While many a mom-to-be knows their grocery cart bestows key nutrients baby needs and influences flavors she will be exposed to while floating in amniotic fluid, “eating for two” continues to take on fresh meaning. A growing body of evidence suggests that a mother’s diet also plays a key role in helping protect her little one from exposure to potentially harmful chemicals, both in utero and then later via breast milk.
Yet even without the fog of pregnancy brain, it can be maddening to decode the dozens of labels touting a variety of eco and health benefits. And if supermarkets seem more awash in them than ever, that’s because research suggests they do indeed sway consumers’ buying decisions. But which have strong science behind them when it comes to giving your baby the best (and safest) prenatal diet ever, and which ones can you ignore as marketing hype?