Julie Peters

Hi Rebecca,

I can understand where you are coming from as my son (10) is
sensitive to chemicals/colors as well. And my DD (13) is at high
risk for diabetes. I am sensitive to several salicates, dairy, and
MSG. So our family has had some pretty heavy food restrictions in
the past (they lasted for a year or so). We still have
some "limitations", if you can even call them that, but those are
pretty loose. After the kids got the hang of "why" we had limits
and what the "bodily consequences" where and everyone agreed that
those were worse then foregoing a food item, things got easy and we
got rid of the limits and came up with reasonable
alternatives/comprimises.

We have never put restrictions on how much/little food
our kids should eat or when/where they could eat nor have we ever
limited their access to the kitchen. However, we have limited
what "kinds" of food they have "access" to. Which simply means, I
watch what I buy and keep in the house. If it is not in the
cabinet, they can't be tempted to want it (right then at least). If
we want "junk food", I go to the organic food market and buy junk
food that has no chemicals/colors. It usually tastes just the same
as the regular brands, is only about a dollar more, and the kids
know there are no limits and are at peace. Now a lot of major
brands have organic or all natural versions availible, such as
Organic Doritos and Cheetos, Organic Orville Reddenbacher Microwave
Popcorn, and 7-Up has gone all natural...there are many, many
others...you just have to hunt for them (request them at your
supermarket if you have to).

If we are out and about and a treat moment arises, I may remind DD
of what sweets she has already had that day or state that "this
treat" could max her out so if she really wants it to go ahead but
she should try to watch her sugar intake for the rest of the day.
She knows that it is for her health and understands the ultimate
consequence is insulin. She understands that we are looking out for
her and only reminding her...she still has the ultimate choice to
have the treat or not.

For DS the sweets are not a problem as much as the colorings are.
So I'll either have an alternative ready for him if I know in
advance or find a comprimise. DS is highly sensitive to red food
coloring (and it's in everything!) so our comprimise may be having
something that is yellow instead (still sensitive but the lesser
evil). Or if it is cake, HE usually chooses (b/c he knows how he
will feel and act later) to eat the cake but not the icing. Hard
candies are replaced with chocolate or vegetable based colored
candies (availible at most organic food stores).

Again, once we found alternatives/comprimises (which took some
creativity and time) we could let go of the food restrictions and
not have to worry. Now the kids are placing their own limits...even
though they don't have to.

I hope this helps some.

Julie Peters

Rebecca

Thanks Julie for your reply.

Our DD reacts to colours, (natural 160b seems to be in everything too
and is one of her worst triggers), preservatives, salicylates, MSG
etc. She has been happy to avoid these for a few years now, with many
discussions as to why and how it makes her feel. When she was little
we used to put her hand on her heart and let her feel it racing after
a food that caused an obvious reaction. She still now will sometimes
come to me quietly and says "Mum my heart is racing".

It's been more about trying to limit wheat and dairy which is where
the craving is coming in. I think we need to have a discussion on
this in particular and maybe come to a plan on how to deal with it
together - what alternatives we can substitute them with, do we need
to have them out of the pantry/fridge for a while? We have already
done this to some degree and have many alternatives available. We
have a visit with a naturopath coming up soon who said he could help
with finding the cause of the cravings (he felt it likely a
deficiency elsewhere in her diet). Hopefully this will help as well.

It is great how many alternatives are becoming available in the
stores now with all natural and organic foods.

Thanks again Julie, for helping me come to a potential solution,
Regards Rebecca

--- In [email protected], "Julie Peters"
<julieannpeters@...> wrote:
>
> Hi Rebecca,
>
> I can understand where you are coming from as my son (10) is
> sensitive to chemicals/colors as well. And my DD (13) is at high
> risk for diabetes. I am sensitive to several salicates, dairy, and
> MSG. So our family has had some pretty heavy food restrictions in
> the past (they lasted for a year or so). We still have
> some "limitations", if you can even call them that, but those are
> pretty loose. After the kids got the hang of "why" we had limits
> and what the "bodily consequences" where and everyone agreed that
> those were worse then foregoing a food item, things got easy and we
> got rid of the limits and came up with reasonable
> alternatives/comprimises.
>
> We have never put restrictions on how much/little food
> our kids should eat or when/where they could eat nor have we ever
> limited their access to the kitchen. However, we have limited
> what "kinds" of food they have "access" to. Which simply means, I
> watch what I buy and keep in the house. If it is not in the
> cabinet, they can't be tempted to want it (right then at least).
If
> we want "junk food", I go to the organic food market and buy junk
> food that has no chemicals/colors. It usually tastes just the same
> as the regular brands, is only about a dollar more, and the kids
> know there are no limits and are at peace. Now a lot of major
> brands have organic or all natural versions availible, such as
> Organic Doritos and Cheetos, Organic Orville Reddenbacher Microwave
> Popcorn, and 7-Up has gone all natural...there are many, many
> others...you just have to hunt for them (request them at your
> supermarket if you have to).
>
> If we are out and about and a treat moment arises, I may remind DD
> of what sweets she has already had that day or state that "this
> treat" could max her out so if she really wants it to go ahead but
> she should try to watch her sugar intake for the rest of the day.
> She knows that it is for her health and understands the ultimate
> consequence is insulin. She understands that we are looking out
for
> her and only reminding her...she still has the ultimate choice to
> have the treat or not.
>
> For DS the sweets are not a problem as much as the colorings are.
> So I'll either have an alternative ready for him if I know in
> advance or find a comprimise. DS is highly sensitive to red food
> coloring (and it's in everything!) so our comprimise may be having
> something that is yellow instead (still sensitive but the lesser
> evil). Or if it is cake, HE usually chooses (b/c he knows how he
> will feel and act later) to eat the cake but not the icing. Hard
> candies are replaced with chocolate or vegetable based colored
> candies (availible at most organic food stores).
>
> Again, once we found alternatives/comprimises (which took some
> creativity and time) we could let go of the food restrictions and
> not have to worry. Now the kids are placing their own
limits...even
> though they don't have to.
>
> I hope this helps some.
>
> Julie Peters
>