Christmas is coming!

Christmas is coming! I love Christmas. I love Christmas traditions. One of my favorites is baking cinnamon rolls first thing in the AM, while the kids are tearing through their presents. I arrange and decorate them to resemble a big, fat Christmas tree in the pan.

Of course because my hub and I are still Santa's Helpers on Christmas Eve, I'm a bit too busy to make these rolls from scratch. In the past I've used Pillsbury Cinnamon Rolls, but of course those have artificial flavor as well as numerous preservatives including potassium sorbate, BHT, BHA, polysorbate 60. I've made Christmas morning an exception for Jess, and have let her eat these...risking the sanity of the family, the health of her stomach and the chance she'll break out in hives.

Making this choice results in a less-than-festive day...but it was always "worth it" so that she could participate in our tradition...and quite frankly it SUCKS to always have to tell your kid "No babe, you can't have 'xyz'."

This year, I decided to do this differently. Her mental and physical health take precedence. Searching the web for a good, yet fairly simple Cinnamon Roll recipe isn't easy. Most are good...few are "fairly simple".

Preparing myself mentally to make these rolls a few days ahead of time and then freeze them for baking on Christmas morning, I have just stumbled upon the Immaculate Baking Company's packaged Cinnamon Rolls.

Their "promise" is: "No Artificial Flavors"...but does not include Preservatives or Colors. The ingredients all appear to be safe, but I hold reservations when preservative or color use is not specified on the label.

...I've used their frozen cookie dough in the past, so I have high hopes...stay tuned! :)

01/02/13 - POST CHRISTMAS UPDATE:
These rolls were a SMASHING success. I actually used 1 package of their Cinnamon Rolls and 1 package of their Chocolate Rolls. Perfection!! I decorated 80% of them with colored icing and made sure to leave a few without for Jess. It was perfection! Score :D

CRUNCH!

Oh Cap'n...my Cap'n...

 

Original Cap'n Crunch ingredients:

Corn Flour, Sugar, Oat Flour, Brown Sugar, Coconut Oil, Salt, Niacinamide (B Vitamin), Yellow #5, Reduced Iron, Zinc Oxide, Yellow 6, Thiamin Mononitrate (B Vitamin), BHT (a preservative), Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (B Vitamin), Riboflavin (B Vitamin), Folic Acid (B Vitamin)

I compare these ingredients (loosely) with our Nature's Path cereal: Panda Puffs. There are no Yellow Dyes and there is no BHT used, yet Pandas Puffs are as close to the same color and crunchiness as Cap'n Crunch as you can get.

There is NO VALUE ADD to putting this crap in these cereals. BHT (a preservative) that is "often added to foods to preserve fats". There are "trivial amounts" of Fat in Cap'n Crunch.

And really ? Who buys a box of Cap'n Crunch and does NOT eat it within a week ? Come on now...let's get sensible here.

Ice Cream Sundae?! Yes She Can!!

What is an ice cream sundae without whipped cream? Yup...just some plain ole' ice cream. The girl wants an ice cream sundae. The girl hasn't had an ice cream sundae in years! So tonight...the girl gets her ice cream sundae.

1. Häagen-Dazs Vanilla Ice Cream - All Natural:

cream, skim milk, sugar, egg yolks, vanilla extract 

2. a dollop (yup...I said it...DOLLOP :) of Whipped Cream:

pint of Garelick Farms All Natural Heavy Cream, tsp organic vanilla extract, tbsp confectioner's sugar ... whipped right up

3. Topped with AH!Laska Organic Chocolate Syrup:

Organic evaporated cane syrup, water, organic cocoa (non-alkaline), xanthan gum (a natural thickener), citric acid, organic vanilla

4. AND sprinkled with UNREAL chocolate candies:

milk chocolate (chocolate, skim milk, cane sugar, cocoa butter, milk powder, organic blue agave inulin, soy lecithin, vanilla extract), cane sugar, calcium carbonate, colored with (beetroot juice, turmeric root extract, purple cabbage juice), gum arabic, vanilla extract, carnauba wax & beeswax 

SUCCESS!!

