For many women, starting a family is an impetus to move toward a healthier lifestyle. Discover where to begin with better choices for supplements, body care and aromatherapy. Malia Curran is a nutrition consultant, speaker and mother of 2 young children.

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Nutritionist Malia Curran recommends the following supplements for pregnancy:

• If possible, a woman should start taking a prenatal vitamin three months prior to getting pregnant.
• DHA is an essential fatty acid found in fatty fish and fish oil that is vital for the growth of a baby’s brain and nervous system.
• Research shows that babies born to mothers with higher amounts of DHA scored better on attention and visual learning tests.
• For nausea, eat something—such as crackers—before you get out of bed, and ginger or ginger tea promotes a calm stomach.

Choose body care products carefully while pregnant:

• Remember that what you put on your body can be absorbed into your body.
• Skin, hair and oral care products can contain harsh ingredients, so choose body care with a high percentage of natural ingredients and avoid synthetic scents.
• Dilute products containing 100% pure essential oils in equal parts with unscented varieties.
• Look for the Whole Foods Market Premium Body Care™ label for the best choices available.

Aromatherapy can be beneficial throughout pregnancy:

• Only 100% pure essential oils provide benefits, and synthetic scents may be harmful.
• Before using essential oils, always consult your practitioner, and research varieties and usage specific to your stage of motherhood. During pregnancy, certain oils should be avoided.
  • Essential oils are very concentrated and can be harmful if not used properly by diluting them with carrier oils.
  • Never use essential oils directly on skin.
  • Massage is an opportunity to pamper yourself and may also promote a positive mood and comfortable, relaxed muscles and joints.

Aromatherapy can also be used during labor:

• Candles with no petroleum wax or artificial scents can help create a warm, softly lit atmosphere.
• Aromatherapy can also be used by inhaling essential oils from a tissue, the pillow, an electric diffuser, mists or forehead compresses.
• During and following labor, inhaling 100% pure essential oils of rose or ylang ylang may inspire strength; grapefruit, sweet orange or peppermint may promote relaxation and focus; and mandarin, bergamot, lavender or clary sage may support a positive mood.

As a kid, I used say “Open Sesame” when walking towards an automatic door — pretending I was magic as the door slowly opened to allow my grand passage! Turns out, the phrase comes from the fact that when sesame pods ripen, they actually burst open, exposing the delicate little seeds inside!

Tiny, tear-shaped sesame seeds come from the Sesamum indicum, an annual tropical plant that appears to be native to Africa. These days the plant is cultivated throughout Asia, India, Russia, Turkey, Mexico, South America, and even right here in the U.S. Both the seeds and the oil are a mainstay of many popular dishes from all around the world.

Nutritionally speaking, sesame seeds are a good source of copper and magnesium. Because sesame oil, while perfectly edible, is rich and emollient, it is commonly used in body care products.

Sesame seeds range in color from white to black with the lighter seeds being milder in flavor and the darker seeds being stronger or “earthier.” They can be purchased whole, hulled or unhulled. The hulled seeds are ivory colored, the whole seeds are light brown, and the black seeds are an un-hulled variety. Lightly toasting the seeds really brings out the flavor! You can also purchase the seeds ground into a paste or “butter” such as tahini, or you can purchase sesame oil — refined, unrefined or toasted.

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To celebrate our ongoing Whole Planet Foundation Prosperity Campaign, we’re sharing some recipes that were inspired by microcredit clients. In addition to expanding your cultural horizons by trying these recipes, you can also participate in helping solve the persistent problem of world poverty and hunger! It’s easy to donate either in our stores or donate online. You can also spread the word to your social network or start your own campaign.

And now to the recipes, along with some comments from readers who have made these dishes!

Coconut Bread

This Honduran staple, known as “pan de coco,” is like a plump dinner roll. It’s delicious served alongside a meal of rice, beans and fried plantains. Or enjoy a roll simply with a cup of coffee in the morning or afternoon. This recipe was inspired by Euceria Bernandez, a baker and Whole Planet Foundation microcredit client.

Reader comment from nicjojen: When I went looking for a coconut bread recipe, I was looking for a bready dinner roll that isn’t too sweet but had a mild coconutty flavor to it. I got what I was looking for with this…a bun that is more like a dinner roll and not a cake. YUM! It is also light and pillowy…what a nice surprise to have a nice texture to go with the great taste. I would definitely make this again and again.

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THANK YOU FOR ALL OF YOUR COMMENTS! CONGRATULATIONS TO MICHAEL DIPIETRO FROM NEW YORK CITY FOR WINNING THE 5-CD SET FROM PUTUMAYO’S “DREAMLAND” SERIES.

Read on to enter to win a 5-CD set from Putumayo’s Dreamland series. Dan Storper is the CEO and Founder of Putumayo World Music.

Over the years, Putumayo Kids, which began in 1999, has released 20 CD collections to help introduce children to other cultures through fun music from around the world. Though best known for its fun, upbeat Playground series, Putumayo Kids has been quietly releasing albums that have become staples for parents to help their young children fall asleep. Surprisingly, parents have enjoyed these Dreamland CDs as much as their kids! They help just about anyone relax and wind down after the stresses of the day.

