Mother's pregnancy diet linked to autism

TOP OF MIND

What you eat while pregnant matters... a lot!
Well, those pesky researchers keep doing studies and discovering things we don't want to hear.

A small team of public health specialists from the University of Glasgow found a possible link between some cases of autism and prenatal diet. The researchers examined data for the years 2002 through 2008, which included reports on more than 95,000 mother/daughter pairs.

During their analysis, they found that mothers who adhered to a "healthy diet" had a 22% lower chance of giving birth to a child with autism than women who ate a less-than-healthy diet.

What did their version of a healthy diet look like? And could the food you eat while pregnant have other impacts on your kid? Let's discuss!

The important bits
In the study referenced above, the team defined a healthy diet as one that included regular servings of vegetables, fruits, nuts, fish and whole grains. An unhealthy diet included foods high in fat, processed meats, soft drinks and refined carbohydrates, such as white bread, crackers, cookies, and more.

Obviously more research needs to be conducted, but we're not exactly surprised by this news. Other studies have found that eating a high-fiber diet while pregnant can significantly reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease in your children.

It's important to note that this particular study was conducted on mice, but the experts found that a high-fiber diet in pregnant mice led to a healthier gut, reduced inflammation and healthier hearts in their offspring.

In addition to potentially improving the health of your kid, what you eat during pregnancy could also have an impact on how picky your kid is.

What's it all mean?
What you eat matters... who knew? But also, more research needs to be done, so don't beat yourself for not munching on broccoli and quinoa during pregnancy. Also, it's never too late to improve your kids' relationship with food.

DID YOU HEAR

💵 Speaking of food, how can we afford it?
Prices at the grocery store are slowly going down, but "slowly" is the keyword there. Families are still struggling to stock their kitchens, which has led to what some people are calling "bulk sharing." The idea is that families, friends, acquaintances are finding deals at bulk stores, and then splitting the cost with someone else. One mom told ABC that she bulk shares with her sister. She explained how the process works by giving this example, "I don't need 40 bags of this toddler snack. So I'll ask her 'do you want to go halves on it and I'll send over 20 bags for you?'"

🧠 Men's brains change when they become dads
Multiple studies have shown that when women become pregnant, and after they give birth, physical changes occur in their brains that help them prepare for motherhood. And now, new research suggests men also experience a similar change. They looked at brain-imaging studies on 40 expectant fathers before and after the birth of their first child. They noted that while the structural changes were more subtle than what was observed in women, men did experience some reduction in gray matter, which allows the brain to process information more efficiently. And the more significant the reduction, the more engaged they were as a parent.  

🗯️ Wake up babe, a new parenting debate just dropped.
Are you a coloring book family? Podcast host Dave Neal accidentally ruffled lots of feathers in an Instagram reel when he shared his opinion on letting kids have phones/iPads in a restaurant. He said that while he doesn't believe it makes you a bad parent, he does think it's bad parenting. "We're going to be a coloring book family," he added. Safe to say, the comments section was wild. Look at some of the snarky responses here.

🤪 Want your kids to like you? Be funny!
According to a new study published last week, humor could be a key to good parenting. People who were raised by adults who used humor were found to have a better view of their parents and more likely to have a good relationship with them. "In addition to stress relief and easing social interactions, humor promotes language and literacy skills, creative problem solving, and resilience," Dr. Katie Hurley explained to CNN.

🍞 All about bread
Great British Baking Show judge Paul Hollywood recently posted a TikTok video explaining why storing bread in your fridge actually makes it go bad faster. He said the fridge draws out moisture from the loaf, which makes it stale three times quicker. But critics were quick to point out they'd rather have stale bread than moldy bread.

A DOSE OF GOOD

@hanessssssssss

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BITES WITH KIYAH

Americans are snacking more now than ever.
As adults, this is a habit that we may want to address. But as parents we know that snacking is inevitable. The problem is that most pre-packaged convenience snacks are ultra processed foods that are high in unhealthy fats and added sugars. So what is a parent to do?

There are some simple ways you can snack smarter. I’ve compiled a list of 50 easy healthy ideas (only a few need actual prep!) to help get you started.

Kiyah is the co-founder of Kizingo Kids and an expert in nutrition. Follow her on Instagram.

CAN YOU REALLY GET PAID FOR WALKING?

Have you heard of the "WeWard" app? We've seen it being promoted on several mommy blogs. The app claims you can earn "Wards" for simply walking, and then cash them in for gift cards, bank transfers, charity donations, discounts, and more. Yves Benchimol, the CEO of the company, says their goal is to get people walking.

But is it legit? Well, we did some research and the answer is a little complicated. Technically, the app does deliver on its promise. You can earn "wards" by walking, but there are some major caveats. Unless you're Forrest Gump, don't expect to get rich using this app. Reviewers say it can take several months to earn just $10 or $15 in rewards.

Additionally, you have to make sure to convert your steps at the end of every day or the app will not log them and your walking streak will be over! Some users also note you have to watch a 60 second advertisement before being able to convert your steps.

Our verdict? It's not worth your time. And use caution when a site is getting paid to promote a product. It's their job to make it sound more appealing than it actually is.

HERE’S A QUESTION

Last week, we asked you if an extra $4,000 a year would take away a significant amount of stress in your life, and around 60% of you said, "No" while the other 40% said "Yes!"