We had a wonderful Labor Day activity with our church group at a local park on Monday. The weather was beautiful. There several tables of delicious looking foods. Those who prepared the meat had been thoughtful and kind toward those who have allergies and brought it unseasoned. I brought a pan of gluten free brownies, a pan of regular brownies...both from scratch, two loaves of gluten free/dairy free bread and watermelon that my wonderful husband cut into a basket shape and filled with balls of watermelon. So, there was plenty of good, healthy food for us to eat while we were there.
I watched our Littlest Miss and never sat still comfortably as I tried to keep my eye on where she was. Finally, after the majority of the activity was over and many people had left for home, I asked Mr. Artist if he would please take her for a little while. He groaned and wanted to complain, but when I pointed out that I hadn't asked for his help the entire time, he couldn't help but agree.
I still kept an eye out, but not as stress-fully. I was able to sit and visit with some ladies from church and just as I was getting comfortable I noticed that Mr. Artist had Littlest Miss over by the food tables. I glanced their way and to my HORROR I realized that Littlest Miss had a cookie....not just any cookie...but a cookie covered in lovely, glittery, blue sugar crystals. AAAGH!
My first mistake...I raced over yelling, "NO NO NO NO! She can't EAT that!...It has food coloring. (Insert frustrated sputtering)"
Mr. Artist, "I didn't know that had food coloring!"
Me, "How could you NOT know? It's BLUE!"
Mr. Artist slapping his forehead in embarrassment and despair, "I am ALWAYS a disappointment when it comes to watching Littlest Miss!"
Me...realizing my huge mistake..."I have NEVER said that to you! You always do a great job watching her."
Meanwhile, people around us are all trying to act like they are not there. Ugh! Terrible parenting moment! I completely embarrassed my son while embarrassing myself. After a brief discussion, I told him to go ahead and hang out with his friends and I would take care of Littlest Miss.
Mr. Artist, slapping is leg for effect, "I was GOING to watch her!"
Me, "I know. It's okay, I've got her. Don't worry about it." And off he went.
First of all, just because your children are in the room and are conversing with you about a certain issue, it DOES NOT MEAN THEY UNDERSTAND IT! They hear everything you don't WANT them to hear! But the important information always seems to slip through some cracks...somewhere in the recesses of their young minds. We had discussed Littlest Miss's food dye sensitivity with all of the kids. Apparently I didn't specify that pretty blue crystal-y sugar does not occur naturally...there are NO blue sugar bushes! LOL!
Since that day, we have had lots of discussions about what does and does not have food dye. I'm hoping that this will help prevent future episodes. Geesh!
Yesterday, when Mr. Artist arrived home from school, Littlest Miss, who had been fussy and screaming and thrashing since about 10 in the morning, was STILL fussy at almost 4 pm.
Mr. Artist asked, "What's she so upset about?" To which I replied, "Blue Sugar!"
Mr. Artist realizing that he had helped cause the fussiness replied, "I'm sorry."
I replied very calmly, "I know." That's all I said. It's hard to have sympathy for a teenager when I have been the one dealing with the consequences all day long.
Several times, yesterday evening, when Littlest Miss was A MESS and screaming, thrashing, throwing herself onto the floor about absolutely nothing, one of the boys would ask again why she was so upset/sad/mad/fussy/unhappy and my husband or I would reply, "Blue Sugar!"
One day we may all laugh about this!
It is ALL a learning experience. And until people see and have to deal with the consequences, sometimes they can't learn the lesson. There are LOTS of lessons being learned in our home this week.
So...if you ever wonder if food dye sensitivities are for real...just call my house and ask my children! LOL! They will ALL tell you it's REAL!
Wednesday, September 4, 2013
Tuesday, August 27, 2013
In a land of healthy foods
I've been thinking a lot about food lately. Good foods. Bad foods. And the differing opinions on what is and is not healthy. While one person might say that Goldfish crackers are a great healthy snack for your child, another might say that they are high in carbs and therefore will create a high and then a low in your child. A better snack would be a fresh fruit or veggie.
Don't get me wrong. Long long ago, in a land far away, I was the mom who gave my children hot dogs, chicken nuggets, fries, and mac and cheese for lunches. They ate plenty of yummy fruit snacks, goldfish crackers, ritz crackers and pretzels. Packaged items who aplenty in my home. And then the fairy tale crumbled. I began learning about Autism. A good friend, who had been dropping hints for years about healthy eating, began educating me on foods that can cause a negative effect on human beings. I learned about high fructose corn syrup, msg, hydrogenated oils, etc. I began recreating our world and the foods we consume.
