Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me

In ‘An Introduction To Film Studies’, Allan Rowe states ‘In normal film viewing we experience simultaneously a number of codes: visual, sound and the codes controlling the linking of one sound or image to another’. These cinematic codes work to produce meaning in a film.

In David Lynch’s 1992 film Twin Peaks : Fire Walk With Me the narrative meaning of the film is more than ambiguous rendering a full understanding of the film difficult. Different perceptions of reality are presented side by side in a wholly non linear plot that not only places a greater emphasis on the cinematic codes contained within to produce meaning, but also makes an analysis of them and their function within the narrative interesting in and of themselves.

Twin Peaks : Fire Walk With Me, the film prequel to the hugely successful television series, is a dystopic and bleak analysis of both the distinction between surface and depth in small town America and of the descent into her personal hell of the central character, Laura Palmer. The cinematic codes at work serve not only the generic purpose of providing the clues for what is essentially a surrealistic thriller, but also to provide meaning to the often disparate sequences of action and also to reinforce the feeling that the audience is not only witnessing but participating in the creeping insanity of the lead character, suggested by the film’s fascination with walking.

This is, however, achieved primarily by the constant use of point of view shots and a distinctive and multi-layered soundtrack that in many ways is more captivating because it works on a subliminal level, that is to say that while we are more aware of the image and the images production, sound passes through in a less scrutinized form.

While even a rudimentary glance at the credits clearly highlights the importance of sound to film, cinematographer Ron Garcia also plays an important role. Changes in the relative view of reality are highlighted and in many ways signposted by subtle changes in the framing of shots and the quality of the image. Indeed, the cinematography is possibly solely responsible for the pervasive sense of voyeurism that links the two separate sections of the film. The mise en scene, especially Lynch’s use of decor and props, takes on a dual purpose of publicly and explicitly rendering meaning not only to the film as a whole but to the plots within.

A good example of this is the early scene involving Lynch himself and Agents Desmond and Stanley and the mysterious Lil. Her costume is quite explicitly highlighted as being important, strong and vibrant reds and illuminated blues standing out from the dark, flat background against which she is placed. This importance is further stressed as the two agents discuss precisely what she was wearing.

In terms of acting, the film is even more clearly divided into two sections, the prologue subtitled ‘Theresa Banks’ and the longer second part chronicling the last seven days of Laura Palmer. In the prologue dialogue is if anything under delivered and very much played down, whereas in the second section the emphasis is placed far more on emotion and action and reaction, helping to create in the audience the nerve jangling sense of fear and desperation. Despite these differences, in terms of cinematography links can strongly be made between the narratively ambiguous prologue and the main drive of the plot in the second section.

Of all Lynch’s feature films FWWM has the most unusual construction. Time and reality are distorted creating a strong sense of chaos and loss that is indicative of the central character’s role. Cinematographer Ron Garcia produces a quality of image that is both deliberately cool and unreassuring. Even the home interiors, generally havens of warmth and safety, are unwelcoming, generally shot from low angles to reinforce the sense of menace and fear that Laura feels towards her home environment. The film, however, concentrates primarily on its many exterior shots, the sequences in the Fat Trout Trailer Park perhaps best highlighting the fact that the prologue is infused with a cold and cutting autumn light.

Despite the profusion of natural light, all the characters present in these scenes are wrapped up against the cold, increasing the feeling of unease that the sequences create with this seemingly unnatural image. The rest of the film juxtaposes different atmospheres suited to the different levels of reality which are presented. The sharp light is mirrored by static shots, seamlessly cut together when conventional reality is dominant. In the more surreal scenes, however, image merge, the focus is softer, giving a more dreamy, unreal quality, and the use of fades and dissolves proliferate. This clearly indicates a shift in perception and a focus more on the subjective responses of the characters, if not for this device the action would border on the incredible. A prime example of this is the sequence of three shots following the revelatory scene between Laura and Harold Smith.

