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THE TWO MOST IMPORTANT THINGS TO DO TO BOOST YOUR CHANCES OF GETTING PREGNANT? HAVE PLENTY OF SEX AND EAT THE RIGHT THINGS. WELL, WE CAN HELP YOU WITH THE FOOD

Katie Holmes is rumoured to be trying for a second baby – but she’s discovering, like so many women, that conception can be a tricky business.

If Katie wants to optimise her chances, she should start in the kitchen.

No, not for a 9 1/2 Weeks-style sex session with Tom (although there’s no knocking fresh fruit foreplay) but to boost her chances of conceiving a baby with fertility-enhancing foods.

Experts say small dietary changes can have a massive impact on pregnancy rates.

For example, one study conducted last year showed that a daily portion of full-fat dairy food makes women 27 per cent more likely to conceive.

That’s why ice cream (yep, Ben & Jerry’s does count) features in this Fabulous fertility-boosting diet.

The plan is also rich in iron, folic acid, healthy monounsaturated fats and hormone-balancing phyto-oestrogen – which means it’s scientifically proven to help make you a mum-to-be. Take note, Katie.

Choose one breakfast, one lunch, one supper and one snack per day

Breakfasts

* 1 slice of wholemeal toast with Marmite; a glass of orange juice
* A bowl of porridge (made with whole milk) with a sliced banana
* A bowl of Bran Flakes with whole milk and a few chopped dried apricots
* A poached egg on wholemeal toast; half a grapefruit
* Smoked kipper with some grilled tomatoes and a slice of wholemeal toast
* Fruit smoothie made with a handful of blueberries; a small banana; a pot of whole-milk yoghurt with a little runny honey
* 2tbsp dried fruit compote (e.g. apricots, prunes and figs) served with a pot of natural yoghurt

Lunches

* Houmous on 2 slices of wholemeal bread; fresh raw spinach and watercress salad dressed with 1 tbsp olive oil and a little lemon juice; a handful of grapes
* Pasta and walnut salad: 50g (uncooked weight) wholemeal pasta mixed with cherry tomato halves, chopped yellow pepper, 25g chopped walnuts and drizzled with a little olive oil; a pear
* 1/2 tin Baxter’s Lentil and Vegetable soup (or similar brand); 1 wholemeal roll; 25g Cheddar cheese; 2 satsumas
* Pitta filled with chicken and baby spinach leaves; 1 pot fromage frais
* Three bean salad with mint vinaigrette; 1 pot whole-milk yoghurt; 1 apple
* Stir-fried mixed vegetables (broccoli, green beans, courgettes, etc) served with cashews and brown rice; 1 kiwi fruit
* Baked potato with cheese and wild rocket, spinach and watercress salad; 1 orange

Suppers

* Mackerel with brown rice and spinach: Brush the fish with olive oil, scatter over the zest and juice of half a lime, season and grill for 6 minutes per side. Serve with 3tbsp cooked brown rice and steamed baby spinach; for dessert, have 2 pineapple rings with 1 scoop of vanilla ice cream.
* Spiced chicken with broccoli and pine nuts: Sprinkle 1tsp crushed cumin and coriander seeds over a chicken thigh. Drizzle over olive oil and cook on a baking tray at 200°C/gas mark 6 for about 20 minutes. Serve with stir-fried broccoli florets mixed with a few pine nuts. For dessert, serve a small bowl of berries with a scoop of ice cream.
* Warm chickpea salad with cashews: Combine half a tin of chickpeas with some cooked green beans, a handful of cashew nuts and a little olive oil dressing. Serve on a bed of watercress. For afters, enjoy a sliced banana with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
* Oat-crusted salmon: Coat a skinned salmon fillet in oats and cook in a non-stick pan brushed with olive oil over a medium heat for 3 minutes each side (until crispy on the outside). Serve with brown rice and Brussels sprouts or other green leafy vegetables. For dessert, serve 2 peach halves with 1 scoop of ice cream.
* Falafels and salad: Grill the falafels and serve with a watercress, mustard leaf and mizuna salad. For dessert, serve a bowl of strawberries with a scoop
of ice cream.

Snacks

* 2 oatcakes with houmous
* Small handful of nuts
* A few dried apricots
* 1 pot of whole-milk yoghurt
* 1 glass of flavoured milk
* 1 wholemeal hot cross bun

Photography: Rex, Alamy, Camerapress, Lancton