 

UNREAL ... candy!!

Mornings just got a little more Simple ;)

While doing my weekly grocery shopping early Sunday morning @ our local Stop & Shop, I stumbled upon a new product from Duncan Hines: Simple Mornings. I have "conspiracy theories" as to why big name brands are suddenly growing consciences when it comes to what they are putting in food and selling to the masses, but whatever the real deal is...this Mom is thankful! :)

Here are the ingredients for the flavor pictured: Triple Chocolate Chunk Muffin Mix:

Flour (Whole Wheat Flour, Wheat Flour), Sugar, Milk Chocolate Chunks (Sugar, Whole Milk Powder, Cocoa Butter, Chocolate Liquor, Butteroil, Soy Lecithin, Salt, Natural Flavor), Chocolate Chips (Sugar, Chocolate Liquor, Cocoa Butter, Soy Lecithin, Vanilla Extract), Cocoa Powder Processed With Alkali, Palm Oil, Baking Powder (Monocalcium Phosphate, Baking Soda), Corn Starch, Dextrin (Wheat Fiber), Salt, Xanthan and Guar Gum, Natural Flavor.

 * please note the presence of "Soy Lecithin": there is much debate around this additive...for the purposes of this blog and my specific child's situation, Soy Lecithin, is not part of our current problem, but is something we will be keeping an eye on going forward.

Fresca and ME!

Last night, on my way to a PTO meeting at my daughter's school, I decided to stop and grab a quick drink to tied me over...not know how long the meeting might go. I'm a big time drinker of water...but after like 64oz of water throughout the day...I was looking for something with a little bit of taste, but with no calories or caffeine. I normally would buy Sobe's LifeWater...which is usually 0 calories and naturally flavored...but last night a bit of nostalgia and youthfulness took over when I saw that bottle of Fresca sitting there.

 

I grab and pay for my Fresca, feeling youthful, carefree and a bit of a rebel since I rarely drink soda these days in general.

As the meeting goes on, a slight and uncomfortable pressure started behind my right eyeball and some slight water retention in my fingers and toes. This usually signifies a migraine is looming due to dehydration. If I can get a good 16oz of water consumed ASAP, I'm good. As this is happening and I'm pondering the trigger, my eyes catch the Fresca bottle, which happens to have it's ingredients list in my line of sight:

Carbonated water, citric acid, concentrated grapefruit juice, potassium citrate, potassium benzoate and EDTA (preservatives), aspartame, acesulfame potassium, acacia, natural flavors, glycerol ester of wood rosin, brominated vegetable oil, carob bean gum

HOLY SMOKES. Potassium Benzoate AND EDTA AND Aspartame. The Benzoate and the Aspartame are bad enough...but the EDTA takes the cake: "EDTA is mainly synthesised from ethylenediamine (1,2-diaminoethane), formaldehyde, and sodium cyanide". Ummm....really?!

What's up Coca-Cola Company?! What's up?!

Cheese Nips...Cheez-Its...and kids...

My son, age 7, is a major Angry Birds fan. A friend of the family, and fellow Angry Birds fan, gave him a box of Angry Birds Cheese Nips.

Fully prepared to put this on the "Not for Jessica" Shelf in our pantry next to the Cheez-Its (which have TBHQ for freshness in them), I read the ingredients:

Unbleached Enriched Four (Wheat Flour, Niacin, Reduced Iron, Thiamine Mononitrate {Vitamin B1}, Riboflavin {Vitamin B2}, Folic Acid), Soybean Oil, Cheddar Cheese (Cultured Milk, Salt, Enzymes), Tapioca Dextrin, Partially Hydrogenated Cottonseed Oil, Salt, Autolyzed Yeast Extract (Contains Barley), Calcium Carbonate (Natural Source of Calcium), Leavening (Calcium Phosphate And/Or Yeast), Annatto Extract (Vegetable Color), Natural Flavor. Contains: Wheat, Milk.