1. C.U. from low angle – the ceiling fan spins
2. M.C.U. Laura – she stands on the stairs looking faint. She is bathed in a red glow.
3. M.S. Red velvet curtains, seen from a high angle, sway in the Red Room.

Firstly, the final shot from the previous scene fades to black. The shots themselves give the impression of being in slow motion, the lighting is now relatively warm and unnatural in opposition to the other scenes and far from being edited neatly together, they dissolve from one shot to the next, the images almost merging. As the final shot merges into the next scene at the FBI offices, one of the visual motifs that is used to highlight these more hallucinatory passages is seen. For the briefest moment, the shot of the curtains is merged with a far fainter shot of television snow.

Visually, the most striking and original aspect of the film is its use of upsetting shooting angles and frames. On many occasions, especially the scenes between Laura and Donna in the Hayward house, shots are taken directly from above. Symmetrical houses, like the Palmer house, are framed slightly off center to distort the symmetry and disorientate the viewer. Both of these elements are used to good effect to generate a sense of imbalance that is presented as a metaphor for Laura’s life and as a visual technique to promote Laura’s point of view.

This overt identification with Laura is reinforced throughout the film with its focus on walking. The first shot we see of Laura is of her walking, with the camera walking with her, which as the title suggests is the idea at the heart of the film, to walk with Laura to the very end. As Michael Chion suggests in his book ‘David Lynch’, FWWM heralds one of the most surprising walking scenes in all cinema. The scene after school in which Laura is confronted by Bobby is not only visually disorientating, perhaps highlighting Laura’s recent use of cocaine, but illustrates Lynch’s original way of subverting the films diegetic and non-diegetic sound to reinforce the overall sense of dislocation and submersion. As Bobby backtracks towards the entrance to the High School, a rhythmic piece of apparently non-diegetic music begins, but in one of the most bizarre shots in the film, begins to develop an impression of being diegetic as not only Bobby but the assorted extras begin to move in over exaggerated gyrations timed perfectly with the soundtrack.

More than ever, Lynch took part in the construction of the soundtrack to the film, being credited not only as sound designer but one of a number of sound re-recorders. Inaugurating a new computerised mixing system, Lynch produced a soundtrack that contains a confusion of stressed sound effects. The themes and intrinsic meaning of the film are not just illuminated by the film sound but reinforced by it. The constant sound, activity, the source and nature of which are often obscure, is one of the films most original aspects and acts as a metaphor for the turmoil that is Laura Palmer. As more and more pressures pull her towards her ultimate demise, the soundtrack and effects disorientate us down the same path. As Chion notes ‘It creates a sense of the screen as a fragile membrane with a multitude of currents pressing on it from behind’.

The setting of the film, familiar to fans of the television series, is used to a much different effect in the film, especially in the framing of particular locations and sets. One visual link between the prologue and the rest of the film, although this device is far more prevalent in the prologue, is that many of the characters are framed against window or doors. In the local Sheriff’s office, Agent Desmond exits, passing by a maze of tightly compacted doors almost identically laid out as the later scene in the Palmer house when Laura, in a disturbing mix of close up and point of view shots, discovers Bob in her bedroom.

The fact that during the opening section many of the characters are framed by doors and windows increases the sense of voyeurism that pervades the film and gives an early indication that these characters are somehow merely onlookers in the story that is to follow, which in reality they are. The sense of danger and closeness (Laura’s killer after all is her father) is also introduced in the prologue through the lighting.

Many of the shots have only one, often very visible, source of light. This serves to create a depth of shadow that is both menacing and disturbing. In the scene in Hap’s Diner, Desmond and Stanley sit drinking coffee, the doorway in darkness behind. Later at the FBI offices, Special Agent Philip Jefferies emerge from the darkness of an unseen lift. In the town of Twin Peaks itself, the danger again is from the darkness of the thick forest that surrounds it on all sides. The prologue again sets up and reinforces this idea; as Gordon Cole (played by Lynch himself) is speaking on the phone with a huge painting of a forest covering the wall behind him, the densest part shrouded in shadows and lurking menacingly over his shoulder.

