Could what you eat cause behavioral problems?

    I got started doing this blog years ago after learning that red dye 40 was the cause of my child's most turbulent behavior.  Then, I realized that the artificial dye was affecting other members of my family, including me.  After witnessing a complete turn around in my son, I felt compelled to share what I learned.  I learned that artificial dyes can cause stomach aches, depression, hives, have an effect on IQ, cause motor-coordination problems and behavioral problems - to name a few.  Why should children or anyone else needlessly suffer because of consuming these harmful dyes.  Before having my children, I taught third grade.  I recall some of my students having the same dye-induced look that my child used to have after consuming red-dye 40.  I couldn't understand why their behavior was so irrational while other days they were calm, sweet children who were able to focus.  One child could sit in his desk calmly and was able to focus on his work and then after lunch he would be a completely different child.  He would lay on the floor, roam the room, cause problems with the other students.  Could what he had during lunch have caused a behavioral change?  Could the dyes make this much of a difference in their life?  I believe it can and so do many people who leave their comments of thanks for this blog.  For children and even adults who are sensitive to these dyes, it will transform their lives if they eliminate these dyes from their diet.  My child's self-esteem blossomed, has many friends, can focus, lost the dye-induced violent episodes, makes wonderful grades and is the sweet child I thought he was. 
    Please check out the two new videos I added from YouTube (in the right side column).  Also, please sign the petition to make healthier school lunches without artificial dyes.  You and everyone together can make a difference!
   

Can your school do this???

Yesterday our son decided to try the school lunches in his new school. The menu appears to have healthy options. However, I don't like to take chances because eating or drinking foods with the artificial colors would mean drastically altering my son's behavior from good to dye-induced ugliness. Therefore, our son has a doctor's note explaining that he is not to have any artificial food colors in his food or drink beverage. I was then given the lunch menu for each day of the week and instructed to circle which foods he would like to eat. Next, I would be given the ingredients for each item for my son's doctor to look over. The food dietitian would then make an alternative if needed for each item that our son is not allowed to eat. As more and more people are becoming aware of harmful dyes and food additives, some schools are choosing healthier options. If the word gets out that I was allowed to do this then others might follow suit. It might just be easier to make foods this way to begin with. Don't we all want our children to eat real foods instead of foods that look real?
There is a school in San Juan Island School District that has chosen to stay away from artificial dyes and preservatives. The link is below:

http://www.pnwlocalnews.com/sanjuans/jsj/news/59256037.html

School Lunches Need Healthier Foods without Artificial Dyes

Many people are beginning to rethink the way school lunches should be made. Foods without artificial dyes are among my top priority along with millions of other Americans who have experienced the harmful effects or who are just health conscious. One such individual is passionate about making a difference in school lunches. This is a major step in accomplishing Red Dye Free's School Challenge mission. Hopefully school lunches across the states will be serving up foods that we will be happy for our children to eat. Please see the link below to learn what the Renegade Lunch Lady is doing to change the way school children eat.
Renegade Lunch Lady on a Mission

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