75 Percent of Women Indulge Food Cravings During Pregnancy but Only 8 Percent Reach for Healthy Substitutes

A late-night run to the grocery store for a jar of pickles or a carton of ice cream is a familiar event for many pregnant women. According to a new national survey of 600 moms ages 18 to 40, 75 percent of women admit to caving in to cravings during pregnancy. The most common food cravings are for chocolate, pickles, ice cream, citrus fruits and chips. Mother Nature may play a role in those cravings -- pregnant women actually need an extra 420 calories a day during the third trimester, but eating more doesn't mean that you're getting all the right nutrients. For example, the CDC reports that iron is the most common nutrient deficiency in the U.S. for women of childbearing age.

Finding healthy and satisfying snacks is not always easy, and while nearly 70 percent of those surveyed think it's important for their snacks to be nutritious when pregnant, a mere 8 percent sought out a nutritious substitute when empty-calorie food cravings hit. Three out of four pregnant women ultimately consumed the food item they were craving -- whether or not it was a healthy choice.

No one knows this better than Rebecca Matthias, the woman who dresses 2.7 million pregnant women a year as President of leading maternity brands A Pea in the Pod®, Mimi Maternity® and Motherhood® Maternity. Matthias has written a new book "51 Secrets of Motherhood (That Your Mother Never Told You)." Rebecca discusses the secrets of pregnancy, including the crazy food cravings and tips for nutritious snacking solutions at an event at Manhattan's Greeley Square.

A team of registered dieticians will also answer questions about pregnancy and nutrition including helpful hints such as adding fiber to your diet and introducing new products that meet the nutrient requirements for pregnant women and offer healthy solutions to the cravings conundrum.

B-ROLL INCLUDES:

Visuals

--  Pregnant women snacking at work
--  Expectant mothers consulting with dieticians
--  Crowds of pregnant women listening to Rebecca Matthias
--  Waiters serving moms-to-be new Ensure Healthy Mom Shakes and Snack
    Bars
--  Moms-to-be unloading groceries
    

Sound bites

--  Rebecca Matthias, president of Motherhood Maternity and author of "51
    Secrets of Motherhood (Your Mother Never Told You)" discussing her new book
--  Tama Bloch, R.D., L.D., research scientist, Ross Products Division
    talking about the most important aspects of nutrition during pregnancy
--  Moms-to-be discussing the confusion around pregnancy and nutrition and
    their most off-the-wall cravings
--  Deea Angus, Ensure brand manager, Ross Products Division, speaking
    about Ensure Healthy Mom's Crazy Cravings Contest, an opportunity for women
    to win $10,000 for their child's education
    

SATELLITE NEWS FEED DATES AND TIME:
Date:  Tuesday, May 3, 2005
Time:  2:30 - 2:45 PM ET (1430 - 1445 PM ET)
Coordinates:  C-Band, Galaxy 3, Transponder 6, Downlink Frequency 3820 MHz
Vertical

Date:  Wednesday, May 4, 2005
Time:  1:30 - 1:45 PM ET (1330 - 1345 PM ET)
Coordinates:  C-Band, Galaxy 3, Transponder 6, Downlink Frequency 3820 MHz
Vertical

FOR ADDITIONAL STORY INFORMATION, HARD COPIES OR TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE CONTACT:

For story information contact: Katie Boylan, Burson-Marsteller, (651) 335-6837

For hard copy requests contact: Eric Mangol, In Five Productions, Inc. (973) 566-0080

For technical assistance during the feeds contact: (212) 790-2355

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