HEALTHY BABY MONTH JANUARY Highlighting the essential nutrients of enriched grains, especially in prenatal health

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1 HEALTHY BABY MONTH JANUARY 2018 Highlighting the essential nutrients of enriched grains, especially in prenatal health

2 WHY SHOULD MY ORGANIZATION PARTICIPATE IN HEALTHY BABY MONTH? January is dedicated to Healthy Baby Month and National Birth Defects Prevention Month. January 7-13 is a special emphasis period for Folic Acid Awareness Week. Goal: Since enriched grains contain folic acid, a critical nutrient for brain and spinal cord development during pregnancy, the American Bakers Association (ABA), with your partnership, is encouraging women of childbearing age to consume enriched grains to reduce the risk of neural tube defects (NTDs) in their babies through proper prenatal nutrition.

3 HOW DOES MY ORGANIZATION PARTICIPATE? There are Messages and Resources in this social media toolkit to encourage the consumption of enriched grains for women of childbearing age. Join us! Each week of January will target a different creative theme tying into family health. Use the themes for inspiration, or create your own. January 1-6 January 7-13 January January January New Year s Resolutions Folic Acid Awareness Week Winter Comfort Food Enriched Grains, Enriched Life Expert Advice Check out the next slides for Messages and Resources.

4 HOW DOES MY ORGANIZATION PARTICIPATE? FACEBOOK AND TWITTER The following slides show Messages and Resources to use for your Facebook posts and Tweets (or any other social platform) Incorporate any or all of the following components: Your own message that focuses on your product A Message that underscores the essential nutrients, such as folic acid, that enriched grains carry A Resource that directs consumers to helpful information Hashtag: #HealthyBabyMonth #GetGrains

5 HOW DOES MY ORGANIZATION PARTICIPATE? MESSAGES Every year, 3,000 babies are born with neural tube defects. Each day, about 8 of these babies have spina bifida or another neural tube defect. Folic acid consumption is critical for reducing neural tube birth defects which affect the brain and spinal cord. Enriched grains, such as white bread, tortillas, cereal, and pasta, are the #1 source of folic acid in the diets of most Americans. The CDC acknowledges enriched grains, rather than supplements, as responsible for lowering the rate of neural tube birth defects by approximately one-third in the U.S. and recently named folic acid fortification of enriched grains as one of the top 10 public health achievements of the first decade of the 21st century. Hispanic babies are at higher risk of neural tube defects. Moms: reduce risk by eating fortified foods like enriched bread, tortillas, crackers or cereal.

6 HOW DOES MY ORGANIZATION PARTICIPATE? MESSAGES CONTINUED Folic acid is needed for spinal cord development in the first 3 weeks of a pregnancy, often before a woman even knows she is pregnant. Women need to pay attention to their eating habits before getting pregnant since very few women understand that their diet before pregnancy plays an equally important role as their diet during pregnancy. With more than half of pregnancies in the U.S. unplanned, experts advise all women of reproductive age to follow a healthy lifestyle, whether or not they are planning on having a baby. "If all women consumed the recommended amount of folic acid, incidence of neural tube defects could be reduced by up to 70%...enriched flour contains two times as much folic acid as its whole grain counterpart -Sylvia Melendez-Klinger, MS, RD Consume bread, crackers & cereal! "It is important that women, even at an early age, become vigilant about having folic acid in their diets. Most of our folic acid and B vitamins actually come from enriched grains in our diet, so foods like bread, crackers, pastas and other fortified foods made from enriched white flour are great sources of folic acid." -Dr. Bruce Young, MD

7 HOW DOES MY ORGANIZATION PARTICIPATE? RESOURCES Choose from these resources to support your message for your company s product: Grain Foods Foundation recipes under 500 calories each and approved by dieticians Grain Foods Foundation information about reducing birth defects Center for Disease Control video on research history of folic acid fortification reducing NTDs Center for Disease Control digital materials reinforcing the link between folic acid and fewer NTDs National Birth Defects Prevention Network organization focused on birth defects prevention and research

8 SAMPLE ABA POSTS It's Folic Acid Awareness and U.S. Public Health Service: Women ages should consume 400 micrograms of folic acid daily to prevent 2 types of neural tube defects - spina bifida & anencephaly. Folic acid sources = white bread, rolls, buns, crackers, Mandatory folic acid fortification of grain foods has helped approximately1,300 U.S. babies to be born without a neural tube defect each year. See what you can do before and during pregnancy to reduce major birth defects of your baby's brain and spine: Women who could possibly become pregnant can hit the daily recommended amount of folic acid by consuming a bowl of breakfast cereal that has 100% of the value of folic acid per serving. #GetGrains #HealthyBabyMonth

9 SAMPLE ABA POSTS It s Folic Acid Awareness Week Did you know that Folic acid is a B vitamin? If a woman has enough folic acid in her body before and during pregnancy, it can help reduce major birth defects of the baby s brain and spine. Women need 400 micrograms (mcg) of folic acid every day. Go to the CDC website for more resources: All enriched cereals and grain products in the U.S. are fortified with folic acid, but only 1/3 of U.S. women of childbearing age get the recommended amount in their diet, which can lead to birth defects like spina bifida and anencephaly.

10 SAMPLE ABA POSTS Nothing beats a warm piece of pie on a winter s day and what better day to indulge than National Pie Day? Make your own like this easy Deep Dish Apple Cranberry Pie or keep things simple and pick up a ready-made pie at your local grocery store. #GetGrains Looking for a winter indoor activity the whole family can enjoy? Just grab some English muffins and turn them into mini pizzas. Here s a step-by-step guide from ChooseMyPlate.gov Feel free to improvise by using your favorite veggies, lean meats or cheeses for toppings. #GetGrains Tea is packed with antioxidants and may boost your immune system perfect for the winter months. Treat yourself to a steaming cup and make it extra-special by adding favorite cookies. Check out the grocery store aisle for a wide selection of delicious, convenient choices. #GetGrains Eating breakfast gives you energy for the day and helps concentration, a big plus during the winter months. Try making these Fabulous Fruit Muffins in advance for a quick start or check out the muffin selection at your local grocery store. #GetGrains

11 PHOTOS FOR USE (OR USE YOUR OWN!)

12 PHOTOS FOR USE (OR USE YOUR OWN!)

13 CONTACT US WITH QUESTIONS American Bakers Association Amy-Gabrielle Bartolac Marketing & Communications Manager TIP: For an easy way to participate in Healthy Baby Month, just share the daily posts/tweets directly from the ABA social media account! ABA: Website / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / LinkedIn