Confessions From THAT Mom, Don’t Roll Your Eyes
I am THAT mom. I said it, it’s true.
I’m the mom who makes things difficult when it’s time for my kid to play at your house or spend the night or really, do anything with your kid.
I am that mom who sends in special treats for her kid to have at the class party or for the teacher to keep on hand as treats and rewards.
I am that mom who brings food to birthday parties and other celebrations because she won’t let her kid dine on the traditional colorful party fare.
I am that mom who says no to all the colorful sports drinks and the candy at events.
I am that mom who is ‘depriving’ her kids.
No, my kids do not have food allergies.
What’s The Deal Mom
So what’s the deal? Why am I so difficult?
Well, I don’t see it as being difficult. Sure, it may be different from the choices you make but my kids, my choices. I don’t make comments about you feeding your child food that could cause cancer or cause out of control tantrums or bed wetting or any number of other reactions that are caused by artificial food coloring.
Will artificial colors and preservatives kill my kid tomorrow? No
Will artificial colors and preservatives make my kid a behavioral nightmare? Totally possible but thankfully they don’t effect my kids that way.
If your kiddo’s behavior changes after having colorful candy, artificial dye may be why. This article about artificial red dye will interest you.
Will artificial colors and preservatives make the food taste better? Doubtful
Do artificial colors and preservatives have any nutritional benefit? No
Do artificial colors and preservatives cause cancer? Who knows
Sure, kids are drawn to brightly colored foods and drinks but seriously, food coloring isn’t going to get them to eat more fruits and vegetables so what’s the real reason? At one point in history, food dyes were used to cover up or conceal damaged or inferior products. Could you even imagine? Here’s your fuchsia hunk of moldy bread. Enjoy!
When my kids were small, I decided that artificial food coloring wasn’t really something I was ok with. I started reading labels and stopped buying anything with artificial food coloring or preservatives in it. Did you know Kraft Jet Puff marshmallows contain blue food coloring? Seriously? What the hell! Apparently it makes them bright white. Stepping down off my soapbox now.
What About The Holidays?
Believe me, my kids get plenty of candy and treats. Just because we don’t do artificial food coloring doesn’t mean there’s no color. There is quite a good selection of natural food coloring available, even at the regular grocery store and when it comes to candy, there really are some good options on the market. Sure you have to pay a little more but isn’t your health worth it? You know what they say, pay now or pay later. As someone who has already had two forms of cancer before 40, I’ll stick to the non-toxic food thanks!
You can learn more about harmful food additives in this blog post. Check out the candy I put in my kids Easter baskets. These brands are available year round.
What’s Normal?
I realize it’s not ‘the norm’ to not feed my kids brightly colored candy and brightly colored drinks. Do I care, no, not really. Why is it ‘normal’ to consume food that contains ingredients made in a lab with chemicals derived from petroleum?
Want me to let you in on a little secret? If your child
goes to a school that allows candy rewards, I bet you’d be shocked at how much crap they are given as a ‘reward’ all day long. It all adds up. Spend any time in a school cafeteria and just watch what these kids are eating. It hurts my brain to think of how much artificial food coloring and sugar the average elementary school aged child consumes in just a single day. It appears they stop bribing kids with candy when they hit middle school.
Yes, I Know They Grow Up
My kids are growing up and are not under my supervision like they used to be so while I am sure at least one of my kids is not making the choices I would, I can guarantee that what is eaten in my house is free from artificial colors and preservatives. We’re all just doing the best we can, once they are on their own, well, they are on their own.
So, next time you’re at a party or an event and a parent won’t let their kid have those Skittles because they’re made with artificial food coloring, don’t roll your eyes at him or her. Just accept that they do things differently and keep your comments to yourself.
Make it a green day!
