The OLO program offers nutritional support to expectant mothers during pregnancy. It also offers free access to foods and prenatal multivitamins to provide a substantial portion of daily requirements for protein, calcium and vitamins C and D, all of which are essential to the health of unborn infants.
Through OLO follow-up care, women and their families receive tools and professional advice to help them develop, early in the life of their child, the skills that are needed to have healthy food habits.
From the 12th week of pregnancy up until they give birth, women can receive up to 6 sessions of follow-up care, individually or in a group. Sessions may be offered at home, at a local community services centre (CLSC) or at a community organization. At the first session, an OLO worker does a nutritional assessment that will form the basis for the help provided in subsequent sessions.
Women who, besides OLO, are getting help under the SIPPE program (integrated perinatal and early childhood services for families living in vulnerable situations), can continue be helped over a longer period by SIPPE workers.
The OLO program is made possible through the collaboration of Fondation OLO and the Ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux, with financial support from the Canada Prenatal Nutrition Program as well as donors who support the mission of Fondation OLO.
Selected Foods
The foods in the OLO trio (eggs, milk, orange juice) were chosen for their nutritional value, availability, low cost and the ease with which they can be incorporated in your daily diet.
Eggs are an excellent source of complete protein that is fully absorbed by the body, helping in the formation of the unborn infant’s muscles, organs and skin.
Milk is an excellent source of calcium and is enriched with vitamin D to promote the effective absorption of that calcium. These nutrients contribute to the growth of the unborn infant’s bones and teeth. Milk is also a good source of zinc, vitamin B2 and omega-3.
Orange juice is an excellent source of vitamin C, which helps in the absorption of iron. For an expectant mother who doesn’t smoke, drinking orange juice once a day ensures that she gets the recommended amount of vitamin C.
Multivitamins
To help meet their high nutritional needs during pregnancy, prenatal multivitamins are distributed to all women receiving OLO follow-up care.
Pregnant women residing in Québec who are below the low-income threshold.
Benefits
From the 12th week of pregnancy through to delivery, expectant mothers receive food vouchers at OLO follow-up sessions. The vouchers can be redeemed in grocery stores, supermarkets, convenience stores and pharmacies, wherever OLO foods are available. The vouchers provide for the following daily doses:
- 1 egg
- 1 litre of milk
- 125 ml of orange juice
Vitamin and mineral supplements in tablet form are also provided at follow-up sessions.
After delivery, distribution of vouchers and multivitamins stops, but coaching to help you develop healthy eating habits can continue, sometimes through another program or service (such as SIPPE).
The Fondation OLO was created in 1991.