WOW! Nothing from "the No List"! Jess can eat these! Cool!!

...but this gets me to thinking: Why do Cheez-Its have TBHQ in them and not Cheese Nips?? ...and then the  thinking gets me to searching...and the searching gets me to reading...

I arrive at Nabisco's website and because they don't have the exact product listing for specifically the Angry Birds Cheese Its, I find the original Cheese Nips Baked Snack Crackers and read:

Unbleached Enriched Flour (Wheat Flour, Niacin, Reduced Iron, Thiamine Mononitrate (Vitamin B1), Riboflavin (Vitamin B2), Folic Acid), Soybean Oil, Cheddar Cheese (Cultured Milk, Salt and Enzymes), Partially Hydrogenated Cottonseed Oil, Salt, Autolyzed Yeast Extract, Leavening (Calcium Phosphate and/or Yeast), Monosodium Glutamate (Flavor Enhancer), Paprika, Annatto Extract (Vegetable Color), Sodium Caseinate, Spice, Lactic Acid, Acetic Acid.

 OH NO!!! MSG is in Cheese Nips?!?!! But wait...it's not listed on this box of Angry Birds Cheese Nips. What the...?!?!

I keep reading. I find the SpongeBob Cheese Nips, the Spider Man Cheese Nips and the Cheese Nips Tid-Bits all share the same ingredients...none of which includes MSG. But the Original Cheese Nips, the Four Cheese Cheese Nips and the Reduced Fat Cheese Nips all have MSG in them.

Interesting I say! It strikes me as rather odd that the Cheese Nips that are marketed towards children, do not include this controversial ingredient...but all the others do.

It makes me wonder why, Nabisco...it makes me wonder: Why?! ... oh yeah ... and it all makes me wonder why you need TBHQ in your Cheez-Its, Kellogg...it makes me wonder: Why?! 

 

so Berry Good!

Nature's Path Organics!

My new top favorite brand. Who, I just realized owns EnviroKidz which is the brand that makes the 'sanity-saving' cereals: Panda Puffs and Gorilla Munch!

Today my son had their Berry Strawberry Flax Plus Granola Bars for breakfast...(bought @ our local Stop & Shop in their organic aisle).

HOLY YUMMY!! 

That is all! :)

It's not just food...

Here was the defining moment for us that my daughter was having some sort of reaction to "something" that was exacerbating her, well, let's call it her Strong Will shall we :o)

Jessica was about 3 years old and suffering through another bout of Croup...or was it RSV? Whichever...she had one or the other from November through March two years running. The doctor had prescribed for her: Albuterol Liquid. We gave her the first dose and shortly thereafter it started. Typical descriptors would be what is listed as "Adverse Reactions" for bronchodilators: Nervousness, Shakiness, Hyperactivity, Excitement and Irritable behavior. Irritable behavior: HA!! What we were faced with was down-right aggression in the shape of spitting, kicking, screaming, punching and biting one minute...turning into hysterical crying while sobbing: "Mommy...I don't know what's wrong with me?!" the next...then turning back into spitting, kicking, screaming, punching and biting.

My initial thought was: "My daughter is Bi-Polar". I start with this thought because we were dealing with her "Strong Will" fairly regularly and it was already a struggle. Honestly, I thought she had finally just lost it. Through my tears I started talking with my husband about what we were going to do, tentatively we thought we might need to consult a Child Psychologist or Psychiatrist.

This didn't settle right with either of us for some reason though. We continued to discuss how the extreme behavior seemed to come on suddenly. We asked: "what was different this time?" Almost simultaneously, we both say: "the Albuterol!" So I did what I do best: RESEARCH. After a few searches I retrieved a discussion forum that said something to the effect of: "HELP. Gave my son Albuterol and now he is like the Incredible Hulk!" The funny (not haha funny but rather peculiar funny) thing is that is EXACTLY how we were describing Jessica after each dose we gave her.

