For Kids, a Full Plate Counts, Not Calories

Kids who eat lower-calorie meals won't snackto limit their weekly seafood consumption to no
more later, as long as they are eating about themore than 12 ounces, or about two servings, per
same amounts they are accustomed to.week.
Researchers presented those findings yesterdayThe newest recommendation comes from the
at the Obesity Society's annual meeting in NewNational Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition,
Orleans, reports USA Today. For four days overa nonprofit group that focuses on childhood health
two weeks, researchers at Pennsylvania Stateissues. That group's scientific advisors say that
University fed 26 children at a child-care centerpregnant women and nursing mothers should eat
breakfast, lunch and snack, and gave themat least 12 ounces of fish per week. Although
take-home dinners and snacks.both recommendations acknowledge that
The same menu was served each week, but onepregnant women can safely eat about two
week the kids were given low-fat and low-sugarservings a week, fears of mercury contamination
versions of the foods as well as more vegetables.in seafood have prompted many pregnant
The changes included 1 percent milk instead ofwomen to forgo fish entirely.
whole, fruit served in juice instead of syrup, andAnd here's the conundrum: an increasing number
pasta made with low-fat dairy and pureedof studies indicate that omega-3 fatty acids,
vegetables.found mostly in fish, are essential to brain
The researchers wanted to know if the kidsdevelopment in fetuses and newborns. Earlier this
would naturally compensate for theyear, a report in The Lancet, a medical journal,
reduced-calorie menus by eating extra amountsconcluded that women who had eaten more than
later in the day or the following day. But they12 ounces of fish per week during pregnancy
didn't. Instead, they ate about the same amountproduced better developed, more intelligent
they had previously, consuming 400 fewerchildren. "Advice that limits seafood consumption
calories over the two days they were served themight reduce the intake of nutrients necessary
lower-calorie foods. "People tend to eat the samefor optimum neurological development," wrote
weight of food from day to day, and that's whatscientists from the National Institutes of Health
these kids did," Penn State nutritionist Barbaraand the University of Illinois at Chicago.
Rolls told the newspaper."The real problem here are the women who are
The lesson for parents who are worried aboutjust eliminating fish from their diet," said Judy
their child's weight is to come up with lower-calorieMeehan, executive director of the National Healthy
versions of their kid's favorite foods. Use skimMothers, Healthy Babies Coalition. "Eating 12
milk and low-fat dairy products, for example, orounces is a very safe, smart move, and nobody
substitute pureed vegetables in recipes.is disputing that.'' While none of the research cited
Should Pregnant Women Eat More Seafood?yesterday in the coalition's recommendations has
For years, pregnant and nursing women havebeen funded by the fish industry, the coalition is
been warned to limit the amount of fish they eat,using a grant from the National Fisheries Institute,
because many marine species may contain higha seafood industry group, to fund its educational
levels of mercury, which endangers newborns andcampaign, according to Ms. Meehan.
fetuses. Yesterday, however, a children's healthFor women who want the health benefits but
group challenged the conventional wisdom, advisingworry about mercury and other toxins, the
pregnant women and nursing mothers to eatwisest course is to choose fish with the lowest
more fish so as to ensure optimal brainlevels of mercury. A recent report in The Journal
development in their babies.of the American Medical Association concluded
Fearing mercury contamination, many pregnantthat the health benefits are likely greatest from
women avoid seafood altogether. That maysuch oily fish as salmon, herring and sardines -
actually harm newborns, according to somewhich are all generally low in mercury anyway.
scientists. (John McConnico for The New YorkAmong the fish to avoid are shark, swordfish,
Times) What's going on here? Currently, the Foodking mackerel and tilefish, all of which may contain
and Drug Administration advises pregnant womenhigh levels of mercury.