder that your body may be used to that sugar taste once the holiday season is over.

Instead of denying your body what it wants, have better-for-you sweet foods available when a craving strikes.

Freshly cut melon, dried cranberries, and a juicy apple are all excellent and naturally-sweet foods that do not contain added sugars. Added bonus? They contain fertility-boosting nutrients that you won’t find in your candies and cookies, too!

7 tips to support fertility after the holidays

Final Thoughts

Departing moment of love 💌

If you overdid it (or simply got out of your healthy routine over the holiday season), there’s no need to beat yourself up…

Enjoying yourself and observing the holidays is a tradition that many people look forward to all year long, especially during difficult times. Embrace the memories that you made with family members and smile at how much you enjoyed your favorite holiday traditions.

Slowly – and with the right steps – you will get back on track… Small changes can lead to big results and being motivated to make some modifications is a positive first step.

You will be back to your typical healthy and fertility-fueling lifestyle in no time! And remember, you are not alone in this journey.

Fertility-Friendly Foods for Thanksgiving Dinner

June 30, 2025 by Olha Hutsman Leave a Comment

The stress of trying to “eat healthy” around the holidays is real.

First and foremost, it’s important to remember that a “healthy” lifestyle is one of balance, ease, sustainability… and one in which you don’t feel like you’re missing out or depriving yourself.

Which means when it comes to the holidays – or any occasion for that matter – you can enjoy yourself while making choices that support your goals, lifestyle, and overall well being.

When I was in a phase of serial ‘dieting’, the holidays used to cause me so much anxiety. But here’s what I eventually realized:

Now let’s bring those realizations to life with some real-world strategies for supporting your fertility come mealtime this Thanksgiving.

Here’s a quick overview of what you’ll discover:

Strategies for a stress-free Thanksgiving meal
Pro-fertility food swaps at Thanksgiving
Fertility-friendly Thanksgiving recipes

Strategies for a stress-free Thanksgiving meal

We know it goes without saying, but there are so many things during the holidays that can be quite triggering if you are trying to conceive…

… the family gatherings… the trips to the store… the dreaded question about when you are planning to have kids.

And of course one of the biggest stressors can be the challenge of maintaining a healthy nutrition plan amongst all the traditional Thanksgiving foods.

In next week’s post, we’ll cover our top tips for surviving the holiday season outside the kitchen. But for now, here are some tips for sticking to a pro-fertility diet.

Tips for a stress-free Thanksgiving meal when trying to conceive

Host Thanksgiving:

Before your palms begin to sweat, we must admit that hosting Thanksgiving is not going to be the best option for everyone.

It all comes down to whether it’s less stressful to host versus being a situation where you cannot control the environment (or the food).

For some, it can be quite unnerving to enter someone else’s home and feel obliged to eat foods that you know will not support your efforts to conceive.

For others, the thought of having to cook for others is terrifying.

But if you feel up to the task (we’ve got recipes below to help), then consider hosting Thanksgiving. That way you can ensure that the food you eat nourishes your body!

Bring your own food:

Okay, if you decided that hosting Thanksgiving is not your thing – no worries.

The next strategy is to simply bring a dish or two that you and your partner will enjoy. This way you can relax knowing that there will be at least one dish on the table that supports your current goals.

And if you know that the host will insist that you don’t need to cook anything, bring it over anyway!

And if you’re not sure what to cook, we’ve got you covered below…

Start a new tradition:

No matter what your mother says, there’s absolutely no rule saying that you must have mashed potatoes and gravy at Thanksgiving.

Yes, we really just said it… break conventional tradition and start a new one!

Once we became comfortable with introducing new foods on Thanksgiving, things became much more enjoyable for us.

I used to hate broccoli casserole. And my husband loathed dressing loaded with bread crumbs and raisins.

So we opted to make a citrus kale salad and baked sweet potato wedges instead – they are now family favorites at the holidays 🙂

Pro-Fertility Food Swaps at Thanksgiving

If you’re looking to make some simply fertility-friendly food swaps, we’ve got some ideas to keep it simple, delicious, and stress-free.

And if only one or two of these recommendations suits you, that’s okay… Remember, it’s all about balance in the end.

Fertility-friendly food swaps for Thanksgiving

Watch the high-glycemic carbs:

As you may recall, high-glycemic foods can wreck your hormones.

So when we call out bread, stuffing, and mashed potatoes, we aren’t trying to ruin anyone’s Thanksgiving… We are simply trying to bring attention to foods that can disrupt your hormonal balance.

The good news?

There are many other great carbohydrates to try instead!

Recommended swap:

Lower glycemic carbs make for great substitutions.

So instead of mashed potatoes or baked potatoes, give roasted butternut squash or baked sweet potatoes a try… And if you’d rather pass on the starch altogether, load your plate with more green veggies instead (e.g., broccoli, asparagus, kale, green beans, etc).

