USDA ANNOUNCES NEW MYPYRAMID FOR PREGNANT AND NURSING MOMS
USDA ANNOUNCES NEW MYPYRAMID FOR PREGNANT AND NURSING MOMS
WASHINGTON, Oct. 25, 2007 — Acting Secretary of Agriculture Chuck Conner today announced the launch of a new MyPyramid web site designed specifically for pregnant and breastfeeding mothers. The new interactive guidance, found at MyPyramid.gov, provides unique, individualized nutrition guidance to meet the needs of expectant and new moms.
“The Department of Agriculture and the George Washington University Medical Center are pleased to announce this valuable on-line tool to assist pregnant and nursing mothers with easy access to important nutrition information,” said Conner. “During this time of life, proper nutrition for mom and baby are critical. This tool will also be helpful to obstetricians and other health care providers. I am confident this addition to MyPyramid will be put to good use, based on the more than 3.9 billion hits to MyPyramid web sites since our 2005 launch.”
“The American Dietetic Association commends USDA for developing this valuable tool,” said registered dietitian and American Dietetic Association President Connie B. Diekman. “MyPyramid for Pregnancy and Breastfeeding will provide registered dietitians with a valuable tool to use as they help women obtain the best possible nutrition for themselves and for their children.”
Developed by the USDA Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion, in conjunction with the Food and Nutrition Service’s Women, Infants and Children Program and the Department of Health and Human Services, this new web site provides nutrition guidance consistent with the 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans…
Obtaining a personalized “MyPyramid Plan for Moms” requires only a few steps. A pregnant woman enters her age, height, pre-pregnancy weight, physical activity level, and due date. A breastfeeding woman enters similar information and the baby’s birth date. Breastfeeding women will also select if they are feeding their baby breast milk only or supplementing with formula. Following these entries, a personalized MyPyramid Plan for Moms will be provided on their computer screen which can be downloaded as a full-color printout.
The website looks pretty straightforward. You plug in your age, whether you’re breastfeeding or pregnant (there doesn’t seem to be an option for both), height, weight, and activity level and the site tells you how many servings of grains, vegetables, fruits, milk and meat and beans you should be eating each day. While this tool isn’t necessary for everyone, many women are unsure of what and how much they should be eating. Generic calorie requirements don’t apply to everyone, so it’s nice to see the USDA is taking a mother’s nutritional needs into consideration.
Also, if you’re breastfeeding and eligible for WIC you may want to look into the WIC farmer’s market programs for access to locally grown (usually with organic methods) produce.
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