During my research of emotional side effects in a child on albuterol, I consistently came across statements such as: "seemed to be making her very emotional and volatile" ... "nightmares, disturbed sleep, aggressive behavior" ... "a 2 year old on that stuff and he'd turn into the Incredible Hulk when we gave it to him" ...OK then...a call to our pediatrician was in order. Thankfully, she completely understood what we were talking about...mentioned that indeed this was possible side effect and prescribed another form of the medication called Xopenex and voilà all her symptoms subsided! Now looking back, I think it was a combination of the typical "Adverse Reactions" reaction to the bronchodilator and the FD&C Yellow No. 6 & Strawberry Flavoring that the liquid contained that made her aggression and "irritability" so intense.

You know what's also funny?! Apparently we need to re-learn this lesson every few years and/or every few illnesses...

• diagnosed with Strep and given Amoxicillin which contains: FD&C Red No. 3, flavorings and sodium benzoate ...
• treating her acid reflux with Prevacid capsules which contain: "D&C Red No. 28, FD&C Blue No. 1, FD&C Green No. 3, and FD&C Red No. 40." simply to make them look pretty I suppose. 

...cuz dealing with a sick or uncomfortable child isn't rough enough.....oh good times! Good.Times. :o)

It's her birthday...what do we do?!

A few years back...birthday parties used to throw us for a loop. Hers, her brother's, her sister's...her father's. Thankfully there is now an ever-growing selection of quality and, yes, tasty all-natural and/or organic options!

Of course, the first option is to make everything from scratch. As much as I'd love love love to do this, being a working mother of a family of 5 is just not conducive to being a Ms Sally-From-Scratch chef.

So off to Stop and Shop's Organic aisle I go. Here's what we got (in order of importance of course ;)

1. THE CAKE!!

Thank you 1-2-3 Gluten Free for your delectible cake mixes. While Jessica is NOT celiac and does NOT have to be gluten free, a lot of gluten free products are all-natural and/or organic, and this one just happens to be the best of cake mix options. Heavy on the sugar, eggs and butter like all tasty cakes should be...this one is fabulous and no one would know that it's gluten free or all-natural.

2. THE FROSTING!!

This one is actually easy and all-natural by nature. Follow the recipe on the Domino's Confectioners Sugar for Buttercream Frosting and just be sure to use 100% Vanilla Extract versus Imitation Vanilla (otherwise known as Vanillin) and you are good to go!. If you are looking for chocolate frosting...follow the same recipe, but add 2 squares of unsweetened chocolate melted and cooled. I recommend using Ghirardelli 100% Cacao Unsweetened Baking Bar since it is pure and natural.

3. TASTY SNACKS!!

Our "stock" staple snack foods work for anyone: Lay's Potato Chips (be sure to read the label depending on the flavor you choose), Simply Natural Cheetos, Pirate's Booty, Mott's Medley Fruit Snacks, All Natural Tostitos & any kind of Paul Newman's Own Salsas do the trick here!

4. PIZZA!!

We are extremely lucky to have Rhode Island's own Pier Pizza Company in our town. A family run operation who only uses the best, was wonderful enough to send me their ingredient lists for any of their menu items we are looking to get. Since Cheese Pizza is the most popular and fortunately our favorite, we were grateful to read that their dough, their sauce and their cheese are all-natural ingredients. And bonus: they offer online ordering!! SCORE :o) If you live somewhere that you can't get your hands on a pizza place's ingredients, Paul Newman's Own has a fantastic frozen pizza line to choose from!

All that's left is the fun and games! The party is ON! :)

Success on the road!

Taking a road trip or vacation is made 'that much' more stressful for anyone with food "issues". It's bad enough that you have to make sure you've remembered all your "stuff":

Did we pack enough underwear? socks? shampoo? Do I have my hair straightener? razor? confirmation numbers? Do we have enough gas? Deodorant?