In studying cinematic codes, Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me presents many interesting questions and difficulties. While in the film they do serve to produce a level of meaning that the plot appears to care little for, they perhaps function more to create a level of subjective empathy, identification and the right sorts of feeling to accept what is happening within the film, rather than an objective understanding and explanation of what is taking place.

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By Marty Meltz

“Up” (my 0-10 quality rating: 10) 
(animation) 
Director: Peter Docter, with co-director Bob Peterson 
Screenplay: Bob Peterson 
Voices: Ed Asner, Christopher Plummer, Delroy Lindo, Bob Peterson 
Time: 1 hr., 36 min. 
Rating: PG (perilous action)

A masterpiece of adult-level art and craft of animated films, not to say a wonderfully refreshing plot quality exploring seriously the trials and tribulations of our lives. The points of praise for this film cannot be overdone. It’s a landmark.

And no, forget about any necessity of seeing it in 3-D. If anything, that’s distracting.

Pixar, ever the innovator in raising the bar on animated feature films, now presents an artistically and intellectually brilliant movie which amazingly appeals to both kid and grown-up filmgoers, although its sublest points are definitely adult-oriented. No, you don’t have to be accompanied by a child under 9 to be admitted; you can totally love this gem of entertainment all on your own. Yes, it even surpasses the ingenious “Wall-E.”

And no, this is not, as all the previews exploit at juvenile levels, simply about an old gent who has his house and himself lofted away by thousands of balloons to fantastical adventures. That’s got nothing to do with the film’s visceral levels of emotional force. We’re talking timeless, actual emotional values at all ages to the end. Ane guess what, old people are not upstaged by kids and are actually shown as wiser.

For the grand intelligence and sensitivity that went into this movie are based on the simple notion that certain human emotions, dreams and hopes are universal in people of all ages from early childhood to final farewells. In particular, loneliness. Yes, you will cry in some scenes, not because of cartoon characters up there on a big screen but because the feelings they are eliciting exist regardless of the medium and the age of the characters and evoking them, whether by real acting or animated figures.

Package these amazingly created aspects with spellbinding aesthetics, some of ethereal quality, and endlessly playful notions of human interaction, and you’ve come to an experience, not a movie. Through inspired balance of screen color designs and shapes to pace the momentum, craft joins story value to summon forth your deepest values and yearnings.

Here we have the love between an 8-year-old boy and a girl growing to adulthood and marriage, then on to old age and a haunting memory at 78. It’s all told quickly in an exquisite montage.

Now for the fun and the beauty.

The story is essentially that of the delightfully impossible journey of aspiration into unknown geographic territory which brings forth wondrous new emotional energy by an old codger and a young boy scout. Sounds sentimental? The way it’s manifested charmingly and disarmingly here, with minimal fantasy elements, that can be criticized only if you’re an irrevocable cynic for whom feigned indifference has become a religion. Indeed, the film takes admirable risks in being relatively talky and steering well clear of the usual “marketable” kids’ appeal action pieces.

The story begins with 1930s simulted Movietone newsreel in which the story is told of an Explorer named Muntz tried to convince the world of the existence of a giant bird. Widely derided as a hoax, he took himself into self-exile into the South American jungles to find that bird again. Profoundly affected by the film are Carl and Ellie, two children with adventurous ambitions. As they grow older (in a fantastically descriptive brief montage) they hold to their dreams and they marry and look to fulfilling that dream.

But alas, there is fate. Ellie must settle for a contented, loving but perhaps boring life with balloon-seller Carl (voice by Ed Asner). And so tragically, she dies so before her time. She has left a scrapbook. And a cantankerous widowed husband who becomes a virtual hermit. He just wants to be alone. Or so he thinks. His home surrounded by giant construction projects, that will be very depressing for him.

