Healthy Eating Messages to New Mums to Promote Better Nutrition

The Government will now employ text messages to inspire and inculcate healthy eating in new mothers especially those who may have missed the advisory through normal channels in the health system.

This endeavor is part of a $1.6 million government investment to promote nutritious eating targeted at those new mothers and families that are tough to reach.

Community health groups and the Waitemata and Auckland District Health Boards are teaming up to boost the health of families who are not so well connected to health care, so that they are informed and can avail of antenatal, postnatal and infant services.

"Pregnant women and young mothers who have registered for the free service will receive text messages encouraging them to take up healthy and safe lifestyle choices during their pregnancy and postnatal period," Health Minister Tony Ryall said.

"This will be similar to successful text messaging used for smoking cessation which can double quit rates and has been implemented as a Ministry of Health-funded national service."

"Evidence also suggests the elders of a family or community can have significant influence on the dietary and lifestyle choices made by younger mums - and that they don't always do so correctly. So radio adverts will run to make sure they understand the benefits of healthy eating and exercise for mums and babies."



Source: Medindia