But then...half-way to your destination: "I'm hungry" rings in your ears. AAAGGGHHHH!! What can I feed her?! D'Angelo's? Nope. Subway? Nope. There's a deli? Nope. Shit.Shit.Shit.

But this time was different. This time we were prepared. This time I packed bread :o) 100% All Natural Nature's Pride Honey Wheat Bread (sadly no longer exists since Hostess Brands closed...but we can replace this with Nature's Promise!) "Each soft and delicious slice is 100% natural with no artificial colors, flavors or preservatives. And of course, no high fructose corn syrup." - YAY TEAM!!

It's amazing what 2-4 little slices of bread can do. Now we can buy everyone else sandwiches from the deli that uses Boar's Head deli meat & cheese...and then I can buy 1/4 lb of ham and 1/4 lb of cheese...buy some French's Mustard and voilà: SUCCESS!

Success because we brought our own bread. Who would have thought that a few slices of bread could make or break a vacation. If we would not have gotten our hands on this bread, we would have been faced with either a hungry and whiny 10 year old girl or else a defiant, hive-ridden, anxiety-riddled, whiny 10 year old girl.

For us, this weekend...bread equals happiness equals solid, family time...

...equals good memories equals SUCCESS :o)

Benzoates and my girl's ADHD-like behavior

Around January of this year, I was hoping to get more water into my kids diet. They aren't big fans of just drinking glassfuls of water, so I decided to see if I could get more in them by giving them Fruit2O in their lunchboxes. Jessica's favorite was "Natural Grape". Bonus: "Natural" was right in the name of the flavor and just below it on the label it reads: "flavored with other natural flavors..." RIGHT ON!! right?!

WRONG!! Jessica started coming home from school with red-rimmed eyelids with dark circles under eyes. She was fidgety and unfocused...could not sit still to even watch her favorite Disney Channel show. She was constantly bouncing from room to room, literally getting up in everyone's face with her favorite target being her brother Joe.

"Jessica stop!"

"Jessica sit still!"

"Jessica get out of your brother's GRILL!"

"Jessica...WHAT THE HECK IS.....?!"

...wait just one second Mom...stop...think...what's different about Jessica's diet?! the Fruit2O!! Grab the bottle, flip it around and there it is: "Sodium Benzoate to protect flavor"...NOOOO!! Let's add insult to injury...this "Natural Grape" also had Potassium Sorbate which is also on our No List!

Way to go Mom {{hanging head in shame}}: "Sorry babe...Fruit2O has benzoate AND sorbate in it" *insert frowny face for both mom and daughter here*

...24 hours later: my sweet, kind and calm Jessica returns to us! Come on Mom...take your own advice "READ THE $#@&ING LABEL!!"

Potassium Benzoate and Sodium Benzoate:

"Benzoates are salts of benzoic acid, a weak acid that was at one time derived from benzoin resin, a gum obtained from the bark of trees native to Thailand and Indonesia. Potassium Benzoate and Sodium Benzoate are used as food preservatives to inhibit the growth of molds, yeasts, and bacteria in acidic drinks and liquids, including fruit juice, vinegar, sparkling drinks, and soft drinks" according to the website Diet.com.
(reminder: READ ALL LABELS :)

There are mixed "reviews" as to whether or not the Benzoates can be linked to ADHD. "A clinical research trial published in "The Lancet" was conducted to examine the effects of a drink containing sodium benzoate preservatives, artificial food color and additives on hyperactive behavior, comparing two different compounds with a placebo. Three-year-old children who completed the study showed increased hyperactive behavior with only one of the drink compounds compared to placebo. In contrast, children who were between 8 and 9 years of age demonstrated increased hyperactive behavior with both drink compounds when compared to placebo." Read more @ Livestrong.com  The Summary of the actual trial states:

"Artificial colours or a sodium benzoate preservative (or both) in the diet result in increased hyperactivity in 3-year-old and 8/9-year-old children in the general population." The Lancet

Not enough studies have been done, so no "professional" can conclusively say that Benzoates definitively cause ADHD, however, my own personal "study" with Jessica demonstrates conclusively enough for us to say: they cause ADHD-like symptoms in HER.

