It's incredible how we see our children come good when slight changes are made. It's not true that it's too hard for us to make these changes. It's really not. Even if it is a BIT hard, the effort is totally worth it. My son Jude, as an example, has just turned 5. I made changes to his diet almost 2 years ago which had dramatic, almost instant improvement to his behaviour. I was very strict with what he was allowed to eat and he adapted to this very well. I was honest with him, telling him why he was not allowed to eat those foods when he asked for it at the supermarket. I usually went shopping on my own when I could to avoid tantrums in the shops, therefore only having 'safe food' at home available for him to eat. Additive free shopping is a lot easier now than it used to be. I have found a lot of brands now changing their recipes to cater for the growing number of parents jumping on the additive free living bandwagon. I only allow Schwepps Natural Lemonade in the 1.25lt or 2lt bottles, the cans still have preservative added. There are ways around favourite foods not being available additive free. For instance, I make my own garlic bread by crushing my own garlic into a knob of real butter and spreading it onto halved hamburger buns from the Bakers Delight, then grilled. Or make my own sausage rolls. I also use Sue Dengate's recipe for 'Magic Lemonade' syrup (1Tsp citric acid and 1cup sugar dissolved into 1 cup of boiling water) and mix with water then pour into iceblock moulds. We eat lots of fresh fruit and vegetables (although vegetables are not as readily eaten but always on their plate) and breakfast is weet-bix or toast, with yogurt or fruit and diluted juice.
I'm not perfect but I always attempt to offer the best choices in additive free food so my children grow up understanding good food choices so than be healthy. My son said last month that "those people must have eaten A LOT of 'sometimes' food" - we were watching an episode of 2012 Biggest Loser Australia. Now that's over, we watch Masterchef instead, they are also learning from watching it. Once they grow up, it's too late to teach them what they should and shouldn't eat. Anyway, now that we are eating additive free there are a lot less tantrums and less arguments, less defiance and more cooperation. I believe in this approach because I am convinced the additives in food Jude used to eat had a huge impact on his behaviour. If you're not sure you believe me, give it a go. It will be easier than you think. Even the 'junk' food has additive free options. Choose plain chips, pretzels, make your own popcorn, there are some corn chips with natural cheese flavouring but I can't remember the brand, and the Natural Confectionary Company lollies are great - mine love the fruit chews.
So good on you if you are already doing it, give it a try if you haven't yet.
Send me an email or make a comment if you have questions.
All the best.

THE LIST

This is THE LIST of colours to rule out. These are only the colours. If you want more info before i get time to post it please email me.

E102 - Tartrazine. Found in Fairyfloss (cotton candy), pastries, cakes, biscuits, caramel, ice cream cones, cocktail onions, gherkins, pickles, chocolates, butterscotch, liquorice, jelly beans, jelly babies, and flavoured mineral water, soda and alcohol.

E104 - Quinoline. Found in lollies, liquorice, lemon sherbet, flavoured soda, MOUTHWASH and MEDICATIONS.

E110 - Sunset Yellow. Found in cakes, biscuits, flavoured mineral water, custard mixes, chocolates, jelly babies, ice-creams, iceblocks, meat pies, pizza.

E122 - Carmoisine. Found in prawn crackers, flavoured milk, sundaes, ice-cream, cordials, jam rolls, biscuits, lollies, marshmallows, musksticks, strawberry topping.

E124 - Ponceau 4R. Found in jam, curry paste, ice-cream, flavoured milk, instant pudding, Turkish Delight, chocolates, musksticks, jelly beans, jelly babies, pizza.

E129 - Allura Red. Found in custard powder, chocolates, lollies, chewing gum, flavoured alcohol, milkshakes, sundaes, muesli bars, glazed cherries and MEDICATIONS.

Is Ionized Water Safe?

