The target of Feeding Me to Feed You will be women in their late 20’s and 30’s who are currently pregnant or in the process of trying to conceive. These women are generally married and have careers while living in an upper-middle class neighborhood and community in Northern California’s San Francisco Bay Area. They are generally well educated yet do not necessarily know the details and intricacies of vitamin and nutrient needs while pregnant. The program will provide education specifically on ensuring adequate folic acid, iron, calcium, and vitamin D status and what foods and/or supplements may be necessary to achieve this. The program will cover eating a balanced diet in general as well as specific overviews of best forms and sources of these 4 nutrients. The program will also go over options for supplementation if, whether it is an allergy or food preference, the sources of these key nutrients are unable to be obtained by food alone. The goal of this program is to ensure healthy pregnancies as well as educate women in the community how important their health is for their future children and to help to prevent birth defects.
Mission Statement:
Feeding Me to Feed You is aimed to help working adult women in the San Francisco Bay Area who are currently or trying to become pregnant to have the knowledge of the best whole foods to eat while pregnant in order to have happy, healthy babies while fulfilling all of their vital and at-risk nutrient needs.
Goals of the Program:
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Promote at-risk nutrient (folic acid, vitamin D, calcium, iron) knowledge for pregnant women
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Increase whole food consumption among pregnant women instead of supplementation
Objectives:
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Process: Within 3 years, the program planners will have created and implemented Feeding Me to Feed You programs in 4 separate regions of the San Francisco Bay Area.
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Impact: After program completion, at least 30% of participants will be able to identify specific foods and supplements needed in order to achieve adequate status for at-risk micronutrients during pregnancy.
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Impact: When asked, 1 out of 3 participants will be able to name all 4 micronutrients whose status’ are at-risk during pre-pregnancy and pregnancy.
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Impact: One year after completion, when asked, 20% of participants will be able to describe a balanced and healthful diet during pregnancy including supplementation use.
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Outcome: One year after program completion, 75% of those who completed the program will have had healthy babies without birth complications and will have the ability to return to a productive work environment.