How could I forget: HOT DOGS!

So on my list of what Miss Jessica CAN eat..I totally forgot HOT DOGS!! Yup that's right...thank you Oscar Mayer for creating a line of products called "Selects":

 

Oscar Mayer Selects Lunch Deli Meats, Hot Dogs and Bacon

Now how could I forget that?!!! The only catch to this is it's hard to find All Natural or Organic hot dog buns. Stop & Shop used to carry Barowsky's Organic Wheat Hot Dog Buns, but they haven't had them on their shelves in a couple of weeks...("ooooh Customer Service man...." ;)

....AND...as grateful as I am for this...it does make me wonder "Why?!"...hmmmm?!

So what CAN she eat?!

Another "I'll be honest" moment: buying All Natural tends to mean you are buying Organic...and both are definitely more pricey than buying "regular old" food.

Stop & Shop is my go to place to shop in the area we live. It's the cheapest nearby and they have a great Organic aisle. Depending on what kinds of food your family or child prefers, if you can find an organic food store, or you live near a Whole Foods they are even better selection wise but their prices are HIGH. I've gotten word that Trader Joe's has great prices...but it's a trek for me and taking the drive is a wash for the savings...I like to stick with what's nearby me.

So here's what I typically buy for her at the store and as you will see, she doesn't go without much:

• any of the Nature's Promise brand food (it's Stop & Shops organic line...price is WAY better than the brand names)
• Nature's Own 100% All Natural Bread products (sliced bread and hamburger rolls) Sad to report that this is a case of false labeling. The front says All Natural...but the label sings a different tune. It took us a week to figure it out...and what a week it was :( So we are sticking with Nature's Promise for now!!
  
• Cascadian Farm cereals
• EnviroKids cereals
• Cliff bars
• Boar's Head deli meats & cheese
• Sargento cheeses
• Haagen Daz sorbets or ice creams (double check the ingredients depending on if they have added cookie dough or choco chips)
• Heinz ketchup We'll be dropping Heinz from the list due to their continued use of  High Fructose Corn Syrup. We'll be switching to Hunt's that just this month announced: "Hunt's 100% Natural Ketchup brings forth the naturally rich tomato flavor of Hunt's tomatoes and contains only five simple ingredients: tomatoes, sugar, vinegar, salt and other seasonings, with no high fructose corn syrup, artificial ingredients or preservatives."
• French's Mustard
• Cain's Mayo
• Amy's frozen Mac & Cheese
• Annie's Mac & Cheese
• Finagle-A-Bagel frozen bagels
• Lays plain potato chips
• Baked Lays potato chips
• Lays Sour Cream & Onion chips
• Mott's Medley fruit snacks
• Skippy or Jif Natural Peanut Butter
• Sierra Mist Natural soda
• Polar brand Ginger Ale
• Pepperidge Farm Goldfish and most cookies
• Polanar Fruit spread
• CapriSun 100% fruit juice bags or the Special V ones (almost all the others have sodium benozate)
• Late July brand cookies
• Country Choice Organics sandwich cookies (better than Oreos...no lie!)
• Aunt Jemima frozen pancakes and waffles (plain)
• Bubba Burgers
• Jenny O Turkey products
• Shady Brook Farms ground turkey
• store ground beef
• Perdue chicken breast
• Tyson 100% Natural Chicken Nugget
• added late: Oscar Mayer Select Lunch Deli Meats, Hot Dogs & Bacon...see post How Could I forget: HOT DOGS! :)

As for produce...I do try to buy the Organic selections...especially if they have the Nature's Promise options, but sometimes it's just not possible...and frankly "non-organic" fruit doesn't effect Jessica emotionally or physically. Like I said, I try to buy the Organic selections because no one should be ingesting pesticides and what-have-you...but they don't have Organic Fuji Apples one week and she eats a regular old Fuji apple, she's fine. Weird right?! I can only suppose it because its really the preservatives in other food that are her main issue...and there aren't any in produce even if it's not Organic.

