Kristen Criscitelli Nutrition, LLC

02/26/2026

Come join pediatrician, Dr. Kristina Hinrichs of and dietitian, Kristen Criscitelli .c.nutrition for a VIRTUAL workshop hosted by on how to safely introduce allergens to your little one when starting solids.

Starting solids can be stressful enough and when allergen introduction gets brought up, many parents can find it to be really overwhelming. So let’s fix that!

This workshop will go over all you need to know about allergen introduction with lots of time for Q+A. Since it’s virtual, no travel required and it’s at night, so hopefully it’s when your little one is already asleep. We hope you can make it!

Sign up by clicking the link in bio

You can also comment below or send a message to .c.nutrition or and we’ll send you the link to sign up.

Don’t forget to share with a new parent!

09/29/2025

Folate is one of the most important nutrients to focus on before and during pregnancy, yet so many women aren’t getting enough. Taking steps now can make a big difference for a healthy pregnancy.

Major health care organizations recommend 400 µg (0.4 mg) of FOLIC ACID daily for women planning pregnancy or who could become pregnant.

For higher risk women, like those who experienced a neural tube defect at prior pregnancy, higher doses may be advised. The window for prevention is early (before conception and during the first few weeks of gestation), because neural tube closure occurs very early.

Those with the MTHFR mutation- studies show that standard supplementation doses (400 μg/day) are generally adequate (including those with the TT genotype).

Some individuals may require higher doses, but you don’t need to get all fancy with the other versions. Although there are some smaller studies using the methylated versions, the clinical evidence supports folic acid.

PMID: 40856664.

09/19/2025

It’s a small, but interesting study!

Babies don’t have a clear day-night rhythm at birth, but it develops over time. Melatonin starts to show a regular pattern around 2–5 months old and sleep patterns usually begin around 6 weeks and become more consistent by about 2 years of age.

This small study found that breast milk hormones shift based on the time of day. Melatonin, which helps with sleep, rises at night, while cortisol, linked to alertness, is higher in the morning. So if you’re giving nighttime milk during the day, and vice versa, it may potentially disrupt your baby’s natural circadian cycle (until they can regulate their own).

So if you’re currently pumping and pooling all the milk BUT you have the mental bandwidth to separate it instead, that might be something to consider. You can label pumped milk with the time it was expressed and try to feed it around that same time when possible. If not, keep doing what you’re doing! Pumping can be draining and considering the time may not be something you have the mental energy to tackle at the moment– just wanted to share the article!

Research: Woortman MA, Sun H, Wang J, et al. Day/night fluctuations of breast milk bioactive factors and microbiome. Frontiers in Nutrition. 2025;12. doi:https://doi.org/10.3389/fnut.2025.1618784

08/12/2024

08/06/2024

Lactating is natural, breastfeeding is more of a skill and it's pretty hard for a lot of people. In fact, almost 60% of moms say it was a lot harder than they thought it was going to be and many wished they had more support and help.

Women who received support from others are more likely to breastfeed and more likely to breastfeed longer. Support from loved ones cannot be underestimated! Research shows that familial encouragement and social support play a role in whether or not a woman breastfeeds. Women who received support from others are more likely to breastfeed and more likely to breastfeed longer.

I breastfed for over 2 years and I honestly found it to be one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. It was a struggle from day 1 and I know that the support I got from my family and friends really helped me stick it out. I know all the benefits of breast milk and I am really proud that I made it that long, but I’m also really happy we aren’t on that journey anymore because it was ROUGH.

So congrats to all the moms out there who currently are, already did, or plan to breastfeed or pump, and please get in touch with a lactation professional if you’re struggling.

References:
PMID: 36460526; PMID: 37015840
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK52688/

08/05/2024

08/01/2024

07/31/2024

There is still a long way to go when it comes to the realm of prenatal research, so please keep in mind that many of these benefits are ASSOCIATIONS (not causations).

However, with so many benefits associated with resistance training during pregnancy for mom and baby, it’s really something you should consider adding to your routine.

Tips to keep in mind:
Specific exercises should be based on YOUR fitness level and experiences. It’s important that you know how to perform these exercises correctly, especially when incorporating weights.

If you’re unsure of form, start with machines which will naturally assist in preventing you from having bad form (unlike free weights with no training).

If you’re someone who lifted weights prior to being pregnant, keep going.

If you don’t want to use weights, body weight exercises are great too.

Research:
Cathryn Duchette, Madhawa Perera, Scott Arnett, Erin White, Elizabeth Belcher & Rachel Tinius (2024) Benefits of Resistance Training During Pregnancy for Maternal and Fetal Health: A Brief Overview, International Journal of Women's Health, , 1137-1147, DOI: 10.2147/IJWH.S462591

07/30/2024

07/23/2024

07/22/2024

Due to the recent listeria outbreak from deli meat, here's a food safety during pregnancy recap:

During pregnancy your immune system is weaker, which is why it is important to take a little extra precaution around certain foods. It’s impossible to predict which foods may or not be contaminated, but by making certain food swaps, you may reduce your risks.

Cold cuts and deli sliced cheese are a “higher” risk food because of listeria contamination, however that risk is actually pretty low when compared to other foods like fresh produce. In fact, many cold cuts are actually sprayed with sodium nitrate and salt to prevent bacterial growth. However, due to the current outbreak, please make sure you're heating (165 F until steaming) or avoiding.

When it comes to premade salads sitting the in the deli counter- there are a lot of variables (like preparation and temperature control) that can make it an unsafe food during pregnancy, so I would make this at home or swap it for something else.

Due to improper handling, pre-made salads and pre-cut fruit salads are all considered higher risk foods, so some of these swaps listed above can mitigate those risks. In the most recent CDC annual summary, fruit and vegetable row crops were the highest sources of reported food borne illnesses (even more than sprouts). This is not to dissuade you from eating fresh fruits and vegetables, it is just to encourage you to make sure you clean it well.

A quick note on cold cuts: Cold cuts are processed meat and if you don’t need to have it all the time, limiting them is best. High intake of processed meats has been associated with different diseases including macrosomia. However, if you’re craving them, go for it- just warm them up first.

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