But human ingenuity springs eternal. Faced with eviction, Carl comes up with the mother of all schemes. In a dazzling sequence, he attaches thousands of colored balloons to the house which hoist it to the skies.

So now to fly it to South America, so to live his deceased wife’s dreams. But he has a stowaway aboard. It’s Russell, the little Junior Wilderness Explorer who had tried to get the old man to help him get his Help the Elderly badge award.

At their arrival at the falls, in thick fog on top of a mesa, they have begun an adventure that will feature endless jungle animals, all presented with outstanding imagination and perception, with special appeal in the insightfully treated dogs who greet them. In the finale, there will be a zeppelin piloted by Muntz (the portrayal and treatment of it provide a mighty visual experiencein its elaborate exterior and interior), the idealized explorer over which Carl has modeled his adventure. Muntz has been up there all these years in quest of the bird the world did not believe existed.

So many incidents and so much action, yet the film is forever first-rate in its attempt at probing the depths of human emotion. It is ever a class act, funny, absorbing. Moving.

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Corporate downsizing and increased unemployment can take a heavy toll on everyone. And the impact is more than economic. Difficult economic times also produce increased incidence of depression as well as a dread of dealing with personal finances.

Tough, even scary, news about our country’s worsening financial condition continues to bombard us from television and radio broadcasts, printed pages and the Internet. To compound the problem, many Americans without jobs have too much time to dwell on their misfortunes and seemingly bleak futures. A downward mental spiral can lead to a range of feelings from a general uneasiness to serious depression.

Clinical psychologist Mary Gresham says, “This is a scary time even for those who are not in an immediate crisis,” on the American Psychological Association’s Web site.

“Many people,” Gresham adds, “mistakenly believe that money stress can only be reduced by money itself … the more you think about money and how not to lose more of it, the more anxious you will become and the less likely you’ll be able to solve problems.”

This certainly seems to be sensible advice, but it provokes an obvious question: How do you stop thinking about money problems? And that query prompts a simple response: Think about something else.

Thinking about something else may be accomplished best by thinking about someone else. Focusing on how you can make even a tiny effort to help another human being will immediately present a new perspective. Volunteering offers all kinds of benefits, some of them particularly important as we struggle to maintain our financial composure.

Research by the Corporation for National & Community Service has found that volunteering leads to greater life satisfaction, lower rates of depression and improved physical and mental health. It reported that “when patients with chronic or serious illness volunteer, they receive benefits beyond what can be achieved through medical care.”

American companies have taken this kind of research to heart and some even encourage employees to volunteer, offering them paid time off and company-supported volunteer opportunities. During the current economic downswing, this approach is more important than ever.

Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, a member-based financial services company in Minneapolis, Minn., has gone so far as to form an alliance with Habitat for Humanity International called Thrivent Builds with Habitat for Humanity. The company committed $125 million over four years to assist with and help administer the construction of hundreds of Habitat homes each year.

It then reached out to members and employees, encouraging them to volunteer on Thrivent Builds construction sites in the United States and abroad. One form of encouragement was to subsidize 50 percent of a limited number of days to volunteer through its “shared release time” policy. Another was to provide special discounts to members who wished to volunteer on Thrivent Builds sites in other countries. In providing these special benefits, Thrivent Financial was recognizing the importance of volunteering to the health and well-being of employees and members.

“We understand the life benefits that volunteering engenders,” says Brad Hewitt, senior executive vice president and chief operating officer of Thrivent Financial. “And our alliance with Habitat for Humanity also aligns well with our company’s values. We are committed to offering our members programs that engage their hearts, impact communities and demonstrate the value of their membership.”

“We’ve heard time and time again from member and employee volunteers just how delighted they are in their volunteer experiences,” adds Hewitt.

Another “D” word with a decidedly different spin.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

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A tight economy means most American homeowners are keeping close watch on their budgets, cutting spending on frivolities and extras.