Now, don't think that it happened in a snap....with sparks of light and twinkling my cabinets were filled with healthy foods. NOT! That would have been amazing! But it took time. Lots of time. Loads of time. And hours and hours of research. My computer became my friend. And "junk" in food became my enemy.
We still have General Mills Honey Nut Cheerios in the house because we are not perfect and we eat starches and carbs still. But we have reduced them significantly. Please note that I have looked at generic honey nut cheerios and they are NOT the same. The ingredients are SO much better in the General Mills brand. It's not perfect, but MUCH better!
Ingredients:Whole grain oats, sugar, oat bran, modified corn starch, honey, brown sugar syrup, salt, tripotassium phosphate, canola and/or rice bran oil, natural almond flavor and vitamin E (to preserve freshness).
A few things that I still cringe about...sugar is the second ingredient. NOT the best way to start your day...especially if you have ADHD or Autism. But there is no BHT. They use vitamin E to preserve freshness. That is a nice little fact. Modified corn starch...well if it says modified that means they did something to it, so it sends off warning bells in my head.
Use good judgement. Decide what ingredients you want to consume. At first we only removed certain items from our approved food list and gradually the list got a whole heck of a lot longer. We try to stay away from prepacked foods most often. It's not 100% of the time or I would go insane. But it is happening most of the time.
We started having eggs with ham, cheese and fruit for breakfast. Each child chose to do it a little differently. Some liked scrambled eggs with cheese in them that were rolled up inside the ham. Others wanted them all separately. Whichever way you choose to serve it, make it fun. It's not a death sentence to eat healthy. It's a lifestyle change that can extend your life.
A couple of my children are always fighting me on eating healthy. They don't like it. I hope that eventually they will see the good in eating healthy...not the "healthy" that the school and outside world tells them but the REAL healthy way...and choose to live that way on their own.
Don't get me wrong. Long long ago, in a land far away, I was the mom who gave my children hot dogs, chicken nuggets, fries, and mac and cheese for lunches. They ate plenty of yummy fruit snacks, goldfish crackers, ritz crackers and pretzels. Packaged items who aplenty in my home. And then the fairy tale crumbled. I began learning about Autism. A good friend, who had been dropping hints for years about healthy eating, began educating me on foods that can cause a negative effect on human beings. I learned about high fructose corn syrup, msg, hydrogenated oils, etc. I began recreating our world and the foods we consume.
Now, don't think that it happened in a snap....with sparks of light and twinkling my cabinets were filled with healthy foods. NOT! That would have been amazing! But it took time. Lots of time. Loads of time. And hours and hours of research. My computer became my friend. And "junk" in food became my enemy.
We still have General Mills Honey Nut Cheerios in the house because we are not perfect and we eat starches and carbs still. But we have reduced them significantly. Please note that I have looked at generic honey nut cheerios and they are NOT the same. The ingredients are SO much better in the General Mills brand. It's not perfect, but MUCH better!
Ingredients:Whole grain oats, sugar, oat bran, modified corn starch, honey, brown sugar syrup, salt, tripotassium phosphate, canola and/or rice bran oil, natural almond flavor and vitamin E (to preserve freshness).
A few things that I still cringe about...sugar is the second ingredient. NOT the best way to start your day...especially if you have ADHD or Autism. But there is no BHT. They use vitamin E to preserve freshness. That is a nice little fact. Modified corn starch...well if it says modified that means they did something to it, so it sends off warning bells in my head.
Use good judgement. Decide what ingredients you want to consume. At first we only removed certain items from our approved food list and gradually the list got a whole heck of a lot longer. We try to stay away from prepacked foods most often. It's not 100% of the time or I would go insane. But it is happening most of the time.
We started having eggs with ham, cheese and fruit for breakfast. Each child chose to do it a little differently. Some liked scrambled eggs with cheese in them that were rolled up inside the ham. Others wanted them all separately. Whichever way you choose to serve it, make it fun. It's not a death sentence to eat healthy. It's a lifestyle change that can extend your life.
A couple of my children are always fighting me on eating healthy. They don't like it. I hope that eventually they will see the good in eating healthy...not the "healthy" that the school and outside world tells them but the REAL healthy way...and choose to live that way on their own.
Tuesday, August 6, 2013
Panting like a dog...
How many of you really thought this post was about a dog? Although our little chihuahua/jack russell terrier is sweet and cute and the best dog ever...she is not what I was thinking of at the moment.
