Articles and Information from GA Foods

Expecting a baby can be a very joyful time! However, it can also be stressful for women with pre-existing conditions or other conditions that may develop during pregnancy. Fortunately, a health plan can take steps to help to ensure a healthy pregnancy and delivery for its high-risk members.

Receiving proper prenatal care is the first step. Regular visits to an obstetrician are necessary to ensure good fetal development and the health of the mother.

One way to stay healthy is through a proper diet. Good nutrition during pregnancy can lower the risk for poor maternal and child outcomes, including low birth rates and premature delivery. Healthy meals are vital for those who experience high-risk pregnancies, including those managing gestational diabetes and pre-eclampsia.

Proper maternal health is essential for:

• Healthy blood pressure, weight, and wellness
• Reducing preterm labor
• Avoiding NICU admissions
• Overall lower maternal pre and postnatal costs

Medical Nutrition Therapy

Some health care plans may offer their members telehealth Medical Nutrition Therapy. These sessions partner women with a Registered Dietitian (RD) during pregnancy and when they return home from the hospital. The RD will educate the member in selecting, preparing, and eating appropriate food for their condition. They can also recommend a medically tailored meal plan to fit the unique prenatal and postnatal needs. Medically tailored meals help to manage existing conditions to treat those that can occur during pregnancy.

Common chronic conditions that may occur during pregnancy are:

• Diabetes
• Hypertension
• Cardiovascular Disease
• Obesity

Offering a home-delivered meals program to expectant mothers is a simple way to address the Social Determinants of Health, including food insecurity, help to encourage breastfeeding, and reducing preterm births. Providing nourishment to high-risk mothers can help reduce NICU and overall healthcare costs.

Click below to learn more about GA Foods' KickStart Maternal Health program. 

Hospitals and healthcare systems are addressing the Social Determinants of Health for their patients throughout the continuum of care. Studies show that social, economic, and environmental factors are contributing factors to patient health.

Privacy protection, particularly in the world of healthcare, remains a primary concern for health plans, patients, and their families, especially as more systems and technology platforms compromise records.

September is National Senior Center Month,  and this year's theme is "Senior Centers: The Key To Aging Well."  Senior Centers offer ways to keep older adults active, social, and provide programs to help them to continue to learn and grow. Sharing meals is a popular activity at Senior Centers and provides a vital social interaction that is so important to older adults.

(This post was originally published on February 15, 2018 and updated on July 10, 2019).

We all know that eating healthy can help to reduce your risk of heart disease-- and your waistline! But did you know that heart-healthy foods can be delicious? And it's easier than you may think! 

With summer upon us, the looming threat of hurricanes is also underway. Atlantic storms typically bring torrential downpours, high winds, power outages, floods, and more. These dangerous and severe conditions make a proper emergency plan critical for your safety and survival.

With nearly 1 in 6 seniors facing the threat of hunger and malnourishment, food insecurity is now a nationwide epidemic that is getting more expansive by the day. And with a yearly healthcare bill of $130 billion due to medical issues stemming from senior hunger, it’s also getting more expensive.

September is National Senior Center Month and this year's theme is "Building Momentum." Before we get into the importance of senior centers and giving them recognition, it is probably best to start out with some history.

July 19th on a balmy summer night in Louisiana, in a crowd of thousands of Chefs, our Executive Chef Michael Thrash was presented with the Presidents Medallion from the American Culinary Foundation.