For this reason, many folks have opted to put large-scale projects, such as kitchen and bathroom remodels, on the back burner for the time being. But, they haven’t completely stopped updating their homes. Homeowners are still forging ahead with improvements, but they’re allocating hard-earned dollars to smaller projects — ones that not only boost their home’s overall appeal, but also provide other added benefits in the long run.

Increasingly more home improvement products deliver more bang for the buck by delivering multiple benefits … a must in today’s increasingly frugal economy. But being budget-conscious doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice quality and performance in the home improvement arena. From high-performing wall paints to sophisticated thermostat controls, and everything in between, today’s home products work smarter — not just harder — with modern budgets in mind.

Interior paint is one home improvement product that has made the significant “smart” advances in recent years. Today’s environmentally-minded coatings offer little or no ozone-damaging (and odor-causing) volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in a wide range of colors and finishes, ideal for any decor. These low-odor paints make easy — and less smelly — work of painting.

Some paints, such as Dutch Boy’s new Refresh paint offer zero VOCs and take things a step further. Thanks to the inclusion of proven Arm & Hammer odor-eliminating technology, Refresh paint helps remove common household airborne odors from kitchens, laundry and family rooms, bathrooms, nurseries and basements. This paint also provides excellent hide, scrubbability and durability, keeping walls looking fresh and attractive for years to come.

Heating and cooling controls also offer multiple benefits. The average American household spends $1,400 a year on energy bills, according to the Alliance to Save Energy. A simple programmable thermostat that controls temperature on both heating and cooling systems keeps a home at the ultimate comfort level and helps maintain the most efficient temperatures all day long, boosting overall energy efficiency while decreasing utility bills.

Lighting systems also have become smarter. They can be designed to restrict energy output through controls and sensors. They also can feature such long-lasting, energy-saving lamps as light-emitting diodes (LEDs) or compact fluorescent (CFL) bulbs. All of these technologies provide quality light, cut energy usage and save homeowners money.

In the kitchen, appliances are amazingly more efficient. Some stoves, for example, can communicate remotely with homeowners via email or cell phone text messages, providing alerts if they have been left on. Users can then remotely turn off the appliance using an Internet interface.

Even such simple things as purchased in-home water coolers (as opposed to expensive rental systems) and on-faucet filtration systems have made getting a drink of water smarter by replacing less environmentally friendly – not to mention, pricey – individual plastic bottles. This cuts down on petroleum usage and energy-draining plastic manufacturing and delivers purified water to homeowners with less waste and price, including the delivery costs of cooler rental programs.

While Americans are searching for bargains for projects that make their homes look and perform better, they most definitely don’t want to sacrifice quality — and — they don’t have to. Modern home improvement products work smarter … and better … delivering multiple benefits through improved technology without draining a homeowner’s closely monitored bank account.

While 2009 might not be the year to build that addition, gut your kitchen or modernize your old bathroom, it’s the perfect year to start thinking about how you can make your home work for you and save money in the process.

For more information about Refresh paint, please visit www.dutchboy.com/refresh, or call (800) 828-5669.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

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Feeling stressed over the economy? More and more Americans are turning to a millennia-old technique for relieving stress — music. Whether you just listen or actually play an instrument, music has very definite therapeutic value for a range of mental and physical health issues, a growing body of scientific evidence shows.

From relieving depression in adults to helping children with Attention Deficit Disorder learn to focus better, playing music provides myriad health benefits, studies show. In fact, studies reported on the Music Industry Association’s Recreational Music Making Web site show that playing music has:

* Improved immune system performance in corporate workers studied in Japan.
* Relieved loneliness and boosted self esteem in senior citizens.
* Relieved stress and improved mood for 75 nursing students studied at Allegany College of Maryland.

But how can you tap the stress-relieving, health-enhancing benefits of playing music without investing years learning to read music and play an instrument?

