Millions of Americans start their day off with a glass of orange juice with breakfast. Sounds simple enough; technically, orange juice has one ingredient – oranges, right? Right – if you make it yourself (which is really quite simple). BUT if you are buying it, that’s an orange of a different color (sorry, I just…
Hypersensitivity, Mood Swings, Sleeplessness – The Ins and Outs of Food Dye Sensitivity
Oftentimes, symptoms of food dye sensitivity and allergies get overlooked by both parents and doctors, as the symptoms seem to be brushed off as normal behavior for whatever age a child is at. Though all children will act out, not pay attention at times, and/or sometimes have trouble sleeping, consistency of this behavior is not…
What's Really in Your Food? You May Never Know!
A friend’s husband attended an OSHA workshop last week and the facilitator of the class gave the above handout to the attendees. Apparently the man teaching the class is very much into spreading the word about chemicals that people come into contact with on a regular basis and may not know about. It’s crazy to…
My Mantra – Read Your Labels
This mantra started when I was pregnant with my first child. I was at work one day and I had that cliché craving for ice cream. The only ice cream available in the school I teach at can be found in a vending machine in the cafeteria. After making my selection, I quickly devoured it…
I am THAT MOM – Saying No to TBHQ and other Junk in Foods
Well, I did it. I officially became known by teachers as that ‘crazy’ mom and my son is only 3. Perhaps crazy is too strong a word, one that’s a bit overused these days. I prefer to think of myself as well informed, choosing to make sure my son eats only things that will benefit his overall…
American Cheese, A Disgrace to Our Country's Namesake?
I decided to let the cheese tell it’s own story! I could have included photos of more types of cheese, but I think you get the point. Real cheeses have only 4 or 5 ingredients. Why buy processed cheese for your family when we are surrounded by real cheese? Granted, I am not going to…
The Ice Cream Truck – Why My Kids Only Know it as the Music Truck (Yes I Enjoy Ice Cream, Just Not Pops that Contain a petroleum based substance)
The Music Truck. How long can I keep this one up? I’ll have to confess to my oldest by next summer I guess. I love ice cream and I certainly won’t deprive my children of this special treat here and there, but they will be getting the good old food dye free, non-antibiotic kind. I…
Pass the Peas Please – the spoonful on the right that is! Why I Make Most of My Own Baby Food
I like to know exactly what goes into my children’s bodies, which you have probably figured out by now from reading some of my other posts. I think this picture shows the reason why I make Lila’s food better than I can explain why I do it! These are peas. The spoonful on the left…
Even the skin of Oranges Have Food Dye!? Looking at Each Food Dye Individually
Yesterday I went to the grocery store looking to find the brand of rice crackers I like. Unfortunately, King Kullen no longer carries them, so I went looking for another brand, which I found in their “Healthy Food Aisle” (on a side note, I can’t get over how supermarkets label one or two aisles as…
I’ll Have Pancakes, Eggs and a side of Fruit; Leave the Chemicals Out Please: The Truth About Teflon and Non Stick Pans
It used to drive my husband crazy when he had to make an egg in my stainless steel pan. He was used to the Teflon, non stick pan and claimed his eggs never came out the same. He’s over it now; I never did see the difference, though I knew there was one: when I…