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SKANEATELES JOURNAL ARTICLE

Adjusting to babies' needs http://www.skaneatelesjournal.com/articles/2008/05/06/news/community/community03.txt

Tuesday, May 6, 2008 11:31 AM EDT

Creekside Books & Coffee hosts presentation to teach pregnant women about diet, nutrition
By Gregory Simmons / Special to the Skaneateles Journal

SKANEATELES - Women need to think twice when they're eating for two, which makes finding the best information on diet and nutrition all the more crucial.

On Saturday, expectant moms had the opportunity to learn more about healthy eating during a presentation given at Creekside Books & Coffee, 35 Fennell St.

Maggie McHugh and Ellen Burggraf, authors of “Your 9-Month Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner Date! A Guide to Healthful Eating During Pregnancy” were on hand to discuss proper nutrition and eating habits during pregnancy.

McHugh is a registered dietitian and certified nutritionist. Burggraf is a certified instructional designer. Both women are from Rochester.

Obesity is a growing health concern in the country.

“Right now, there's a huge health concern about being overweight,” McHugh said. “A woman's weight has a large impact on her general health during pregnancy.”

Maintaining a healthy weight during pregnancy is especially important, since obesity can lead to a variety of complications for both the mother and child during and after the pregnancy. Gestational diabetes and high blood pressure are just two examples of complications that can result from gaining too much weight during a pregnancy.

Making women more aware of the importance of avoiding excessive weight gain before, during and after, pregnancy is one of the goals of the authors.

“Roughly around 45 percent of people in the United States are overweight and obese,” said McHugh. “Typically diet and physical activity, rather than genetics, are the two factors that contribute to this.”

“Your 9-Month Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner Date! A Guide to Healthful Eating During Pregnancy” gives the reader the information necessary to maintain a healthy weight without taking the joy out of eating. The nutrition guide also provides information on which foods are nutrient dense in addition to suggested serving sizes. Specific information on the calories, protein, fiber calcium, iron, vitamin C and folic acid various foods contain also is included in the book.

Throughout the book, the authors focus on teaching the reader how to balance nutritional food with fun food. “Good, better and best” food choices are outlined in the book, which allows for some flexibility in terms of food choices for expecting mothers.

The book also provides options for busy moms.

“When you can't eat the best you possibly can every day because of schedules, energy levels or how you feel,” McHugh explained, “our charts show examples of ‘good, better, best' foods that give you the flexibility to still eat well and enjoy it in spite of what your daily life is like.”

The 120-page spiral-bound publication is divided up into six chapters. A summary section called “In a Nutshell” is at the end of each chapter to give readers the opportunity to gain quick access to information and healthy eating tips.

“You have to enjoy eating,” McHugh said. “But if you know what to eat, balance it and enjoy everything in moderation, you can be healthy as well.”

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