A nurse is providing preconception teaching to a client who is planning to become pregnant. The nurse should include which of the following recommendations to help prevent neural tube defects in the newborn?

Rationale: A. Avoiding protein-rich foods is unnecessary; protein is essential for maternal and fetal growth and does not prevent neural tube defects. B. Limiting alcohol consumption is important for overall fetal health but does not specifically prevent neural tube defects. C. Increasing iron intake supports maternal hemoglobin and prevents anemia but is not directly linked to neural tube defect prevention. D. Consuming foods fortified with folic acid or taking folic acid supplements before conception and during early pregnancy is evidence-based guidance to reduce the risk of neural tube defects such as spina bifida and anencephaly.