“What keeps many people from playing, especially popular instruments like piano, is that they never get proficient enough at reading notes to play easily,” says Scott Houston, the “Piano Guy” and host of an Emmy-winning Public Television how-to show. A better approach, he says, and one that works for both beginners and experienced music readers, is to focus on chords and interpretation, rather than reading note-for-note.

“This method is effective for both trained and untrained recreational players,” he says. “It’s not unusual for recreational players to feel frustrated and even stressed if traditional music training isn’t working for them, or they’re not progressing as quickly as they’d like. This approach allows you to tap the health-enhancing and stress-relieving benefits of recreational music making quickly and easily.”

The key to Houston’s method is to teach you how to read a “lead sheet,” a kind of “shorthand” professional musicians use to queue them to a song’s melody line and the chords that accompany it. Because it’s a very simple form of music notation, lead sheets allow you to learn a song faster and put more creativity and interpretation into how you play. Actually creating music, rather than just playing notes, imparts an “artist’s high,” Houston notes.

“Most people who want to learn to play piano simply want to do so for their own enjoyment,” he says. “Of all the things I do throughout my day, nothing is more enjoyable than to just sit down and play a tune.”

“Learning to play the piano is not only healthy for you, it’s just plain fun and can be attained quickly using the right techniques,” Houston adds.

To learn more about Houston’s technique for teaching recreational musicians to play piano quickly and creatively, visit www.ScottHouston.com.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

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Today’s shoppers can print coupons from the Web, add electronic coupons to their store savings cards and even use their cell phones to select coupons to be redeemed at check out. It’s easier than ever to cut that food bill in half thanks to coupons, and here are three easy ways to get started saving money in new ways.

1) Click-and-Print Coupons: There are several Web sites that compile grocery coupons so you simply click on the ones you want, then print and cut them out to take to the grocery store. You can also find printable coupons on the Web sites of your favorite brands, like Pillsbury.com and BettyCrocker.com.

2) Electronic Coupons: Online coupon sites like Shortcuts.com allow you to load electronic coupons onto your store savings cards. No need to print or clip. Just click on the coupons you need and they’ll be automatically redeemed at check out when you use your store savings card.

3) Mobile Coupons: You can now get coupons right from your constant companion, your cell phone. One service to check out is Shortcuts.com Mobile (go to www.shortcuts.com on any cell phone with a Web browser). Just click the coupons you want and within five minutes they’ll be loaded up on your store savings card and ready to use at check out.

It’s easy to save money at the grocery store, especially when you have the right tools, like your computer and your cell phone. In no time you’ll be saving serious dollars in the check out line.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

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Besides decorating earlier and more completely this year with spooky Halloween scenes of candlelit chandeliers and jack-o-lanterns, many people will use scent as a way to enhance the experience throughout October.

This year we’re in for an extra-special treat as Halloween falls on Friday night. Already the second biggest decorating holiday each year — Halloween becomes even bigger when there’s no work or school the next day. Experts are predicting Americans will make Halloween 2008 the biggest in history.

And, in what’s sure to be another dynamic election year, Halloween may be just what the doctor ordered for the country as it will be the perfect way for both “red” and “blue” Americans to relax and celebrate together in orange and black only days before Nov. 4, 2008.

Phil Rist, head of strategy research at BIGresearch, an online market intelligence and interest research company, states, “Halloween is no longer considered a children’s holiday.” He concludes that adults view Halloween as a way to ease the stress of work and everyday life. Richard Laermer, author of 2011: Trendspotting for the Next Decade, agrees, suggesting that fantasy is crucial for stressed-out adults. According to Laermer, “The idea of pretending is something that we all just realized is not only possible, but absolutely essential.”

Halloween may be just what the doctor ordered for the country as it will be the perfect way for both “red” and “blue” Americans to relax and celebrate together in orange and black only days before Nov. 4, 2008.

“Adults also like to reconnect with fond moments from their childhood” explains Rick Ruffolo, senior vice president of brand, marketing, and innovation at Yankee Candle. “People want to return to the happy, carefree days of their youth. It’s like trick-or-treating down memory lane.”

