The FDA warns food companies to be honest with their marketing claims.

Don’t take that food label as truth. U.S. health regulators have warned units of Nestle and more than a dozen other foodmakers over nutritional claims made for baby food, nuts and other products on food labels and product websites, according to letters made public last week. The warnings came as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is set to push for new package labeling geared toward making it easier for consumers to understand the nutritional content of the foods they eat.

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Can’t get pregnant? A few lifestyle changes may be in order.

Like we said, it’s never really as simple as have sex, get pregnant. Even a few lifestyle factors can mean boost or bust if you want to have a baby. If you’ve decided you’re ready to be a parent, consider our fertility don’ts. If you want to get pregnant and have a healthy head-start for your baby, time to start kicking some bad habits — or a least practice some self-control.

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Trying to get pregnant? Here are a few To Do’s.

Having a baby is not really as simple as have sex, get pregnant. I realized this myself when it took us four years of trying before we had our first child. So many aspects of our bodies and minds are actually involved in the wonders of procreation. One thing off-kilter and your body is out of whack. Fertility treatments can be quite daunting, but before you get there or as soon as you’ve decided you’re ready for a baby… we have some advice on how to prime yourself for pregnancy.

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More reason to get healthy even before the baby comes.

We know that obesity is associated with many illnesses, from diabetes to heart conditions. Now we can add an increased risk for birth defects in babies carried by overweight mothers. This comes from an analysis conducted by US researchers and published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. Obesity is defined as those who have a BMI or body mass index of 29 or higher.

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PBS series promotes resiliency and happiness.

A happy home with happy kids starts with happy parents. As caregivers, an important goal is to promote emotional well-being in the home. Enhancing relationships, helping our kids learn to cope with challenges, and nurturing optimism and resiliency are important for all families.

So here’s something for all of us striving for happiness for ourselves and our loved ones. This month, PBS launched a television series and multi-media project designed to share the newest, most useful information on emotional well-being to help people in their daily lives.

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What’s true and what’s an old wives’ tale?

When you announce you’re pregnant, the unsolicited advice and information pours in. It can get confusing and overwhelming. You can even be misled to do the wrong thing. We can be worried about what we shouldn’t be bothered with. We know more about medicine and health these days, but myths still abound. We sort out what’s fact and what’s fiction.

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Stress and lack of support puts expectant moms at risk.

Some expectant mothers are more prone to depression than others. A University of Michigan study reports that factors such as stress, mental health history, social support and whether a pregnancy was planned contribute to putting a woman at risk for depression during pregnancy.

This is important because women who are depressed have higher risk for dangerous complications during pregnancy. In fact, attending doctors are being encouraged to identify depression and its risk factors to minimize pregnancy complications.

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When home is where the work is.

In these days of telecommuting, more jobs can be done from home. From computer programming to web designing, public relations to marketing, writing and consulting – people can have full-fledged careers and big paychecks, without having to report to an office everyday.

This has altered parenting too. I’m grateful my work-at-home situation allows me to have lunch with my kids. If they need me in case of emergencies, I’m just a few meters away. The random midday kisses I can give them are also a perk.  But… work-at-home parenting is not a complete walk-in-the-park. Adjustments have to be made, major discipline is involved. Otherwise, I won’t get any work done. I’m sharing what helps me get things accomplished.

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You’ve decided to take the plunge. Now what?

Deciding to have a baby before it actually happens is a great opportunity. Take advantage of having the chance to prepare yourself – and your body – for a healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby at the end of it. Go though our pre-pregnancy checklist and get a good, healthy start.

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Nutritious or poisonous? The real score on fish for pregnant moms.

When it comes to eating fish during pregnancy, experts seem to be giving conflicting advice. Some say fish contains mercury which could lead to abnormal brain development. Others tell us, fish is rich in omega fats that are crucial for brain development. So what’s a pregnant woman to eat?

When I first became pregnant, I was forced to turn nutrition expert overnight. After all, I wasn’t just eating for myself anymore. What I eat, my baby grows on too. If there was anything really confusing during my frenetic food research, it was advice about eating fish and seafood. We have a guide that finally makes sense.

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