Preparing your body before pregnancy is an important part of starting your journey toward parenthood. Along with regular medical checkups and advice from a healthcare professional, maintaining a balanced and nutritious diet can help ensure your body gets the nutrients it needs.

A homemade powder made from nuts, seeds, oats, fox nuts and roasted chickpeas has been suggested by celebrity nutritionist Shweta Shah as a convenient addition to a pre-pregnancy diet. The combination provides protein, healthy fats, fibre and several essential nutrients.

However, it's important to remember that no homemade powder can guarantee improved fertility or pregnancy. Fertility depends on several factors, and anyone planning to conceive should discuss their individual nutritional needs with a doctor.

Ingredients You’ll Need

• 1 cup makhana (fox nuts)

• 1 cup rolled oats

• 1 cup roasted black chickpeas

• 1 cup almonds

• 1 cup walnuts

• ½ cup pumpkin seeds

• ½ cup sunflower seeds

• ¼ cup flax seeds

How to Prepare the Powder

Start by dry-roasting the makhana in a pan until it becomes crisp. Separately, lightly roast the oats, flax seeds, pumpkin seeds and sunflower seeds.

Allow all the ingredients to cool completely. Combine them with the almonds, walnuts and roasted black chickpeas, then grind everything into a fine or slightly coarse powder, depending on your preference.

Transfer the mixture to a clean, airtight glass container and store it properly.

How Can You Include It in Your Diet?

You can start with around 1 tablespoon a day and adjust your intake according to your overall diet and nutritional requirements.

The powder can be mixed into approximately 200 ml of milk or added to smoothies, curd or porridge. It can work as a convenient breakfast or snack addition.

Why Are These Ingredients Useful?

The ingredients in this mixture provide a combination of nutrients that are valuable as part of a balanced diet.

Almonds and walnuts provide healthy fats and protein, while pumpkin, sunflower and flax seeds contain various nutrients and beneficial fats. Oats and chickpeas contribute fibre and plant-based protein, while makhana can add carbohydrates and minerals to the mixture.

A varied diet that includes nuts, seeds, whole grains, legumes, fruits and vegetables can help support overall nutritional health before pregnancy.

Don't Rely on the Powder Alone

Good nutrition is only one part of preparing for pregnancy. Regular medical care, appropriate prenatal supplementation when recommended, healthy lifestyle habits and management of existing health conditions are also important.

In particular, folic acid supplementation is commonly recommended before conception, so speak with your healthcare professional about the appropriate supplement and dose for you.

Also remember that a nutrient-rich homemade powder is a food, not a fertility treatment. If you're having difficulty conceiving or have concerns about menstrual cycles, hormones or reproductive health, consult a qualified healthcare professional rather than relying solely on dietary remedies.