Quick fact: asparagus is loaded with folate – one of the top pro-fertility nutrients.

In the end, if you just can’t skip the traditional Thanksgiving carbs, choose your favorites and enjoy!

Look for the added sugar:

Sugar can easily find its way into your Thanksgiving foods, especially items that were store-bought.

Things like cranberry sauce and gravy are big culprits.

Make sure to check those food labels and look at the added sugar content. Some amount of natural sugar is okay. Just be on the lookout for too much added sugar.

Of course the same goes for recipes made from scratch.

Recommended swap:

If you’re looking to save time in the kitchen with premade foods, check out a few different options. Look for the one with the least amount of added sugar. You’d be surprised what you’ll find.

Alternatively, if you’re cooking things from scratch, try reducing the amount of sugar added to recipes. Swapping out sugar for fat can be a great way to maintain flavor.

Remember, don’t fear all forms of dietary fat, especially when you’re trying to minimize sugar.

Be mindful of your beverages:

The holidays can be a time to enjoy good spirits and libations, but it’s important to be cautious when it comes to drinking alcohol.

As we’ve mentioned before, we recommend sticking with the CDC recommendations – any woman actively trying to conceive should abstain from alcohol. This is also true for those undergoing fertility treatments as well.

But fear not… we’ve got you covered!

Recommended swap:

Mocktails are a great option!

We especially love anything with mineral water 🙂

If you’re looking for extra inspiration, we’re big fans of Superfood Juices by Julie Morris… Dr. Haas loves the Pomegranate Chia Fresca!

Be picky with dessert:

Pumpkin pie… apple pie… pumpkin bars… and cranberry cheesecake – oh my goodness.

When it comes time for dessert, there’s no need to sweat it.

We believe that you should have your cake and eat it too – just be picky with what you choose and balance portion sizes.

Recommended swap:

First and foremost, don’t feel like you have to skip out or swap anything on dessert.

There are many great options to choose from, including some of the substitutions we have below.

Personally, we are big fans of anything with dark chocolate as the main ingredient! Fresh berries also make a great after-dinner treat.

And if you’re looking to go the traditional route, choosing a wholesome pumpkin pie that’s light on the sugar is a great option too.

Fertility-Friendly Thanksgiving Recipes

It’s one thing to know what you should eat, and another to put that information into action… And all in a way that’s easy and doesn’t have you feeling stressed about being in the kitchen.

As you know, we’re big foodies at heart at OvulifeMD. We’re always looking for healthy (and tasty) food recipes. Oftentimes, this means making modifications to traditional recipes or preparing something similar-ish.

Here are a few healthy Thanksgiving recipes that we recommend giving a try:

Appetizers:

Best Sweet Potato Bites

Sweet potatoes are always a winner, right?

This recipe is SUPER easy to make and will surely be a crowd, please.

To make this recipe a little more fertility-friendly, simply swap out the marshmallow for goat cheese, and drizzle a little honey on it at the end for a bit of something sweet. You can also use cold-pressed, extra-virgin olive oil in place of the butter.

We recommend roasting the sweet potatoes in advance so they become chip like- add the goat cheese and pecans for 5 minutes- then enjoy! Melty, gooey, savory goodness 🙂

Thanks, Delish!

Crispy Buffalo Quinoa Bites

Instead of the traditional sausage meatballs or cheese ball filled with mayo (you know the kind with four types of cheese, sour cream, and pork), give these crispy quinoa buffalo bites a try!

They make for the PERFECT appetizer and are savory, spicy, convenient, and delicious! We promise even your carnivore cousin won’t even miss the meat 😉

We think these buffalo bites do great on their own without the salad. Simply chop off some celery sticks to add to the side and enjoy!

If you decide to make the dressing in this recipe, remember to stick to full-fat dairy. You can also skip the buttermilk if you’d like. We actually forgo the ranch-like dressing and add more buffalo sauce!

Be sure to keep this recipe around for football season!

Thanks, Half Baked Harvest!

Spinach Artichoke Dip

Spinach artichoke dip is simply one of my favorite appetizers. I could probably eat it as the Thanksgiving meal… My partner, on the other hand, prefers the buffalo bites.

This particular recipe includes all the simple, fertility-friendly swaps we would look for when comparing it to your traditional version – it’s both mayo and vegetable oil-free.

Enjoy it with vegetable sticks or your favorite chip or cracker!

Thanks, The Clean Eating Couple!

Broccoli Caesar

No substitutions needed here. We simply vote for the egg over the mayo. This recipe is a great addition to any Thanksgiving meal!

Thanks, Bon Appetit!

Sides:

Best Paleo Stuffing (gluten-free, grain-free)

Wait one second… We thought paleo meant no bread… How can you make stuffing without bread?