Water is a covalent compoud. It contains Hydrogen and Oxygen which are both nonmetals. Water is an example of a neutral oxide compound. Ionized water (created by adding a substance which alters the natural state of H2O) is more alkaline therefore helping the body be in a normal, slightly alkaline pH level.
This is good for us because there are so many pollutants in tap water and from other sources causing our bodies to reside in a level of acidic pH that is above its natural state, perhaps we need extra help in that area.
It has been stated by some that alkaline water is a way of increasing one's lifespan and decreasing the risk of cancer. Those who made these claims were neither doctors or scientists....
Our bodies get rid of acid by ehaling carbon dioxide. Therefore, if we breathe (as we all do) do we really need ionized (alkaline) water to help regain the acid/alkaline balance?
The health benefits of alkaline water is not supported by scientific evidence as yet so it is really a personal choice whether to go do this path or not. There are companies who manufacture products claiming to ionize your drinking water and you can also get your hands on an electrolysis machine which will do the same job. I should mention however that It may all be hype and gimmick as through my research on the subject I found a fact that may help you make the decision in a more informed way. Pure water cannot be ionized without a metal component. As mentioned earlier, water is made up of 2 nonmetals (hydrogen and oxygen) a metal component such as sodium, calcium or magnesium must be added for ionization to occur, therefore, creating an alkaline result.
In conclusion, i do not believe ionised water to be harmful in any way but it is yet to be proved that it is beneficial. In relation to keeping our kids additive free, ionized water would not be a problem.
Although, as i always say "read the label" of any product. If you decide to use alkaline water at home please read the ingredients carefully of any additives used to "ionize" your drinking water.
Thanks for visiting. I hope this was helpful. Stay tuned for more at additive-free-kids
Veronica Frost  

Artificial colours - Are we colour blind to our kids needs?

Australian nutritionists and child welfare groups are hoping artificial food colourings will be phased out, as they have been in Britain. These types of additives have been consistently linked to hyperactivity in children globally.
There are 4 supermarket chains in Australia who have chosen to eliminate products containing these ingredients from their shelves. The most reliable of these is the chain ALDI. They reliably supply grocery items that do not contain artificial colourings and I have personally found ALDI stores to supply food that also do not contain artificial flavours or preservatives. Not all products are additive free though so remember to read the ingredients on the packaging.
Note: I will be writing a list of additives to avoid according to Sue Dengate's book "Fed Up". All artificial food colourings and flavourings are to be avoided and all preservatives. Also the NATURAL food colouring 160b is on the black list as one of the worst offenders.
Seen in an article in the Sun-Herald (Australia) 26.09.10 the government agency FOOD STANDARDS AUSTRALIA NEW ZEALAND states that there is not enough evidence to ban artificial food colourings from our supermarket shelves.
The colourings in questions are named and shamed below:

E102 - Tartrazine. Found in Fairyfloss (cotton candy), pastries, cakes, biscuits, caramel, ice cream cones, cocktail onions, gherkins, pickles, chocolates, butterscotch, liquorice, jelly beans, jelly babies, and flavoured mineral water, soda and alcohol.

E104 - Quinoline. Found in lollies, liquorice, lemon sherbet, flavoured soda, MOUTHWASH and MEDICATIONS.

E110 - Sunset Yellow. Found in cakes, biscuits, flavoured mineral water, custard mixes, chocolates, jelly babies, ice-creams, iceblocks, meat pies, pizza.

E122 - Carmoisine. Found in prawn crackers, flavoured milk, sundaes, ice-cream, cordials, jam rolls, biscuits, lollies, marshmallows, musksticks, strawberry topping.

E124 - Ponceau 4R. Found in jam, curry paste, ice-cream, flavoured milk, instant pudding, Turkish Delight, chocolates, musksticks, jelly beans, jelly babies, pizza.

E129 - Allura Red. Found in custard powder, chocolates, lollies, chewing gum, flavoured alcohol, milkshakes, sundaes, muesli bars, glazed cherries and MEDICATIONS.

This is not an exhaustive list of course. You need to read the labels yourself. If you're new to this, I suggest looking at the ingredients list on every product you pick up. If you see lots of numbers then it's likely to have artificial ingredients.

Please bookmark my page and share with your friends using the 'share' button and look out for my next post all about Flavour Enhancers.

Thanks, happy families!
Veronica

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