Heather, I love that you are holding firm to this! Our son is on a fairly restrictive diet, which includes no artificial food coloring and flavoring. So I am that Mom, too. He also happens to have severe autism and we definitely notice a huge difference in his behavior when he gets something he shouldn’t. I cringe every time I see brightly colored foods and candies in the hands of, well, anyone. And they don’t even taste good. With so many non chemical options, I don’t understand why this stuff is still legal. Most European countries don’t even allow it in pet food! Stay strong!
I know, seriously, makes me want to move to Europe. All these chemicals that we come into contact with every day, geez they add up. Unfortunately, our government doesn’t see it that way.
It’s like I wrote this myself. I’m 100% going to be THAT mom. Years ago I adopted a healthy lifestyle, eating mainly unprocessed food with cheat meals here and there. That’s what should be normal eating though, whole foods, not fake foods. I totally agree that it’s worth spending more money to eat healthy because what’s more important than your health? Nothing.
That’s the truth, pay a bit more now or a lot more later. Our family is by no means perfect but we make an honest attempt.
I am with you! My daughter’s elementary school gives out candy as “rewards”! My daughter is a good student, so this equals a lot of “rewards”. It is infuriating! One of my goals is to get them to change this policy!
I can definitely sympathize. My daughter came home with 21 pieces of chocolate the other day. I almost had a coronary. Teachers have a hard job and they are better people than me. I couldn’t do it but there has to be another way. No food and no junk toys.
From the start of my son’s life he has eaten real food. Ya know, carrots, apples, raw nuts, free range chicken, hummus, avocados. Every once in a while I will make him french toast and put a little cinnamon and maple syrup and his little eyes light up. But he makes so many “yummy” noises at all the foods he eats. None of them are artificial and he doesn’t even know the difference. I am such an advocate at allowing your kids taste buds to develop around real food so that there brains can make neural connections from these tastes instead of artifical garbage. You are not alone mama. I wish we lived closer so we could do some birthday potlucks and surround our kids with THAT tribe!
Oh that would be awesome! Kudos to you, what an awesome life you’re giving him.
Good, then we can be friends! I’m that mom, too, and my kids have just adapted. Some are even old enough to be “that kid” all on their own, without me saying anything. Even the 5 year old will turn down the candy at church (why are we handing it out at church?!!!) – “No thank you, blue dye makes me barf,” she’ll say. My grandfather once passed out toothbrushes for Halloween, so I guess you could say I come from “that family”.
Don’t you love the honesty of kids. My daughter is the same way, she will question her peers and make remarks about how bad artificially colored food is. I have to hold my tongue.
I totally understand your point as I too wince at how much sugar kids eat these days. However playing devils advocate here, I would personally not take other food to a kids party unless the kids had allergies. If I was the mom throwing the party I would be hurt if you whip out your own food. Parties costs a lot of money and some moms are either uneducated on what to make or think the food is ok or they couldn’t afford better. Bringing your own food conveys that their food is not good enough (we know it isn’t) and can cause secret hurts and resentments. It will not hurt your kids to eat junk food once in a while! If anyone can eat junk food they can. Also as they grow older they might begin to resent not being able to participate fully in the “fun” with their peers. Just food for thought 😉
I totally understand where you’re coming from. As they get older, it becomes more of a challenge and more important to share my concerns with them and talk through my reasons. I also agree about bringing food, I do ask the parent so it doesn’t come out of left field.
I LOVE THIS! My son is just about to turn 1, and I already get crap for only feeding him organic and avoiding sugar… like, he’s not even 1! I am dreading dealing with this as he gets older…
But I recently read an analogy that am so going to use. Eating organic is part of our belief system…. You wouldn’t ask a vegetarian to ‘just take a bite’ of a hamburger. You wouldn’t ask someone who eats only Kosher food to eat something non-kosher.
That’s a great way to look at it. There are so many kids who have such horrible reactions to the chemicals in our foods so it’s insane to “just let them have a little bit”. I mean you wouldn’t take a drink of something ‘with just a little’ cyanide in it, right?