Our thoughts exactly.

We were skeptical too when we first saw this, but this recipe doesn’t disappoint! The flavor profile and texture can’t be beaten, and it’s full of all the good stuff like veggies, olive oil, and almond flour! That’s my favorite kind of stuffing.

Thanks, 40 aprons!

Herbed Wild Rice and Quinoa Stuffing:

Because stuffing is such a staple at Thanksgiving we wanted to share another option.

We also love this alternative as it’s built around low-glycemic whole grains (gluten-free too if that’s something you’re trying to avoid).

Thanks, Kitchen Treaty!

Roasted Butternut Squash with Cranberries and Feta:

Can’t imagine Thanksgiving without cranberries?

This recipe is a great alternative to that cranberry sauce loaded with sugar and preservatives. The feta adds a delightful twist and can be swapped for goat cheese as well. A sprinkle of pistachios would be a pro-fertility fat to include in this recipe as well.

Thanks, Peas & Crayons!

Main:

We’re in full support of enjoying turkey on ‘Turkey’ day… But if you’re vegetarian or prefer to go more plant-based, then we’ve got some delicious alternatives for you to try. Anyone who says Thanksgiving isn’t the same without turkey clearly hasn’t tried these.

Cauliflower Steak with a Walnut Caper Salsa

A twist on traditional mains, this cauliflower steak truly has a meaty texture that hits the spot. The fertility-boosting walnuts and caper salsa add the perfect flavor profile to make this worthy of being the main event.

Thanks, Bon Appetit!

Portobello Steaks with Lemon Basil Aioli

Mushrooms also do a great job at taking the place of meat.

This recipe has a flavorful pesto aioli that absolutely makes the dish! An added bonus is that they also use Thrive algae oil. Algae oil is a great source of plant based monounsaturated fatty acids and has an extremely light flavor that will suit nearly any dish you pair it with.

Thanks, Making Thyme for Health!

Final Thoughts

Whatever you choose to set your table with this Thanksgiving, make sure it’s something that is delicious, you love, makes you feel good, makes you smile, and serves your body.

Holidays are meant for joy and not anxiety, so please don’t sweat the small stuff.

At the end of the day, you do you and enjoy quality time with loved ones!

Beyond swapping out some of the holiday staples we’ve also started a family tradition of taking a walk or going on a small hike every afternoon on Thanksgiving. Get creative with physical activity and make it a family occasion!

Tips for Handling the Holidays
When Trying to Conceive

June 30, 2025 by Olha Hutsman 2 Comments

The holidays bring on many wonderful things, including hot chocolate, time to connect with family, and sometimes, ~~snowmen~~ snowwomen!

But the holidays can also mean having your mailbox flooded with cards donning pictures of your friends’ brand-new babies and commercials filled with images of parents and children enjoying the season – things that can be quite triggering if you are trying to conceive during the holidays.

Of course, you can’t turn off your emotions just because Thanksgiving and Christmas are around the corner. And while you may feel joy and gratitude when digging into some pumpkin pie with your loved ones, welcoming another holiday season without a child of your own can be painful.

If you are going to be seeing your family member that can’t help but constantly ask when you are going to have a baby, your holiday can be even more challenging. The good news is that there are some things you can do to help enjoy the holidays and make them a bit less stressful.

So, instead of hiding under your covers from Thanksgiving until New Years, we’ve got some tips to help navigate one of the most wonderful times of the year while #TTC.

Don’t feel guilty about skipping things

Watching little ones tear into gifts or decorate cookies may appear to be innocent activities, but to those trying to conceive, watching children make memories can be hard to witness when you don’t have a child of your own.

If an event sounds to be more kid-focused, it is perfectly reasonable to decline the invitation – or show up later to the event when you know the kids will already be in bed. And if you are attending these events via Zoom, appreciate the beauty of turning your camera off and walking away.

All this to say, you shouldn’t feel guilty about skipping some things during the holidays, just don’t skip out on everything.

Enjoy the great outdoors

Although binging on a season of Sex In The City in your bed with a bag of popcorn may sound appealing, spending all day indoors glued to the TV isn’t the best thing to do for your emotional well-being (or your vitamin D levels for that matter!).

Getting some fresh air and enjoying some sunshine can do wonders for your emotional state.

And don’t let the cold weather stop you from going out in nature. Something as simple as bundling up and going for a walk can make a world of difference for your mindset.

Have your response ready

The chances of somebody asking you an inappropriate question about your fertility plans is high over the holidays. Frustrating, but true.

But here’s the thing – you do NOT owe anyone an explanation as to why you don’t have children if you don’t feel compelled to share.

Instead of being caught off-guard, we encourage you to have your answer ready for when you get that annoying question. Know if you are going to change the subject, offer a passive response, or be direct and tell the person the truth.

