When Charlotte Grand and her husband started trying to have a baby, she was shocked when it didnt just happen easily: We thought it should be easy. At school, we were always taught that we could just get pregnant instantly.

Ive been with my husband since I was 17, we got married at 25, started trying to have a baby at 26, and it just didnt happen. It was frustrating. We were both seemingly fit and healthy.

We went back and forth to doctors for many years, and were eventually diagnosed with unexplained infertility, says Grand, who is based in Berkshire, South East England.

To deal with the stress of her job she was a fashion buyer at the time she started acupuncture, which was the first step towards a different lifestyle.

The effects [of acupuncture] were amazing. My cycle was regular but painful on day one. After acupuncture, I was pain-free and that really piqued my interest in holistic health, leading to other dietary and lifestyle changes, like a focus on sleep, and trying to destress.

Positive changes

When Grand was referred for IVF treatment, she decided to make changes to her diet.

I like to be proactive and take ownership, she says. When youre on that IVF rollercoaster, you dont have much control, its all in the hand of the doctors, so for me addressing my nutrition and lifestyle was taking back ownership of my body.

Grand now has two children, and her experiences motivated her to change her life. She gave up her job in fashion, retrained in acupuncture while pregnant with her first child, and studied nutritional therapy when she was pregnant with baby number two.

Now that theyre in school, Im doing my masters in nutritional medicine at the University of Surrey. Im a glutton for punishment, she laughs.

All the study paid off. Her book The Fertility Kitchen is all about getting your body into the best place possible for healthy conception.

Three pillars

Its packed with information based on three pillars lifestyle, fertility, and food. The first part of the book focuses on general health and wellbeing, with plenty of practical advice.

Part two is the recipe section, putting the nutritional information into action, with recipes like green shakshuka, yellow coconut curry, and green walnut pesto, along with sweet treats like homemade gummies, or salted macadamia, and cashew butter fudge.

The fertility section is about creating a personalised nutrition and lifestyle plan for both partners.

As Grand notes, a mans lifestyle and diet also affect his fertility. Food is the why and how to follow this plan with nutritional information to the fore and the book contains practical advice on self-care, from sleep to mindset.

Recipes for success

Theres a lot of information in the early chapters, but the payoff comes in the second half of the book, where the recipes put all that information into action.

Although Grands dishes are gluten-free and dairy-free, she includes eggs, fish, and meat recipes but with the mantra that vegetables should be front and centre on the plate.

There are lists of lunchbox ideas, meal plans, and sections that have very simple formulas for basics like granola, abundance bowls, and power bars.

More than 90 recipes cover breakfasts cinnamon omelettes, apple pie pancakes through snacks and lunches, mains (green dukkah-crusted cod and beetroot burgers), versatile veggie options, and delicious treats: more than enough options to keep everyone in the household happy.

I wanted to include some sweet recipes theyre a nice thing to enjoy once in a while, says Grand.

For these recipes, I aimed at keeping the sugar low while retaining flavour, and also including nutritious ingredients.

Theres even a recipe for gummies! If you like Haribo, then you can transition to these gummies.

recipe by:Charlotte Grand

Serve up this healthy prawn curry with vibrant turmeric, ginger and coconut flavours for an easy, delicious midweek meal.

Preparation Time

Ingredients

1 lemongrass stalk, trimmed and very finely chopped

2 tsp brown mustard seeds

12 tsp ground cardamom

1 tsp ground turmeric

1 onion, finely sliced

1 bunch (25g) coriander stalks, finely chopped

2 tsp grated ginger

2 garlic cloves, crushed

12 tsp sea salt

23 tbsp filtered water

1 tbsp extra virgin coconut oil

12 small butternut squash (about 300g), peeled, deseeded and cut into 1cm dice

6 baby corns, thinly sliced into rounds

400ml (134 cups) coconut milk

12 small pineapple (about 200g), peeled, cored and cut into chunks

1012 pre-cooked extra-large tiger prawns (about 150g)

1 bunch (25g) coriander leaves, roughly chopped, to serve

Serving suggestion: Thai-style egg-fried rice

Method

First make a curry paste. Place the lemongrass, mustard seeds, cardamom and turmeric in a wok over a mediumhigh heat and dry-fry for 12 minutes, or until fragrant.

Transfer to a small food processor with the onion, coriander stalks, ginger, garlic, salt and 2 tablespoons of the water. Process to a smooth consistency, adding another tablespoon of water to thin if needed.

Next, make the curry. Heat the oil in the same wok over a mediumhigh heat. Add the paste and cook for 34 minutes, or until fragrant.

Add the butternut squash and corn and stir to coat in the paste and when nicely coloured add the coconut milk and pineapple, cover and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer for 15 minutes, or until the squash is just tender.

Stir in the prawns and cook for 34 minutes, or until warmed through. Divide between serving bowls and sprinkle with the chopped coriander to serve.

Charlottes notes:Leftover curry will keep in an airtight glass container in the fridge for up to two days.

Feeling empowered

With practical advice around food, stress, sleep, and exercise, Grand wants to focus on helping people to feel empowered.

Infertility is not your fault, I dont want people to think that they havent been doing their best, she says.

This is not a fertility diet there is a negative mindset about that but The Fertility Kitchen is about lifestyle, teaching practices and principles that I hope people will want to continue with forever. I love cooking, Ive always cooked from scratch, and I hope my love of food and cooking shines through.

Foods that support health in pregnancy and fertility

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Eating for fertility: What you need to know and eat when planning to conceive - Irish Examiner