Thinking of getting healthy...it would be crazy for me not to mention making sure that you are exercising. You can lose weight by changing how and what you eat, but if you want to get fit and make your body stronger you need to exercise. There's no way around it. And once a person hits their 30's, 40's and 50's it gets harder and harder to lose those pounds a person has been meaning to lose all those years ago. Why not start now? Why not make the effort for a better you? You deserve it!
Today I did a workout that I haven't done in a while. I thought I would breeze through it because I have flown through a lot of my old workouts lately. I am stronger than I have ever been. But, alas, I was SO very wrong. After about 30 seconds into the DVD I was panting like a dog. I kept reminding myself to breathe, and to regulate those breaths. I kept telling myself I could push through this. And at one point I almost quit. I let the negative thinking slip in and I almost gave in to it. When I don't finish something I started it's very frustrating to me. I want to finish and finish well. So, I pushed aside those thoughts and started reminding myself I only had 10 more minutes to go. I told myself I could do it. I pushed harder. I breathed deeply between exercises. I willed the cramp in my side to disappear and refocused on breathing deeply. And I finished! I made it through; while panting insanely and sweating profusely. I am soaked and gross, but I am feeling triumphant! And now I have energy. Energy to face my day. Energy to focus on my kids. Energy to make good food choices. Energy to do a plank....just because I want to. And energy to feel happy and positive. THIS feeling is what I do these workouts for. I do it for all those endorphins that are now flying. I do it to prove to myself that I can. It's like going to my very own pep rally. I'm pumped!
I fight an internal battle every single day. A battle that wages my lazy side and the side of me that desires desperately to be fit and healthy. It's not easy, but I find that the more I push forward and exercise and eat right the more I WANT to do it.
This week, eat a fruit or vegetable you've never had before. When cooking vegetables use REAL butter or olive oil. Some people even use coconut oil; it's extremely healthy for you. Use salt, pepper and spices for flavor, if you desire. Saute, bake or grill it. Yum. Now my mouth is watering. :)
On Sunday someone shared a box full of fresh veggies from their garden and I grabbed a very large patty pan squash. I didn't even know the name of it. It's quite large and I guess when they are smaller they can be sliced and eaten similarly to a yellow summer squash or zucchini. We are going to try it out.
Now is a great time to do grilled foil dinners. Cut some potatoes into cubes. Cut bell peppers, onions, summer squash, zucchini, broccoli, carrots and any other veggies you like. We even use frozen veggies. Use large pieces of aluminum foil that are about 12-15 inches in length. Spray with canola or olive oil. Place potatoes and vegetables onto the center of the foil. Add seasonings, salt and pepper and a square of butter. Grill until potatoes are cooked through.
Steer clear of prepacked seasoning mixes. They will inevitably contain artificial preservatives, tons of extra salt, and MSG. Find recipes for spice mixes online. Get creative. Make your food taste delicious while staying healthy. Your body will thank you!
Thinking of getting healthy...it would be crazy for me not to mention making sure that you are exercising. You can lose weight by changing how and what you eat, but if you want to get fit and make your body stronger you need to exercise. There's no way around it. And once a person hits their 30's, 40's and 50's it gets harder and harder to lose those pounds a person has been meaning to lose all those years ago. Why not start now? Why not make the effort for a better you? You deserve it!
Today I did a workout that I haven't done in a while. I thought I would breeze through it because I have flown through a lot of my old workouts lately. I am stronger than I have ever been. But, alas, I was SO very wrong. After about 30 seconds into the DVD I was panting like a dog. I kept reminding myself to breathe, and to regulate those breaths. I kept telling myself I could push through this. And at one point I almost quit. I let the negative thinking slip in and I almost gave in to it. When I don't finish something I started it's very frustrating to me. I want to finish and finish well. So, I pushed aside those thoughts and started reminding myself I only had 10 more minutes to go. I told myself I could do it. I pushed harder. I breathed deeply between exercises. I willed the cramp in my side to disappear and refocused on breathing deeply. And I finished! I made it through; while panting insanely and sweating profusely. I am soaked and gross, but I am feeling triumphant! And now I have energy. Energy to face my day. Energy to focus on my kids. Energy to make good food choices. Energy to do a plank....just because I want to. And energy to feel happy and positive. THIS feeling is what I do these workouts for. I do it for all those endorphins that are now flying. I do it to prove to myself that I can. It's like going to my very own pep rally. I'm pumped!
I fight an internal battle every single day. A battle that wages my lazy side and the side of me that desires desperately to be fit and healthy. It's not easy, but I find that the more I push forward and exercise and eat right the more I WANT to do it.