So as you can see...there is A LOT she can eat...the lesson here is READ THE LABELS...and refer to the No List before you put anything in your shopping cart!! :)

the NO list

After about 7 years of researching and trial-by-fire diet tweaking...here is our No List:

Aspartame (Sweetener)
MSG Monosodium Glutamate, Glutamic Acid, all Glutamates
TBHQ
BHA
BHT
Latol Rubine
Sulphur Dioxide
any Propionates
any Nitrate or Nitrite
any Benzoate or Hydroxybenzonate
any Sorbates
Any colorings that are not listed as a natural food color (like beet or carrot)

Here's the kicker. They are in EVERYTHING. A lot of brands are getting "tricky" and saying "Natural Flavored" or "Natural Colors"...but they still have artificial preservatives. So no matter what the front label says...you'll want to scour the ingredients to look for any of the ingredients above. For Jess the WORST are Sodium or Potassium Benzoate (which is a preservative found in drinks) and Calcium or Sodium Propionate (the one in bread products).

As I have more time I will drill into most of these "ingredients"...explain what they are and the different reactions Jessica has to them and why they are not to be messed with and there are NO EXCEPTIONS for her.

It's not easy...

Removing artificial ingredient from your child or your family's diet...not gonna lie...is H-A-R-D HARD. But...as we've personally experienced with Jess...it is beyond worth it if you determine that they are the cause of certain physical or behavioral issues.

You need to develop yourself and your family into becoming hard-core label readers and allow for no exceptions. The moment you miss something, you and your child (and ultimately your family) pay for it. It may be a small payment such as gas, or it may be a large payment such as we experienced this past week of 3 days worth of living with an aggressive, irritable, nudgey and uncontrollable MOUTH!

*don't let her bright eyes fool you...she can be the devil with just a touch of sodium benzoate! ;)

If it's the preservatives, you'll notice a difference pretty quickly. Jess is so sensitive, we can tell within 15 minutes...she starts getting antsy, uncomfortable in her own skin, super fresh and depending on how much or what she has ingested...she can get down-right mean & nasty. Then after about 4 hours, she gets really bad stomach discomfort, gas, "yucky poops" as she calls it and if she's had something with bread preservatives (Calcium or Sodium Propionates) she actually breaks out in hives and her eyes swell up anytime up to 24 hours later. We are actually on the path to getting her an "EpiPen" since the next stage could possibly be Anaphylaxis*.

* Anaphylaxis is a serious allergic reaction that is rapid in onset and may cause death. It typically results in a number of symptoms including an itchy rash, throat swelling, and low blood pressure.

Preservatives, Colorings, Flavorings...OH MY!

My daughter Jessica will be 10 in less than 1 week. She is living proof that you are what you eat. It has taken us about 7 years to refine Jessica's diet so that we have her as close to 100% natural as possible. The alternative is riddled with defiance, irritability, aggression on top of physical issues such as hives, IBS, swollen and/or sunken eyes and just plain old discomfort in her own skin.

* She looks sweet as pie doesn't she? Well she is...when she's 100% all natural inside :o)

This blog will be two-fold. Firstly, it will be used to help others who may feel their kids or family will benefit from an all natural diet. Secondly, the blog will be used for me to discuss, demonstrate or simply vent about the trials and tribulations of raising a little girl who is overly sensitive to or out-right allergic to any sort of artificial additive which includes: artificial preservatives, artificial colorings, artificial flavorings and artificial sweeteners.

Sounds like good times ey?! Come along and join in our fun ;o)