RosieKat
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Post by RosieKat on Jun 29, 2015 13:28:54 GMT
So we've determined that my son (6) reacts horribly to Red 40 and perhaps to other artificial dyes. By horribly, I mean a child possessed and psychopathic, extremely aggressive (and he's very strong and athletic, so this does actually hurt), and just ridiculous. Other times, he's a pretty typical 6-year-old. It seems to correlate with times he's had lots of red dye...we've done a cursory elimination diet for him over the last couple of weeks and it seems to help. We're going to do it big time now. I know there are tons of things available out there available without the dyes, including plenty of things at the regular stores, but I was wondering if anyone had found anything that their families particularly love. He does love his junk food, and while obviously that's not a NEED, having a couple of things around at any time is helping him cope with never having the junk with the dye. He and I are going to check out Trader Joe's today while daughter is in camp...I haven't been, because it's too far away for anything but an expedition, but this sounds like a good time to try.  |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jun 29, 2015 13:34:48 GMT
Real fruit snacks, you can make your own.
I buy plain Greek yogurt and the family adds their own topping.
Popcorn
And you really don't need to do the joes for snack food. I find their products to be way to salty.
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RosieKat
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Post by RosieKat on Jun 29, 2015 13:41:29 GMT
By real fruit snacks, do you mean like fruit leather? That was a flop here when I made it, and I tried a few different types.  DH and I liked it, but we aren't the snackers. If you have a different technique, could you please share? Good to know about TJ's. We're going to go explore anyway, but I'll look at things with...a grain of salt? LOL |
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smartypants71
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Post by smartypants71 on Jun 29, 2015 13:42:43 GMT
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scrapaddie
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Post by scrapaddie on Jun 29, 2015 13:43:52 GMT
Not everybody loves them, but I love Trader Joe's meringue cookies.
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carhoch
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Post by carhoch on Jun 29, 2015 13:49:26 GMT
If I was in your position I will start cooking and baking from scratch |
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Post by zztop11 on Jun 29, 2015 13:53:52 GMT
Be sure to check all food packages not just snack/junk food. I never realized it but one brand of pickle relish I was buying had an artificial color in it.
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Post by Regina Phalange on Jun 29, 2015 14:01:27 GMT
Try Tasty Brand Snacks - they have cookies, fruit snacks and gummie treats that are all natural certified organic. www.tastybrand.com
I've tasted the sandwich cookies and the gummie snacks and they are really good! |
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paigepea
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Post by paigepea on Jun 29, 2015 14:16:28 GMT
My girls like homemade granola bars!
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Post by mamatoa on Jun 29, 2015 14:24:05 GMT
Trader Joes sells a box of organic lollipops that are dye free. They are not low in sugar, if thats also important to you. For me, suckers are a treat and i like that these don't have the due in them.
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Post by candygurl on Jun 29, 2015 14:24:20 GMT
I know thr candy Hi-Chews are dye free. My sister is a teacher and buys them for one of her students. You can find them at Kroger in the Asian section or any Asian market. I have also found then at my Costco. They are so good.
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Post by dazeepetals on Jun 29, 2015 15:04:33 GMT
This might be the best time to just eliminate all processed foods and provide fresh fruits, veggies, nuts, etc as snacks. Or make your own "snack" so that you can control the content.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jun 29, 2015 15:44:35 GMT
I just saw an easy to make fruit snack , but my old brain doesn't remember where.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 29, 2015 15:45:50 GMT
Really if you are not snackers then why introduce your son to it?