This week, eat a fruit or vegetable you've never had before. When cooking vegetables use REAL butter or olive oil. Some people even use coconut oil; it's extremely healthy for you. Use salt, pepper and spices for flavor, if you desire. Saute, bake or grill it. Yum. Now my mouth is watering. :)
On Sunday someone shared a box full of fresh veggies from their garden and I grabbed a very large patty pan squash. I didn't even know the name of it. It's quite large and I guess when they are smaller they can be sliced and eaten similarly to a yellow summer squash or zucchini. We are going to try it out.
Now is a great time to do grilled foil dinners. Cut some potatoes into cubes. Cut bell peppers, onions, summer squash, zucchini, broccoli, carrots and any other veggies you like. We even use frozen veggies. Use large pieces of aluminum foil that are about 12-15 inches in length. Spray with canola or olive oil. Place potatoes and vegetables onto the center of the foil. Add seasonings, salt and pepper and a square of butter. Grill until potatoes are cooked through.
Steer clear of prepacked seasoning mixes. They will inevitably contain artificial preservatives, tons of extra salt, and MSG. Find recipes for spice mixes online. Get creative. Make your food taste delicious while staying healthy. Your body will thank you!
Monday, August 5, 2013
We're BAAAACK!
We are back from our family vacation in Texas and it's a rude awakening to have to go back to eating right again. We were a bit lenient...or maybe I should say A LOT... while we were at our family reunion because it was simply too hard to expect all the meals to be as all natural as I like them to be. That didn't mean that I did any less cringing when I read a label that contained MSG or other JUNK. Deep breathing....
While I was there I thought of plenty of things to write about but with the chaos and fun we had I only remembered one so far.
When you are buying canned foods don't assume they are full of good healthy ingredients. Some of the ways they use to "preserve" these items is to add artificial ingredients/preservatives. Also, many pre-made/pre-packaged items contain MSG as well.
One of the meals we had at our reunion was called Tamale Pie. Essentially it is this: canned chili mixed with canned corn, and some sauteed onions and peppers thrown in for flavor. This is all placed in a 9 x 13 baking pan. On top was spread corn bread.. It is tasty! Bake it until bubbly and corn bread is done in the center.
When changing to an all natural way of eating, the problem lies in the canned chili...mostly.
The chili: If I were at home I would make black bean chili for dinner one night, making sure to make extra for the next day or for a few days later to make this dish.
Black Bean Chili
*Note* I am NOT the best at making chili yet, so any suggestions would be welcomed. This is the best one I have so far. ;) Don't forget to check your canned goods to make sure there is nothing "unknown" added. Vegetables, water and salt is the way to go!
12 oz. ground beef or turkey
onion powder
garlic powder
14 1/2 oz. diced tomatoes
15oz. black beans
8 oz. tomato sauce
3 tsp. chili powder
2-3 tsp. cumin
1 tsp. crushed oregano
1/2 tsp. basil
1/4 tsp. pepper
salt to taste
1 Tbsp. soy sauce (check your labels. Kikkoman brand has one this is pretty good and doesn't have MSG.)
1 1/2 tsp vinegar
1/2 tsp. crushed red pepper
Brown meat in pan. Add remaining ingredients. Let simmer. Serve.
The corn: Some people won't eat anything out of a can. Sometimes that simply isn't affordable for a large family. Each family needs to do what is best for them. I prefer fresh or frozen corn.
The biscuits: Put DOWN the box mix...Step Away from the premade stuff. Haha! Corn Bread is SUPER easy to make and delicious too. Most premade/pre-packaged items will inevitably have ingredients that are not necessary and they are most expensive to keep on hand.
Here is the Corn Bread recipe we use:
While I was there I thought of plenty of things to write about but with the chaos and fun we had I only remembered one so far.
When you are buying canned foods don't assume they are full of good healthy ingredients. Some of the ways they use to "preserve" these items is to add artificial ingredients/preservatives. Also, many pre-made/pre-packaged items contain MSG as well.
One of the meals we had at our reunion was called Tamale Pie. Essentially it is this: canned chili mixed with canned corn, and some sauteed onions and peppers thrown in for flavor. This is all placed in a 9 x 13 baking pan. On top was spread corn bread.. It is tasty! Bake it until bubbly and corn bread is done in the center.
When changing to an all natural way of eating, the problem lies in the canned chili...mostly.
The chili: If I were at home I would make black bean chili for dinner one night, making sure to make extra for the next day or for a few days later to make this dish.
Black Bean Chili
*Note* I am NOT the best at making chili yet, so any suggestions would be welcomed. This is the best one I have so far. ;) Don't forget to check your canned goods to make sure there is nothing "unknown" added. Vegetables, water and salt is the way to go!
