Giving Children A Strong Start

Gerber Memorial to host special nutrition program for infants, pregnant moms in February
FREMONT – Spectrum Health Gerber Memorial today announced a special series of nutrition classes designed to help parents and caregivers provide good nutrition to infants and toddlers from newborn to 2 years old. Broken up by age group, the three sessions are scheduled for Feb. 7, Feb. 14 and Feb. 21 at Tamarac, and will feature a Gerber Memorial registered dietitian sharing tips, meal preparation strategies and other information based on a curriculum specifically designed for early childhood nutrition. All classes are from 10am to noon and are free of charge.
The first class on Feb. 7 is geared toward pregnant moms and newborns through 6-month-olds. The second class on Feb. 14 is geared toward infants 6 to 12 months old. The final class Feb. 21 is for 1- to 2-year-olds. Registration is required because of limited space, and free child watch is available on site. People with transportation questions or who want to register can call 231.924.3073. The age-specific classes will also be held in May.
“The first 1,000 days of a child’s life are probably the most important for healthy development and our early childhood nutrition classes are designed to help give children a strong start, with the right food at the right time,” said Jena Zeerip, Gerber Memorial’s community health program lead. “Spectrum Health Gerber Memorial is excited we can bring these classes to our community so new moms, moms-to-be, caregivers and parents have information about the best nutrition for moms and babies. At the end of the day, we hope we can empower parents and caregivers to play an active role in helping Newaygo County kids be as healthy as possible from Day One.”
During the classes, participants will learn about nutrition during pregnancy, nutrition for nursing moms, important nutrients for babies, breastfeeding and bottle feeding, transitioning to solid food, food safety and other tips and strategies for early childhood nutrition.
Lunch will be provided and participants will receive a prepared meal to bring home to share with their families. Participants will receive a gift, and those who attend all three classes by age group will receive a grand prize.