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RosieKat
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Post by RosieKat on Jun 29, 2015 15:50:22 GMT
If I was in your position I will start cooking and baking from scratch Oh, trust me, I do lots of that already and always have. But if I can give him his junk food fix occasionally, without sending him over the edge, then that helps him adapt more easily and learn to read labels, too. When you want Cheetos, mom's cooking just doesn't substitute, ya know? I figure it's like dieting...when you really, really want something, then you should probably have it and make up for it later or you'll just eat a ton of carrots and still want the chocolate. But since I can't let him give in on, say, the Cheetos, then I want to have some good substitutes for when that "need" hits. |
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RosieKat
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Post by RosieKat on Jun 29, 2015 15:53:47 GMT
Really if you are not snackers then why introduce your son to it? He is a grazer and always has been. He has a hard time with entire meals - both appetite wise and attention wise - so I try to have mostly acceptable stuff around for him. And he already eats lots of fruit, yogurt, hard boiled eggs, some veggies, hummus, etc. for snacks - it's really finding "less junky" substitutes for the junk when that kind of stuff is OK, like the occasional dessert. |
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Post by dreamer on Jun 29, 2015 15:56:05 GMT
I only liked your post because this is my son. I found that out the hard way and how you described is exactly how my son reacts. Stay away from fruity Cheerios. That was what made me realize.
Trader Joes is EXCELLENT!
Red dye is in Spagetti sauce, cereals etc...so keep your eyes open. We like TJ gummies, lollipops.
Also make his teacher aware. I am so tired of the school giving candy as rewards...ugh! Good luck!
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Post by Eddie-n-Harley on Jun 29, 2015 16:10:30 GMT
If I was in your position I will start cooking and baking from scratch Oh, trust me, I do lots of that already and always have. But if I can give him his junk food fix occasionally, without sending him over the edge, then that helps him adapt more easily and learn to read labels, too. When you want Cheetos, mom's cooking just doesn't substitute, ya know? I figure it's like dieting...when you really, really want something, then you should probably have it and make up for it later or you'll just eat a ton of carrots and still want the chocolate. But since I can't let him give in on, say, the Cheetos, then I want to have some good substitutes for when that "need" hits. I think they make a white cheddar puffed cheeto. I would guess that's red dye free, because I think it's part of the "natural" line (however natural a cheeto can be). I would think homemade rice krispie treats would also be on the up and up. |
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Post by melanell on Jun 29, 2015 17:26:28 GMT
Check out Pirate Booty and similar items. They might be a good swap for Cheetos. There are oodles more prepackaged goods out there that are free of artificial colors than even 10 years ago, so if you start looking, you'll be amazed how much you can find. But truly, you do have to check everything. Several types of cereals have coloring in them even though they aren't rainbow colors. Brown or tan cereals like Life cereal have coloring in them. You wouldn't think they would need it, but it's there. And re-check items, too. Sometimes safe foods stop being safe and non-safe foods clean up their act. |
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RosieKat
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Post by RosieKat on Jun 29, 2015 19:27:30 GMT
dreamer, I see you and I raise you. Son just attended YMCA camp last week. Wrote down on his registrations papers that he couldn't have red dye/Red 40. Alerted his counselors to the fact. Wrote it on both his arms with Sharpies. (Yes, for real.) Every single day except one, I know he had stuff with red dye in it, and we're not talking anything subtle. One day he got in the car with a packaged cherry Italian ice, another day they let him get a "tiger's blood" snow cone. Now, he knows he shouldn't have done it, but he is only 6 and this is a new thing for him, so I only hold him partly responsible. This is where I lose my cool. He was supposed to go back to that camp for another week in August, but I just can't trust them to provide adequate supervision (there were some other problems, too). Seriously, if we had said it was a peanut allergy, would they have been feeding him PB & J? I kind of think this place would have!
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Post by freeatlast on Jun 29, 2015 19:39:56 GMT
Snikiddy Baked Mac n' Cheese Puffs
Ingredients:CORNMEAL, RICE FLOUR, SUNFLOWER AND/OR SAFFLOWER OIL, CHEDDAR CHEESE (CULTURED PASTEURIZED MILK, SALT, ENZYMES), NONFAT MILK, WHEY, SALT, NATURAL FLAVOR.
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Post by monklady123 on Jun 29, 2015 19:48:13 GMT
Oddly enough I happen to have this blog bookmarked, because I have a friend whose granddaughter was going to be off dyes. My friend was looking around for information so she'd be able to have all safe food while the gd was visiting. Anyway, maybe you've seen in, but in case you haven't.... Red Dye Free blog
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georgiapea
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Post by georgiapea on Jun 29, 2015 19:48:32 GMT
RosieKat, what about olives? I'm a big fan of both black and green olives, and for the green ones I always get the garlic stuffed. Does he like plain potato chips? That's another of my favorite snacks.