12 oz. ground beef or turkey
onion powder
garlic powder
14 1/2 oz. diced tomatoes
15oz. black beans
8 oz. tomato sauce
3 tsp. chili powder
2-3 tsp. cumin
1 tsp. crushed oregano
1/2 tsp. basil
1/4 tsp. pepper
salt to taste
1 Tbsp. soy sauce (check your labels. Kikkoman brand has one this is pretty good and doesn't have MSG.)
1 1/2 tsp vinegar
1/2 tsp. crushed red pepper
Brown meat in pan. Add remaining ingredients. Let simmer. Serve.
The corn: Some people won't eat anything out of a can. Sometimes that simply isn't affordable for a large family. Each family needs to do what is best for them. I prefer fresh or frozen corn.
The biscuits: Put DOWN the box mix...Step Away from the premade stuff. Haha! Corn Bread is SUPER easy to make and delicious too. Most premade/pre-packaged items will inevitably have ingredients that are not necessary and they are most expensive to keep on hand.
Here is the Corn Bread recipe we use:
Corn Bread
1 ¼ c. flour
¾ c. corn meal
½ c. sugar
2 tsp. baking powder
1 c. milk
¼ c. oil
1 egg beaten
Grease 8 or 9 inch
pan. Combine dry ingredients. In separate bowl combine milk, oil and egg. Mix well.
Pour milk mixture into flour mixture.
Stir just until moistened. Pour
batter into pan. Bake @ 400 degrees for
20-25 minutes or until toothpick inserted comes out clean. (Dark pan heat oven
to 375 degrees)
Makes 12 muffins: line muffin tins and bake for 15-20
minutes
Now GO and make something delicious that you can feel good about feeding to your family!
Tuesday, July 16, 2013
Let's get back to basics!
Back to basics. What does that mean for the food we eat? I love to over-think things sometimes and for the longest time just couldn't wrap my head around anything besides casseroles, spaghetti, fried/baked chicken, etc. And while those dishes are delicious and yummy and simple, I have learned that there are easier ways to nourish your body.
It's really this simple:
fruit
veggies
meat
nuts
beans
There ya have it! It can get boring at times to eat just those items, so you have to get creative with it. Why not take a large zucchini, slice it in half, spread some olive oil and seasonings and either bake it or grill it. YUM! Have some seasoned chicken on the side, or a handful of nuts.
Be aware that when buying nuts, especially when you are trying to eat healthy and use only natural ingredients, make sure the nuts you buy are only salted or plain. I buy salted peanuts and plain almonds. Both can be purchased at Walmart and Sam's Club...among other places. Don't be confused...dry roasted, honey roasted and other kinds of nuts usually have unwanted ingredients in them. Stay away from them.
When buying canned fruits be sure that it only contains fruit, sugar and water or...if you can be so luck to find it...fruit and water. Put down the cans that use high fructose corn syrup and grab the healthier choice.
Veggies are similar...make sure the canned version has a veggie, salt and water or just veggies and water. When fresh is not available or too expensive, it's perfectly fine to consume canned goods.
I don't use beans very often, especially not those that are still hard and in a bag. Haha! I am lost when it comes to what to do with them. It's probably easy to soak and cook them but I just never get around to doing it. I enjoy baked beans but have to read the label very carefully. So, it might just be better for me to buy a bag...darn it. We also enjoy black beans in our Mexican dishes.
Tacos are fun and can be very healthy too. Make sure your taco seasoning does not have any form of MSG. Good luck on that one! Haha! I had a hard time finding one so now I make it from scratch. Here is the recipe I use:
Taco Seasoning
In my search for a healthier lifestyle I have read and heard MANY many times that a lot people are gluten intolerant and don't even know it. I have wondered about it for myself several times but still have not done anything about it. Yet...I'm starting to think I probably should.
Here is a link that is a quick read but has helpful information.
Happy and healthy eating!
It's really this simple:
fruit
veggies
meat
nuts
beans
There ya have it! It can get boring at times to eat just those items, so you have to get creative with it. Why not take a large zucchini, slice it in half, spread some olive oil and seasonings and either bake it or grill it. YUM! Have some seasoned chicken on the side, or a handful of nuts.
Be aware that when buying nuts, especially when you are trying to eat healthy and use only natural ingredients, make sure the nuts you buy are only salted or plain. I buy salted peanuts and plain almonds. Both can be purchased at Walmart and Sam's Club...among other places. Don't be confused...dry roasted, honey roasted and other kinds of nuts usually have unwanted ingredients in them. Stay away from them.
