Christine and her partner are trying to have a child. Her BMI is currently in the overweigh range, and she drinks wine every weekend & on some weeknights. She eats a healthy, well-rounded vegetarian diet and does not smoke cigarettes. What should be her priority now that she and her partner are trying to conceive?

• A. Going on a low-carb diet to lose weight as fast as possible to get into the ideal BMI range.
• B. Increasing protein & calcium intake, as she doesn't get enough of these nutrients from her vegetarian diet.
• C. Reducing alcohol consumption, maintaining her healthy diet, & trying to attain a healthier BMI.
• D. Start taking vitamin D, vitamin E, & calcium supplements.

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand that when trying to conceive, the priority is to create the healthiest possible environment for pregnancy, which includes lifestyle factors that can impact fertility and fetal development.
2. Recognize that Christine's BMI is in the overweight range, which can affect fertility, so working towards a healthier BMI is beneficial, but rapid weight loss through extreme diets is not recommended as it can be stressful to the body and potentially harmful.
3. Note that Christine already follows a healthy, well-rounded vegetarian diet, so drastic changes in macronutrient intake (like a low-carb diet or significantly increasing protein and calcium without evidence of deficiency) are not the immediate priority.
4. Identify that alcohol consumption can negatively affect fertility and pregnancy outcomes, so reducing or eliminating alcohol intake is an important step to improve reproductive health.
5. Conclude that the best approach is to reduce alcohol consumption, maintain the current healthy diet, and aim for gradual, sustainable weight loss to reach a healthier BMI, supporting both fertility and overall health.