With Acoustic Dreamland, I wanted to bring together beautiful English-language songs recorded by some off my favorite performers of adult and children’s music. We’ve also included a mini-storybook featuring the lyrics of the song Dreamland that parents and children can read or sing along to. Written by Mary Chapin Carpenter and sung by Lucy Kaplansky, it’s a lovely tale of falling asleep and dreaming of distant places. I’ve tested these songs on my 5-year-old son and they have really helped him ease into sleep.

In addition to original songs, the collection also features songs written by James Taylor (You Can Close Your Eyes), Allman Brothers (Blue Sky) and Wilco (My Darling).

You’ll find Acoustic Dreamland in most Whole Foods Market stores now. Do you like to fall asleep listening to music? What are your favorite relaxing tunes? Leave a comment below by March 8th for a chance to win a 5 CD collection from our Dreamland series.

Although I’ve never tested its validity, I’m guessing that the old adage “You can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar” is true. However, if I had to choose one of the two to have in my kitchen, vinegar would win hands down. A staple for flavoring and preserving foods for over 6000 years, vinegar is as essential as spices and herbs — even salt and pepper — in bringing life to a dish. Vinegar is named for the soured fermentation, which it is made from, vin aigre, literally “soured wine” in French. Harmless bacteria in wine, beer or cider metabolize the alcohol sugars in these liquids, which produces the acetic acid that gives vinegar its distinctive sour taste. It is this sour note that is prized in the kitchen for bringing the finishing touch to foods, balancing flavors, adding complexity and opening up the palate to an array of tastes.

While all vinegars have a welcomed sour flavor, there is as much variation among vinegars as there are alcohol liquids to make the vinegars from. My pantry’s shelves are continually stocked with several of my favorite vinegars, each one bringing a distinct flavor and aroma to any particular dish.

Many vinegars come from wine and retain the multifaceted aromas and characteristics of that beloved beverage. I use tart, full-bodied red wine vinegar with the earthy flavors of whole grains and beans, such as in Salmon Watercress and Barley Salad and Health Starts Here Texas Caviar. (It’s also perfect in my grandmother’s recipe for the southern classic Red Beans and Rice.)

Sherry vinegar, made from sherry wine, adds a touch of sweetness and high notes when it brings acid to a dish. I like it best with greens as in Butternut Squash and Kale Salad and in Chard with Sherry Vinegar and Walnuts.

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I fell in love with seitan (say-tahn) at the Whole Foods Market Lamar store in Austin about two years ago. The Living Green venue makes vegan seitan gyros that are as good, if not better, than most of the gyros I’ve had in all of Austin (admittedly, we’re not known for our Greek food in this town).

Are you wondering what seitan is? Seitan is a food made from the gluten of wheat. Its texture is dense and a bit on the chewy side and it can be substituted for meat in many dishes.

At Whole Foods Market, I find seitan in the dairy aisle with the tofu and tempeh. It’s sold in various forms, including strips and crumbles. A package usually has about two servings and keeps pretty well if you want to prepare one serving at a time, just make sure you use (or freeze) by the date on the package.

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Today we are launching our 2011 Whole Planet Foundation Prosperity Campaign and we hope you will join us! (Read on for a chance to win a trip to Peru to witness the benefits of microcredit firsthand.) It’s easy to donate either in our stores or donate online. You can also spread the word to your social network or start your own campaign.

Together we can solve the persistent problem of world poverty and hunger! Whole Foods Market has funded over $7 million for Whole Planet Foundation and microlending projects. Shoppers have donated nearly $6 million to Whole Planet Foundation^® in past campaigns. Whole Foods Market Team Members have donated $2 million through our paychecks and suppliers have donated $1.6 million for microcredit. With this support and through valued microfinance institution partners worldwide, Whole Planet Foundation has empowered 130,000 clients with microcredit loans in five years, supporting over half a million people in 30 countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America with a chance to escape poverty. Please join our 2011 campaign and give a hand up to 70,000 more people.

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If you’ve been to our meat counter in the last couple of weeks, you probably have noticed a few changes. With the launch of the 5-Step Animal Welfare Rating Standards – the signature program of Global Animal Partnership – we’ve got new signage, brochures and labels for our Step-rated beef, chicken and pork! So what does it mean? Basically, the higher the Step number, the more interesting their environment, the more time the animals spend outside, and the more natural their life. Last week we talked about Steps 1 to 5 for our chicken. This week I want to tell you about our Step-rated pork – approximately 450 pig farms are able to supply Steps 1 through 4! So let’s dive a bit deeper and see how the multi-tiered program impacts pigs and the farmers who raise them.