When buying canned fruits be sure that it only contains fruit, sugar and water or...if you can be so luck to find it...fruit and water. Put down the cans that use high fructose corn syrup and grab the healthier choice.
Veggies are similar...make sure the canned version has a veggie, salt and water or just veggies and water. When fresh is not available or too expensive, it's perfectly fine to consume canned goods.
I don't use beans very often, especially not those that are still hard and in a bag. Haha! I am lost when it comes to what to do with them. It's probably easy to soak and cook them but I just never get around to doing it. I enjoy baked beans but have to read the label very carefully. So, it might just be better for me to buy a bag...darn it. We also enjoy black beans in our Mexican dishes.
Tacos are fun and can be very healthy too. Make sure your taco seasoning does not have any form of MSG. Good luck on that one! Haha! I had a hard time finding one so now I make it from scratch. Here is the recipe I use:
Taco Seasoning
¼ cup chili powder
1 tsp. garlic powder
1 tsp. onion powder
1/8 tsp. cayenne pepper
1 tsp. oregano crushed
2 tsp. paprika
2 tbsp. cumin
2 tsp. sea salt (optional)
1 tsp. black pepper
Place all ingredients into an airtight container. Seal and shake. Use about 3 tbsp. per one pound of meat.
Also, try using corn tortillas for a change. You can bake/cook them if you like. They usually have less "GUNK" in them. AND they are Gluten Free. You can also make these from scratch. Here is another recipe. And yet another one. Simply search for corn tortilla recipes.
Here is a link that is a quick read but has helpful information.
Happy and healthy eating!
Wednesday, July 10, 2013
Don't be afraid to ask
Some of our favorite foods now list ingredients like "natural flavors" or "natural colors". This catch-all phrase has now become a HUGE red flag warning to me. We love chocolate chips and recently, when I renewed our Sam's Club membership, I purchased a couple of large bags of Nestle Toll House Semi-Sweet Morsels. They say they are "all natural" right on the front of the bag. I decided I should re-read their label, as I had read it quite a long time ago. There it was...towards the end of the list..."natural flavor".
Littlest Miss LOVES to have almonds, peanuts, and a few chocolate chips as a treat, but I didn't want to risk causing even more screaming by giving some unknown ingredient to her. I began searching the web for the information I lacked. I couldn't find it. I picked up the phone and called Nestle and after a little while was passed on to a human being. (Isn't technology grand sometimes!)
I explained that my reason for calling was to determine exactly what ingredients were in the chocolate chips due to a child's food allergy. He was very helpful...especially when I used the word allergy. Hmmm. It took him a while but he finally came back on the line and said the ingredient is vanilla. According to him, the FDA is now allowing them to list vanilla as "natural flavor". Stupid FDA. Wouldn't it be better, more beneficial, cost effective, etc to simply list all the ingredients as they actually are? But then that would just be TOO easy wouldn't it. We wouldn't want people to truly be informed, would we. I guess that is why they have helpful customer service reps in place to help you determine exactly what is in your food. Silly.
Anyway...I asked him to clarify if this ingredient was PURE vanilla or vanillin, which is artificial flavoring. He assured me that it is indeed pure vanilla and that the company used to use vanillin but changed it so the ingredients could be natural. He then explained that Nestle is going to be changing many of their foods to have natural ingredients. I told him that was wonderful and thanked him for his help and we ended the call.
There you have it. Now you know which chocolate chips can be on your list of safe things to eat. So, don't be afraid to pick up the phone and call a company to find out exact ingredients in their foods.
Now...below is a recipe I got from one of the girls at church. She loves to bake and is good at it. They were out of graham crackers but she still wanted to make these treats that she was craving so her mom suggested she use oatmeal instead. I stuck around to see the results. Umm....YUMMY! I don't normally keep graham crackers in the house because they all contain high fructose corn syrup. Yuck. This is a great alternative that is healthier. I left the graham crackers on the list of ingredients but I would recommend that you try the oats first. I used quick oats and she used regular. It tasted the same to me...I think because we both blended the oats in the blender first to make them into a powder.
My other tip for the day is stay away from margarine of any kind. I KNOW it's cheaper. But it's bad for you. Use real butter. I like using salted but many use unsalted. That's all personal choice.
Peanut
Butter Bars
2 cups of blended oats OR crushed graham
crackers
1 cup peanut butter
1 cup melted butter
2 cups powdered sugar
1 ½ cups chocolate chips
4 Tbsp. peanut butter
In a medium bowl mix together oats,
sugar, 1 cup peanut butter, and melted butter. Press firmly into a 9x13 inch
baking pan. Melt chocolate chips and 4 Tbsp. peanut butter together and pour
over the top of the oat mixture. Freeze
for one hour. Cut, serve and enjoy!