Whatever your response, there’s no wrong way to handle this situation.

Do what’s best for you!

Consider (virtual) therapy

Many therapists offer virtual counseling and support, and since the holidays can be an especially challenging time, it may be worthwhile to partner with one for frequent check-ins during the holiday weeks.

It is nice to have someone in your back pocket to help guide you on how to manage emotions or to make sure you are practicing self-care.

And don’t be afraid to be proactive when it comes to scheduling time with a trained specialist. We promise the holidays will go much smoother if you actively talk about and process your feelings before they start to bubble up inside.

Lean on other women TTC

If you have a TTC sister that’s going through a fertility journey as well, then enjoy the notion that she can be your “person” over the holiday season. Make a pact that the two of you will check in with each other over the holidays and help each other if a struggle comes up.

We encourage that you be a little picky when it comes to choosing your “person” too. If their energy is not serving you, then it’s okay to find support elsewhere.

Take a social media break

You know that people mostly only share positive things on social media, right?

They only show the perfect image of their perfect little angels in their perfect little holiday attire; not the 10-minute melt-down that little Timmy had because he wasn’t allowed to watch his iPad later in the day.

The holidays are the perfect time to take a social media break.

You already know what you are going to see – couples posing under the mistletoe, kids dressed in matching pajamas, and perfectly curated porches. You aren’t missing anything if you skip your scrolling for a few weeks. And it would likely greatly benefit your mental health too.

Practice self-care

By self-care, we don’t mean treating yourself to a pedicure (which is always lovely, by the way).

What we mean is to really listen to yourself and take care of yourself emotionally.

If you need to cancel plans last-minute because you know you just can’t make it through the event without crying, then cancel. If you really feel like you need to create a perfect holiday meal to help you feel happy, then get your apron! Need to miss caroling because your body needs a yoga sesh? Honor that feeling, girl.

Only you know what you need most!

Get quality sleep

Everything seems worse when you are tired… And powering through with 4 hours of sleep and 4 cups of coffee is no way to find your inner zen during the holidays (even if it’s the season for pumpkin spice lattes).

We are the first to admit that getting 7-8 hours of quality zzz’s per night may be challenging, but try and make it a top priority. It will help with your emotions and may also help you enjoy this season a bit more.

So if you’re going to enjoy those holiday movies, consider starting them earlier in the evening. And if you’re feeling hip, sport some blue-light blocking glasses after dinner.

A quick word of caution with sleep supplements… melatonin can be a great option, but we encourage you to talk with your OB/GYN or REI physician as it can disrupt normal menstrual patterns in some women. Some more safe options to explore include enjoying tart cherry juice or kiwis before bed — those are two remedies that MAY help you relax with little downside.

The holidays bring on many wonderful things, including hot chocolate, time to connect with family, and sometimes, ~~snowmen~~ snowwomen!

So, instead of hiding under your covers from Thanksgiving until New Years, we’ve got some tips to help navigate one of the most wonderful times of the year while #TTC.

Don’t feel guilty about skipping things

All this to say, you shouldn’t feel guilty about skipping some things during the holidays, just don’t skip out on everything.

Enjoy the great outdoors

Getting some fresh air and enjoying some sunshine can do wonders for your emotional state.

And don’t let the cold weather stop you from going out in nature. Something as simple as bundling up and going for a walk can make a world of difference for your mindset.

Have your response ready

The chances of somebody asking you an inappropriate question about your fertility plans is high over the holidays. Frustrating, but true.

But here’s the thing – you do NOT owe anyone an explanation as to why you don’t have children if you don’t feel compelled to share.

Whatever your response, there’s no wrong way to handle this situation.

Do what’s best for you!

Consider (virtual) therapy

It is nice to have someone in your back pocket to help guide you on how to manage emotions or to make sure you are practicing self-care.

Lean on other women TTC

We encourage that you be a little picky when it comes to choosing your “person” too. If their energy is not serving you, then it’s okay to find support elsewhere.

Take a social media break

You know that people mostly only share positive things on social media, right?

The holidays are the perfect time to take a social media break.

Practice self-care

By self-care, we don’t mean treating yourself to a pedicure (which is always lovely, by the way).

What we mean is to really listen to yourself and take care of yourself emotionally.

Only you know what you need most!

Get quality sleep

So if you’re going to enjoy those holiday movies, consider starting them earlier in the evening. And if you’re feeling hip, sport some blue-light blocking glasses after dinner.

Emotional self-care tips during the holiday season

Final Thoughts

The holidays can be tough on a lot of people, but they can be especially challenging when you are trying to conceive. Remember that there is no perfect way to navigate the holidays, and only you will know what will work best for your own needs.

Listen to yourself…

Prioritize your must-haves…

Do what’s best for you…

Everyone around you will survive with what you need most – we promise 🙂

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