| Kids who eat lower-calorie meals won't | | | | consumption to no more than 12 ounces, |
| snack more later, as long as they are | | | | or about two servings, per week. |
| eating about the same amounts they are | | | | The newest recommendation comes from the |
| accustomed to. Researchers presented | | | | National Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies |
| those findings yesterday at the Obesity | | | | Coalition, a nonprofit group that |
| Society's annual meeting in New Orleans, | | | | focuses on childhood health issues. That |
| reports USA Today. For four days over | | | | group's scientific advisors say that |
| two weeks, researchers at Pennsylvania | | | | pregnant women and nursing mothers |
| State University fed 26 children at a | | | | should eat at least 12 ounces of fish |
| child-care center breakfast, lunch and | | | | per week. Although both recommendations |
| snack, and gave them take-home dinners | | | | acknowledge that pregnant women can |
| and snacks. | | | | safely eat about two servings a week, |
| The same menu was served each week, but | | | | fears of mercury contamination in |
| one week the kids were given low-fat and | | | | seafood have prompted many pregnant |
| low-sugar versions of the foods as well | | | | women to forgo fish entirely. |
| as more vegetables. The changes included | | | | And here's the conundrum: an increasing |
| 1 percent milk instead of whole, fruit | | | | number of studies indicate that omega-3 |
| served in juice instead of syrup, and | | | | fatty acids, found mostly in fish, are |
| pasta made with low-fat dairy and pureed | | | | essential to brain development in |
| vegetables. | | | | fetuses and newborns. Earlier this year, |
| The researchers wanted to know if the | | | | a report in The Lancet, a medical |
| kids would naturally compensate for the | | | | journal, concluded that women who had |
| reduced-calorie menus by eating extra | | | | eaten more than 12 ounces of fish per |
| amounts later in the day or the | | | | week during pregnancy produced better |
| following day. But they didn't. Instead, | | | | developed, more intelligent children. |
| they ate about the same amount they had | | | | "Advice that limits seafood consumption |
| previously, consuming 400 fewer calories | | | | might reduce the intake of nutrients |
| over the two days they were served the | | | | necessary for optimum neurological |
| lower-calorie foods. "People tend to eat | | | | development," wrote scientists from the |
| the same weight of food from day to day, | | | | National Institutes of Health and the |
| and that's what these kids did," Penn | | | | University of Illinois at Chicago. |
| State nutritionist Barbara Rolls told | | | | "The real problem here are the women who |
| the newspaper. | | | | are just eliminating fish from their |
| The lesson for parents who are worried | | | | diet," said Judy Meehan, executive |
| about their child's weight is to come up | | | | director of the National Healthy |
| with lower-calorie versions of their | | | | Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition. |
| kid's favorite foods. Use skim milk and | | | | "Eating 12 ounces is a very safe, smart |
| low-fat dairy products, for example, or | | | | move, and nobody is disputing that.'' |
| substitute pureed vegetables in recipes. | | | | While none of the research cited |
| Should Pregnant Women Eat More Seafood? | | | | yesterday in the coalition's |
| For years, pregnant and nursing women | | | | recommendations has been funded by the |
| have been warned to limit the amount of | | | | fish industry, the coalition is using a |
| fish they eat, because many marine | | | | grant from the National Fisheries |
| species may contain high levels of | | | | Institute, a seafood industry group, to |
| mercury, which endangers newborns and | | | | fund its educational campaign, according |
| fetuses. Yesterday, however, a | | | | to Ms. Meehan. |
| children's health group challenged the | | | | For women who want the health benefits |
| conventional wisdom, advising pregnant | | | | but worry about mercury and other |
| women and nursing mothers to eat more | | | | toxins, the wisest course is to choose |
| fish so as to ensure optimal brain | | | | fish with the lowest levels of mercury. |
| development in their babies. | | | | A recent report in The Journal of the |
| Fearing mercury contamination, many | | | | American Medical Association concluded |
| pregnant women avoid seafood altogether. | | | | that the health benefits are likely |
| That may actually harm newborns, | | | | greatest from such oily fish as salmon, |
| according to some scientists. (John | | | | herring and sardines - which are all |
| McConnico for The New York Times) What's | | | | generally low in mercury anyway. Among |
| going on here? Currently, the Food and | | | | the fish to avoid are shark, swordfish, |
| Drug Administration advises pregnant | | | | king mackerel and tilefish, all of which |
| women to limit their weekly seafood | | | | may contain high levels of mercury. |