Tuesday, July 9, 2013
Food Dye Sensitivity
Our littlest Miss has been a fussy little one. She started out that way. Recently though, we had been noticing that some days were much worse than others. Some days she would cry, scream and throw tantrums and would not be consoled. I had started to keep an eye on her to try to figure out what might be the cause of her sadness. I had decided that I thought it might be dairy and/or food dyes. But without any evidence it was hard to really figure it out.
My dad came to town to visit with us for a week. One of his favorite treats to share with my kids over the years has been M&M's. So, true to form, he took the little ones on a walk with my husband while I had the boys at Scouts. They stopped and got M&M's for them and proceeded to have a GRAND old time. When they told me what they had fed her I was a bit upset. But my husband was not convinced that the food coloring made any difference in her mood at all....until the next day.
For the next 3 days we dealt with a lot of screaming, and tantrum throwing. NOW my husband is a believer.
A couple of weeks later, when my mom was visiting, my husband made our favorite cereal treats with marshmallow and cheerios. We didn't even THINK to check labels. Everyone enjoyed yummy treats. Later, in the evening, Littlest Miss, who was tired, began fussing. This wouldn't be abnormal for most 19 month old children, but it was the way in which she fussed and carried on. There was thrashing, flailing, screaming, kicking, arching of her back,biting, and she wouldn't let me hold her. During her fit we discussed what she had eaten and looked online for a list of ingredients for the marshmallows. I finally ended up emailing the company to get the info.
After about an hour of this behavior she finally crashed and fell asleep on my lap. But it was a fitful sleep. She didn't sleep soundly for the rest of the night. She woke several times and couldn't get comfortable. In the morning I checked my email and LOW and BEHOLD at the very bottom of the list of ingredients was Blue 1.
Blue 1...I don't like you very much right now! In fact I might just hate you! LOL!
So, now we are going to be CRAZY and INSANE label readers.
Here is a blog I found with some great info about food dye sensitivities. I am very aware of how food can effect our bodies both positively and negatively. It's a passion of mine and maybe that is why I was so aware of this. BUT I was NOT like this years ago. I gave my kids whatever I felt like...without a second thought. Not anymore. It's simply not an option for our family. *sigh*
The above site also talks about the connection between milk and food dyes and other petroleum based ingredients. Very thought provoking. A friend of mine mentioned that her son couldn't even wear red clothing because he was allergic to the red dyes. Basically anything that touches your skin could possibly cause a problem IF the individual has a severe enough sensitivity. *wow*
Another great blog with a lot of useful, helpful insights on the terrible, awful, horrible-ness of petroleum based food dyes that are used ALL the time in the USA.
I will continue my research and hopefully arm myself with enough information to protect my family from the negative effects of food dyes and other artificial ingredients. My journey to rid my home of artificial ingredients and sometimes gluten and dairy has taken many years...8 1/2 years so far...and has evolved and morphed as I learned about different things. If you have a desire to rid your home of artificial ingredients and preservatives, start small. It can be very overwhelming at times. Just take your time and start small. Here is a suggestion for where to start:
If you have a family you may keep peanut butter and jelly in the house all the time. I know we do! It's a staple in our home! One of the first things I changed was the kind of peanut butter I purchase. Look on the label. Make sure it has simple ingredients like...peanuts, sugar or molasses or honey for sweetener, oil and salt. Now, some people would just buy the ones with peanuts or just peanuts and salt, but I don't care for those as much. We like both the Jif and Skippy natural peanut butters. I prefer the one sweetened with molasses though. The next thing is the jelly or jam. Try to find one that has fruit and sugar. The two that I am fairly sure are okay...notice I said fairly. I don't have a jar in my house to check right now....is Smuckers Simply Fruit or the Polaner All Fruit. And last is your bread. Most breads have high fructose corn syrup. Do some research of your own on that. It's not good. I will still use corn syrup once in a great while but NOT high fructose corn syrup. It's been processed and really not good for you. Anyway, look for a bread that is as healthy as you can get it for now. If you don't recognize an ingredient go research it and see what it is.
I'll give you an example. Do you know what cellulose powder is? It's made from trees. Tree pulp...if I remember correctly...it's been a while. Some people say they add "sawdust" to bread and other pre-made products as a filler...well they're right. My sister was the one who actually asked me what the ingredient was and I looked it up. We laughed. I guess if you WANT to eat tree... that is up to you, but I'd rather not.
