Whole Baby Month At Whole Foods

As part of the ongoing "Be Good to Your Whole Body" campaign in its Whole Body departments, Whole Foods Market is celebrating "Whole Baby"during March with a baby photo contest, special offers and discounts, educational podcasts and in-store lectures, as well as a brochure offering lifestyle tips and ideas for choosing natural alternatives to support a healthy start for families.

Whole Foods Market is launching a national search and contest for the cutest "Baby's Favorite Foods" photos.

From March 4 through13, parents can upload pictures of their little ones enjoying their mealtime favorites, for a chance to win a Canon Powershot SD880 IS digital ELPH camera and other prizes, including Whole Foods Market "Whole Baby" gift baskets and Whole Foods Market gift cards.

Parents can enter the contest by visiting www.wholefoodsmarket.com/wholebaby for rules and instructions for submitting their photos and adding them to the Whole Foods Market "Baby's Favorite Foods" group on Flickr.

Pictures must be uploaded by March 13. Whole Foods Market judges will choose winning photos based on quality, personality and how effectively they illustrate the "fun with food" theme. Babies must be 12 months old or younger for consideration. Winners will be announced by March 31, 2009.

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. Topics will include prenatal top priorities, options for natural baby care, tips and concerns for breastfeeding moms and top 10 "first food" facts.

"Pre-conception and early pregnancy are important times for women to move toward a healthier lifestyle," 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 choices for going natural, but it can be difficult to know what to look for."

An in-store brochure includes a Whole Baby "shopping list" with ingredients to look for or avoid during pregnancy and throughout baby's first year. Included in the brochure: background on supplements; belly balms and lotions for pregnancy; choosing baby's first foods; and natural 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.

Several resources will be available online, including a video podcast with Lynda Fassa, founder of organic cotton clothing company Green Babies and author of "Green Babies and Sage Moms."The video discusses reasons to consider organic cotton bedding and clothing. Additional Whole Baby audio podcasts include natural baby body care and the best choices for sensitive skin, and "Pregnancy - A Time to Go Natural," which explains how to choose natural supplements, body care and aromatherapy during pregnancy. http://blog.wholefoodsmarket.com/category/whole-body/

There are also special offers and discounts from select Whole Foods Market vendors including Seventh Generation^TM, Bellybar^TM, Earth's Best®, Plum Organics^TM, Traditional Medicinals®, Hyland's^TM, Stonyfield Farm®, Peter Rabbit^TM Organics and California Baby®. For complete details, clickwww.wholefoodsmarket.com/wholebaby

About Whole Foods Market®

Founded in 1980 in Austin, Texas, Whole Foods Market (www.wholefoodsmarket.com), a leader in the natural and organic foods industry and America's first national certified organic grocer, was named "America's Healthiest Grocery Store" in 2008 by Health magazine. The Whole Foods Market motto, "Whole Foods, Whole People, Whole Planet"^TM captures the company's mission to find success in customer satisfaction and wellness, employee excellence and happiness, enhanced shareholder value, community support and environmental improvement. Thanks to its 53,000 Team Members, Whole Foods Market has been ranked as one of the "100 Best Companies to Work For" in America by FORTUNE magazine for 12 consecutive years. In fiscal year 2008, the company had sales of $8 billion and currently has more than 275 stores in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. Whole Foods Market, Fresh & WildTM, and Harry's Farmers Market® are trademarks owned by Whole Foods Market IP, LP. Wild Oats® and Capers Community MarketTM are trademarks owned by Wild Marks, Inc.