At the first level, the 5-Step Animal Welfare Rating Standards program prohibits the use of crates or stalls, typically used on many pig farms. Instead, pigs at Step 1 are group-raised in barns or hoop houses. Another departure from customary practice is the flooring. Rather than spending their lives on barren, slatted flooring, Step 1 pigs are raised on good quality bedding, which helps keep them warm and comfortable. In addition, the common practices of tail docking and tooth clipping are not allowed. For Step 1, our pork suppliers must meet more than 110 different requirements — quite an achievement!

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If you’re planning to tune in on February 27 to find out what films win top honors for 2010, why not make an evening of it and put together a menu in support of your choice for best film? Here are some ideas to get you started.

Black Swan: “Diet for a Prima Ballerina”

Get Your Greens Smoothie

Kale Waldorf Salad

Avocado and Grapefruit Salad

The Fighter: “Food Fit for a Fighter”

Cheddar, Corn and Potato Chowder

Classic Baked Beans

The New Englandah Burgah

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To say our family eats a lot of yogurt is an understatement. Every morning my husband and I have some yogurt sprinkled with fruit, granola or nuts. When I’m craving something sweet after dinner I add a touch of honey to plain yogurt and presto, a dessert that satisfies. Our 18 month old must have inherited our yogurt-loving genes. On those days when he refuses to eat everything I put in front of him, he’ll always at least eat some yogurt. (By the way, that’s not my family in the image to the left. That’s a family that produces Icelandic skyr. I’m pretty sure they eat a lot of yogurt, too.  Read on to find out more about skyr.)

Don’t love yogurt quite as much as my family or are your dietary restrictions keeping you away? Well, here are some interesting new products that just might change your mind about yogurt. There’s even a non-dairy option! If you are a yogurt fan, then you’ll definitely want to give these unique yogurt styles a try.

Greek yogurt is thicker and creamier than the standard yogurt found in U.S. supermarkets. It has a mild flavor, not too tangy, and is a delicious treat mixed with fruit. The consistency and plain flavor is similar to sour cream, so it makes a great substitute. In fact, the classic Greek condiment, tzatziki sauce, is yogurt mixed with cucumbers, garlic and spices. Try something similar with this Creamy Cucumber Side recipe.

Eros Organic Greek Yogurt

• Crafted in Sonoma County, California, exclusively for Whole Foods Market® stores; you won’t find it anywhere else
• Uses organic 2% milk from cows raised without added growth hormones
• Partners with a dairy certified by Humane Farm Animal Care
• Try these flavors: Plain, Honey, Vanilla or fruit-on-the-bottom Blueberry or Strawberry 

OIKOS Organic Greek Yogurt

• Authentic recipe makes for a rich flavor and creamy texture with 0% fat 
• Fresh, organic milk comes from family farms and organic fruits are hand-picked and prepared the same day 
• Five live active cultures: S. thermophilus, L. bulgaricus, L. acidophilus, Bifidus, and L. casei
• The larger 32-oz size is sold only at Whole Foods Market®

Skyr (pronounced skeer) is Iceland’s traditional non-fat dairy specialty made with skim milk and live active cultures. The whey is strained from the milk which means you get a thick, creamy, concentrated yogurt. Less liquid, means they need to use 3-4 times more milk to produce a regular cup of yogurt, which means skyr has more protein per serving than standard yogurt.

Skyr.is Icelandic Skyr

• Packed with protein and calcium and naturally fat free
• Produced by a cooperative of family-run dairy farms and milk producers in Iceland
• Production facilities use only 100% carbon-fee electricity
• Member farms are compliant with Iceland’s progressive standards for domestic livestock welfare
• Available in Plain, Vanilla, Blueberry and Strawberry flavors

Siggi’s Icelandic-Style Non-Fat Skyr

• A minimal ingredient list that includes real fruit
• Made with milk from family farms in Chenango County, New York
• Two new flavors, Peach and Strawberry, just added to the stellar lineup: Plain (available in 6-oz and 16-oz sizes), Vanilla, Acai, Blueberry, Grapefruit, Orange & Ginger, and Pomegranate & Passion Fruit
• Read about the spread of Siggi’s New York-made Icelandic-style skyr in this Whole Story blog post from 2009, Siggi’s Skyr Going Nationwide, and grab a coupon for Siggi’s in the January/February issue of The Whole Deal value guide

All this yogurt talk got you down because you don’t eat dairy. Cheer up! Here is a really interesting new product for you, or anyone else who wants to change it up a little. It’s yogurt made from almondmilk. I have to admit, I haven’t had this yet, so I can’t give you the lowdown on the flavor or texture. I really like almondmilk, so I definitely plan to give this a try.

Amande Cultured Almondmilk

• A Whole Foods Market exclusive!
• Made with organic California almonds and sweetened with fruit juice
• Contains billions of live active cultures and is naturally low in saturated fat and cholesterol-free
• Gluten free, casein free, lactose free, soy free and vegan
• Available in a variety of flavors: Blueberry, Strawberry, Raspberry, Coconut, Peach, and Cherry

These are just some of the many great yogurt options on our shelves. There is surely a style and flavor for every taste. Have you tried an interesting yogurt recently? What’s your favorite?