Besides decorating earlier and more completely this year with spooky Halloween scenes of candlelit chandeliers and jack-o-lanterns, many people will use scent as a way to enhance the experience throughout October. Ruffolo adds. “Numerous studies have proven that scents are the most powerful trigger for memories, as well as the emotions associated with them. Feel-good fall candle scents such as Pumpkin Pie, Autumn Leaves, Pomegranate Cider, Cinnamon Stick, and Farmhouse Apple will remind you immediately of Halloween celebrations as a kid.”

All three make convincing points for getting into the festive spirit of the occasion. Experts agree that not having to get up early the following day will help Halloween 2008 be the biggest in history. People will begin getting in the mood by decorating all throughout the month of October. Happy Halloween!

Courtesy of ARAcontent

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Preparing for a Class Reunion

 

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Dr. William Sears Offers Five Nutrition Tips

Celebrity moms seem to effortlessly bounce back to pre-baby weight immediately after giving birth. Here in the real world, however, real women know that battling the baby bulge is not so easy.

In fact, weight loss shouldn’t be the focus for new moms, especially if they plan on breastfeeding. Now is not the time to go on a crash diet or reach for diet pills. For women who plan on breastfeeding, eating habits should mirror a healthy pregnancy diet. Even after giving birth, breastfeeding moms are eating for two.

“During pregnancy and lactation, use real, wholesome food. When you consider the growth of that tiny baby, a mother has to be as pure as she possibly can,” said renowned pediatrician Dr. William Sears. “Mothers need more nutrition to grow a baby and to make milk. They don’t need to make any drastic changes.”

Dr. Sears, the father of eight children, is the author of more than 30 books on children’s health and development, including one that’s forthcoming — “The Healthiest Kid in the Neighborhood: Dr. Sears’s Nine Ways to Get Your Family on the Right Nutritional Track.” He coauthored the book with his wife, a registered nurse, and two of his sons, who are also pediatricians.

Dr. Sears offers these five nutritional tips when eating for two.

1. When it Comes to Consuming Calories, Stay the Course

Whether pregnant or nursing, a mother’s dietary requirements are about the same. Producing milk, much like growing a baby, requires extra energy. Mothers who breastfeed should continue consuming the extra 300 to 500 calories recommended by obstetricians during pregnancy. And drinking plenty of water continues to be important to support healthy milk production.

Many women opt to eat several small meals over the course of the day when pregnant because the uterus presses against the stomach, making it difficult to consume larger meals. Dr. Sears recommends mothers continue this “grazing” approach during the breastfeeding period to supply a regular caloric intake to the body which must continually produce milk.

 2. Read Food and Beverage Labels

It’s important to make those extra calories count. Avoid empty-calorie foods and beverages such as soft drinks, candy and other sweetened foods, which have little or no nutritional value.

Dr. Sears also advises mothers to avoid three items on food labels: high fructose corn syrup, hydrogenated oils and food dyes, like Red Dye No. 40. “If mothers avoid these three simple things, they’ve eliminated 90 percent of the junk food in their diet,” said Dr. Sears.

Artificial sweeteners, too, should be avoided as they have not been proven to be safe for infants. As for caffeine and alcohol, moderation is the key.

“A glass of wine consumed slowly with a meal is very unlikely to harm a baby during lactation or pregnancy. Having said that, nature makes very few mistakes. A mother may lose her taste for caffeine and alcohol when pregnant. When in doubt, leave it out,” said Sears.

3. Concentrate on Brain Foods

Dr. Sears lists four favorite brain foods to provide key nutrients to mothers and their babies, whose brains are in a period of rapid growth and development: blueberries, spinach, nuts, and foods naturally containing or fortified with omega-3 fatty acid Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA). Blueberries are rich with powerful antioxidants for disease protection and memory enhancement. Spinach contains anticancer properties and may reduce the effects of age-related declines in brain function. The healthy fats in nuts promote optimal brain function. DHA is critical for optimal brain development and function in infants, and ongoing brain function in adults.

