Whole Foods Market® Helps Shoppers 'Be Good to Your Whole Baby'

AUSTIN, Texas, March 2, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- As part of its "Be Good to Your Whole Body" campaign in Whole Body™ departments, Whole Foods Market focuses on "Be Good to Your Whole Baby" during March with a "The First Yum" baby photo contest, educational podcasts, in-store lectures and a brochure offering lifestyle tips and ideas for choosing natural alternatives to support a healthy start for families.

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Whole Foods Market is launching a national search and contest for "The First Yum" baby photos. From March 2 through 16, parents can upload pictures of their little ones via Facebook enjoying their favorite first foods for a chance to win the grand prize, a $500 Whole Foods Market gift card and a Canon EOS Rebel T1i camera. Other prizes include five first prize "Be Good to Your Whole Baby" gift baskets and 10 second prize $25 Whole Foods Market gift cards.

Parents can enter the contest by visiting www.wholefoodsmarket.com/thefirstyum for rules and instructions for submitting photos. Pictures must be uploaded to Facebook by March 16. Whole Foods Market judges will choose winning photos based on quality, personality and how effectively they illustrate the "The First Yum" theme. From March 18 – 25, Facebook fans will be able to vote on 16 finalists to help choose the winner. Babies must be 12 months old or younger for consideration.  Winners will be announced by March 28, 2011.

Throughout March, in-store lectures by Whole Body experts will provide shoppers with ideas and tips for a baby's healthy start, from conception through baby's first year and beyond. Topics include prenatal top priorities, concerns for breastfeeding moms, options for natural baby care and top 10 "first food" facts.

"Many women decide to move towards a healthier lifestyle during pre-conception and early pregnancy," said mother and Whole Foods Market Nutritionist Malia Curran, M.S., M.P.H.  "From diet and household products to pampering for stress management, there are many options for going natural, but it can be difficult to make informed choices."

An in-store brochure provides a Whole Baby "shopping list" with ingredients to look for or avoid when choosing natural options for pregnancy, baby's first foods, baby care and lifestyle items such as diapers, organic cotton clothing and bedding, and household cleaners.  Check local store listings for events and more information.

Three Whole Baby audio podcasts will be available online, including "Pregnancy - A Time to Go Natural," which explains how to choose natural supplements, body care and aromatherapy during pregnancy, "Natural Baby Body Care" on the best natural choices for sensitive skin, and "Homeopathy and Your Family," an intro to what homeopathy is and how it works.  http://blog.wholefoodsmarket.com/category/whole-body/ 

About Whole Foods Market®

Founded in 1980 in Austin, Texas, Whole Foods Market (wholefoodsmarket.com, Nasdaq: WFMI), is the leading natural and organic food retailer. As America's first national certified organic grocer, Whole Foods Market was named "America's Healthiest Grocery Store" by Health magazine. The company's motto, "Whole Foods, Whole People, Whole Planet"™ captures its mission to ensure customer satisfaction and health, Team Member excellence and happiness, enhanced shareholder value, community support and environmental improvement. Thanks to the company's more than 58,000 Team Members, Whole Foods Market has been ranked as one of the "100 Best Companies to Work For" in America by FORTUNE magazine for 13 consecutive years. In fiscal year 2010, the company had sales of more than $9 billion and currently has more than 300 stores in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom.

SOURCE Whole Foods Market