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Post by dreamer on Jun 29, 2015 21:04:17 GMT
Oh, RosieKat, that is frustrating. Is he disappointed? My son is now 9. I found out when he was 7 it has been a struggle but he is doing well and makes good choices. It just infuriates me that these substances are banned in other countries! Yes, the good ol' USof A doesn't find it important enough to address this issue. Banned FoodsAlso there is a You Tube video that was made in the UK. They had a party. One group of kids ate crap. The other group ate whole foods. It was amazing the # of acts of aggression. There is also an experiment in Australia with kids who were hard to handle (to put it mildly) They 'treated' these kids with whole food and they were all like new people. Food Matters! Now, I know people will argue which is fine but some of us are a bit sensitive to these additives. Why have them at all? When they are known to be hazardous to the health of humans. I now step down from my soap box! |
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Post by Deleted on Jun 29, 2015 21:25:26 GMT
You can make your own cheese fish crackers. Tons of recipes on Pinterest for crackers.
You can make your baked tortilla chips.
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Post by krcrafts on Jun 29, 2015 21:39:24 GMT
There are so many more options these days for dye free snacks. My 22 yo dd (it started when she was a toddler) is actually intolerant of red 40 food dye. It's almost like a poison to her, making her vomit when she eats or drinks any and it correlates to the amount in which she's ingested. It took several months for me to figure out the reason she would get so sick seemingly out of the blue. The others here have given you great options, but I did tend to keep to fresh fruits, veggies, etc.
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Post by mom2jnk on Jun 29, 2015 23:40:01 GMT
dreamer, I see you and I raise you. Son just attended YMCA camp last week. Wrote down on his registrations papers that he couldn't have red dye/Red 40. Alerted his counselors to the fact. Wrote it on both his arms with Sharpies. (Yes, for real.) Every single day except one, I know he had stuff with red dye in it, and we're not talking anything subtle. One day he got in the car with a packaged cherry Italian ice, another day they let him get a "tiger's blood" snow cone. Now, he knows he shouldn't have done it, but he is only 6 and this is a new thing for him, so I only hold him partly responsible. This is where I lose my cool. He was supposed to go back to that camp for another week in August, but I just can't trust them to provide adequate supervision (there were some other problems, too). Seriously, if we had said it was a peanut allergy, would they have been feeding him PB & J? I kind of think this place would have! I would have lost it right there! Totally unacceptable. So many children have life threatening food allergies. This is just too scary to contemplate...your six year old shouldn't have been put in the position to have to police his own food! |
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Post by snugglebutter on Jun 29, 2015 23:55:18 GMT
I have a dye sensitive child and I also like to keep some safe treats for him. Sometimes it is just for convenience and other times it's easier for him to have an alternative when dye foods are served.
We like Trader Joe's too. I usually only go once every other month or so. We get the jelly beans, gum drops, gummy penguins, pink lemonade, cereal bars.... I'm sure I'm leaving out stuff. (I don't get all of that every time but just to give you an idea) I haven't bought their lollipops because I usually get a bigger bag of the Yummy Earth lollipops at Target or Sprouts, and I think they are the same thing. Amazon also carries those.
You really do have to read all labels on packaged food. We had some graham crackers a while back that had dye in them. (why tan food needs dye is beyond me) Also most white marshmallows have dye, but the Walmart brand does not.
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RosieKat
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Post by RosieKat on Jun 30, 2015 13:14:13 GMT
I totally agree. It doesn't serve any useful purpose, so why put it in there? While I don't think it officially is harmful to anyone else in the family, it's not goo, either. Just leave it out! And whoever commented about putting dye in tan food...spot on!
Thank you all for your helpful suggestions. He's dealing with it mostly OK. I think the hard things will be when "everyone else" gets Skittles or something at school, and he just can't. That's another reason I'm looking for the treat substitutes...when everyone else gets candy or something, and you love candy, it's hard to be the kid who has to be eating the organic granola bar instead, particularly if you haven't had to do that since day 1.
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DH and I liked it, but we aren't the snackers. If you have a different technique, could you please share?