Also keep in mind that when they put "natural flavor" and "natural color" on a label you need to be cautious. It's a "catch all" phrase. It can mean too many things. It can even mean MSG. I try to stay away from it because it's a company's way of not being 100% honest about their ingredients.
Now I have spent far too long on the computer and the children are beginning to revolt! Until later...
My dad came to town to visit with us for a week. One of his favorite treats to share with my kids over the years has been M&M's. So, true to form, he took the little ones on a walk with my husband while I had the boys at Scouts. They stopped and got M&M's for them and proceeded to have a GRAND old time. When they told me what they had fed her I was a bit upset. But my husband was not convinced that the food coloring made any difference in her mood at all....until the next day.
For the next 3 days we dealt with a lot of screaming, and tantrum throwing. NOW my husband is a believer.
A couple of weeks later, when my mom was visiting, my husband made our favorite cereal treats with marshmallow and cheerios. We didn't even THINK to check labels. Everyone enjoyed yummy treats. Later, in the evening, Littlest Miss, who was tired, began fussing. This wouldn't be abnormal for most 19 month old children, but it was the way in which she fussed and carried on. There was thrashing, flailing, screaming, kicking, arching of her back,biting, and she wouldn't let me hold her. During her fit we discussed what she had eaten and looked online for a list of ingredients for the marshmallows. I finally ended up emailing the company to get the info.
After about an hour of this behavior she finally crashed and fell asleep on my lap. But it was a fitful sleep. She didn't sleep soundly for the rest of the night. She woke several times and couldn't get comfortable. In the morning I checked my email and LOW and BEHOLD at the very bottom of the list of ingredients was Blue 1.
Blue 1...I don't like you very much right now! In fact I might just hate you! LOL!
So, now we are going to be CRAZY and INSANE label readers.
Here is a blog I found with some great info about food dye sensitivities. I am very aware of how food can effect our bodies both positively and negatively. It's a passion of mine and maybe that is why I was so aware of this. BUT I was NOT like this years ago. I gave my kids whatever I felt like...without a second thought. Not anymore. It's simply not an option for our family. *sigh*
The above site also talks about the connection between milk and food dyes and other petroleum based ingredients. Very thought provoking. A friend of mine mentioned that her son couldn't even wear red clothing because he was allergic to the red dyes. Basically anything that touches your skin could possibly cause a problem IF the individual has a severe enough sensitivity. *wow*
Another great blog with a lot of useful, helpful insights on the terrible, awful, horrible-ness of petroleum based food dyes that are used ALL the time in the USA.
I will continue my research and hopefully arm myself with enough information to protect my family from the negative effects of food dyes and other artificial ingredients. My journey to rid my home of artificial ingredients and sometimes gluten and dairy has taken many years...8 1/2 years so far...and has evolved and morphed as I learned about different things. If you have a desire to rid your home of artificial ingredients and preservatives, start small. It can be very overwhelming at times. Just take your time and start small. Here is a suggestion for where to start:
If you have a family you may keep peanut butter and jelly in the house all the time. I know we do! It's a staple in our home! One of the first things I changed was the kind of peanut butter I purchase. Look on the label. Make sure it has simple ingredients like...peanuts, sugar or molasses or honey for sweetener, oil and salt. Now, some people would just buy the ones with peanuts or just peanuts and salt, but I don't care for those as much. We like both the Jif and Skippy natural peanut butters. I prefer the one sweetened with molasses though. The next thing is the jelly or jam. Try to find one that has fruit and sugar. The two that I am fairly sure are okay...notice I said fairly. I don't have a jar in my house to check right now....is Smuckers Simply Fruit or the Polaner All Fruit. And last is your bread. Most breads have high fructose corn syrup. Do some research of your own on that. It's not good. I will still use corn syrup once in a great while but NOT high fructose corn syrup. It's been processed and really not good for you. Anyway, look for a bread that is as healthy as you can get it for now. If you don't recognize an ingredient go research it and see what it is.
I'll give you an example. Do you know what cellulose powder is? It's made from trees. Tree pulp...if I remember correctly...it's been a while. Some people say they add "sawdust" to bread and other pre-made products as a filler...well they're right. My sister was the one who actually asked me what the ingredient was and I looked it up. We laughed. I guess if you WANT to eat tree... that is up to you, but I'd rather not.
Also keep in mind that when they put "natural flavor" and "natural color" on a label you need to be cautious. It's a "catch all" phrase. It can mean too many things. It can even mean MSG. I try to stay away from it because it's a company's way of not being 100% honest about their ingredients.
Now I have spent far too long on the computer and the children are beginning to revolt! Until later...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)