Experts recommend about 300 mg of DHA a day for pregnant and nursing women. Unfortunately, the typical American diet has one of the lowest levels of DHA consumption in the world – fewer than 100 mgs per day.

“Fatty fish are the primary dietary source of DHA but during pregnancy mothers can lose their taste for fish. This is why a DHA supplement is not just advisable but necessary. Mothers need to have it,” said Dr. Sears. Fortunately, there is a non-fish, vegetarian alternative – DHA from algae, also known as Martek DHA. Today dietary supplements and foods fortified with DHA from algae are becoming increasingly available.

Vegetarian Martek DHA is found in Gold Circle Farm Eggs, in Neuromins DHA supplements and in several products for pregnant and nursing women, including Expecta LIPIL supplements, Citrical plus DHA prenatal vitamins, Optinate prenatal vitamins, and in Oh Mama! Bars, nutrition bars for pregnant women.

4. Concerning Supplements or Medication, Consult Your Doctor

Nursing mothers should continue taking prenatal vitamins as recommended by their obstetricians, as they are a good source of calcium, folic acid and other vital nutrients. Before taking additional supplements or any kind of medication, it’s always wise to check with a doctor first.

5. Don’t Smoke

Nursing mothers who smoke can pass the nicotine in their bodies directly to their babies through breast milk. What’s more, Dr. Sears advises nursing mothers that it’s not enough for a mother to distance herself from her baby while smoking. Smoke can still be found on a mother’s hair and clothing. The incidence(s) of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) doubles if the mother smokes, and goes up as much as five times if both the mother and father smoke around the baby.

Smoking during pregnancy and lactation also diminishes prolactin, a hormone that triggers milk production. It is also widely believed that prolactin is the basis for mother’s intuition.

For more information on your developing baby, visit www.askdrsears.com. For more information on DHA, visit www.DHAdepot.com.

Courtesy of ARA Content

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You can find information about how to keep your kids eating healthy at http://wwwmedtronic.com/healthykids. Raising Healthy Kids also is available in a four-page translated version for parents whose first language is not English; translations are available in Hmong, Spanish and Somali.

Following are a few simple tips to get you started.

1. Make healthy eating fun!

Nutritious foods can be enjoyable when mixed with a little planning and creativity. Try serving frozen grapes, popcorn with seasoning salt instead of butter, carrot sticks with peanut butter or fresh fruit kabobs. Or involve your kids in the experimentation. Your kids will forget that they’re eating something healthy, and you’ll have fun, too!

 2. Invest in healthy, portable meals or snacks for days on-the-go.

Pack a bag lunch on days when you know you will be away from the house during meal or snack times. Convenient, nutritious foods such as grapes, raisins or mozzarella cheese sticks make perfect snacks and help ward off the temptation to snack on sweets or fatty foods.

3. The availability of good foods and the absence of bad foods is key.

Your children will eat what’s in front of them, especially when they’re hungry, so make sure the good stuff is accessible. That means cutting up fruits and vegetables ahead of time and leaving them in plain sight. No time? Buy the pre-cut veggies and fruit platters.

4. Encourage your child to drink water instead of juice or soda.

Both juice and soda are full of processed sugar and unnecessary calories – a whopping 250 calories in a 20 ounce bottle of soda. If your child has a sweet tooth, try quenching their thirst with sugar-free lemonade or fresh fruit instead.

5. If possible, go to the supermarket without your children.

These days, aggressive advertising and marketing techniques are directed at your kids that may cause them to pester you in to buying unhealthy foods. Although it may be difficult with kids at home, shopping alone makes it easier to resist the temptation to surrender to your child’s whining. On those occasions when you do need to bring your children with you, don’t be afraid to say “no.”

For more information on raising healthy kids, go to http://wwwmedtronic.com/healthykids.

Courtesy of ARA Content

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