Mom Says No To This Green Shake

ohh, it's green shake time.  McDonalds, How I wish you would improve in your ingredients.  You may have noticed the addition of this leprechaun seasonal green dyed item on the menu.   Please don't consider yourself lucky by having access to this chemical fest.  

If you’ve ever wondered what gives the shake its famous green color, the secret is in the syrup. The Shamrock Shake syrup contains yellow 5 and blue 1, both of which have been linked to behavioral problems and hyperactivity in children. Blue 1 is also poorly absorbed by the gastrointestinal tract, and yellow 5 can be linked to cancer. The Center for Science in the Public Interest has petitioned the Food and Drug Administration to ban the additives since 2008, and they have already been phased out in the United Kingdom. The syrup also contains — surprise — high fructose corn syrup.
And take a closer look, there is no mention of mint in the emerald colored drinks.  But there is Carrageenan which is widely added to ice creams and yogurts.  Carrageenan is linked to inflammatory illnesses.  Chronic inflammation is the root of many diseases including Parkinsons, heart disease, Alzheimers, and cancers.

Just take a look at the lengthy ingredient list.

VANILLA REDUCED FAT ICE CREAM

Ingredients: Milk, Sugar, Cream, Corn Syrup, Natural Flavor, Mono and Diglycerides, Cellulose Gum, Guar Gum, Carrageenan, Vitamin A Palmitate.

Contains: MILK.

SHAMROCK SHAKE SYRUP

Ingredients: High Fructose Corn Syrup, Corn Syrup, Water, Sugar, Natural Flavor, Xanthan Gum, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate (Preservative), Yellow 5, Blue 1. May contain small amounts of other shake flavors served at the restaurant, including egg ingredients when Egg Nog Shakes are available.

WHIPPED TOPPING

Ingredients: Cream, Nonfat Milk, Corn Syrup, Sugar, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Contains 1% or Less: Mono-And Diglycerides, Carrageenan, Polysorbate 80, Beta Carotene (Color), Natural and Artificial Flavor, Mixed Tocopherols (Vitamin E) to Protect Flavor. Whipping Propellant (Nitrous Oxide).

Contains: MILK.

MARASCHINO CHERRY

Ingredients: Cherries, Water, Corn Syrup, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Sugar, Malic Acid, Citric Acid, Natural and Artificial Flavors, Sodium Benzoate and Potassium Sorbate (Preservatives), Red 40, Sulfur Dioxide as Preservative (Contains Sulfites).

GREEN SUGAR CRYSTALS

Ingredients: Sugar, Yellow 5 Lake, Confectioners Glaze, Blue 1 Lake, Carnauba Wax.

That's A LOT of ingredients!!

When this post was originally written in 2014 the serving count looked like this: Notice the changes in the medium in March of 2017.

Original - Medium - A 16 ounce serving is 550 calories. 13 grams of fat, 8 grams of saturated fat, 1 gram of trans fat, 50 milligrams of cholesterol, 180 milligrams of sodium, no fiber, 82 grams of sugar and 13 grams of protein.

Update March 2017 - from McDonalds website -  This is a small

This is a medium

Instead, try this easy recipe which has pineapple, banana and kale.  
Ingredients
1/2 cup coconut milk
2 cups stemmed and chopped kale or spinach
1 1/2 cups chopped pineapple (about 1/4 medium pineapple)
1 ripe banana, chopped
Directions
Combine the coconut milk, ½ cup water, the kale, pineapple, and banana in a blender and puree until smooth, about 1 minute, adding more water to reach the desired consistency.

Nutritional Information
Per Serving
Calories 253
Fat 13g
Sat Fat 11g
Cholesterol 0mg
Sodium 38mg
Protein 5g
Carbohydrate 36g
Sugar 18g
Fiber 5g
Iron 3mg
Calcium 119mg

Do you have a recipe for a healthy "green" shake?  How about a "mint" shake?


Sources:
https://www.mcdonalds.com/us/en-us/product/shamrock-mccafe-shake-small.html
http://www.mcdonalds.com/us/en/food/product_nutrition.mccafe.3779.shamrock-mccafe-shake-small.html
http://www.realsimple.com/food-recipes/browse-all-recipes/kale-smoothie-recipe-00100000095097/index.html
http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/QAA401181/Is-Carrageenan-Safe.html
http://www.sofreshandsogreen.com/2012/03/12/mcdonalds-shamrock-shake-goes-nationwide-but-do-you-really-want-one/

Getting Through Halloween - Making it Teal

Launched as a national campaign by Food Allergy Research & Education (FARE) in 2014, the Teal Pumpkin Project™ raises awareness of food allergies and promotes inclusion of all trick-or-treaters throughout the Halloween season. Teal is the color of food allergy awareness and has been used to raise awareness about this serious medical condition for nearly 20 years. Food allergies are a life-altering and potentially life-threatening disease, and a growing public health issue. In the U.S., one in 13 children has a food allergy – that’s roughly two in every classroom. For these children, even a tiny amount of their allergen has the potential to cause a severe reaction.  

Join me! I’ve pledged to support FARE’s Teal Pumpkin Project to create a safer, happier Halloween by offering non-food treats as well for trick-or-treaters.   tealpumpkinproject.org 

Halloween can also be a nightmare if you or your kids have ADD/ADHD tendancies and have an intolerance to artificial colors like red 40, yellow 5/6, blue 1, artificial flavor, vanillin, or preservatives like BHT or TBHQ. These chemicals are found in many candies and gum. Try a trade in policy with your kids. I've heard it called the "switch witch".   After trick or treating help your kids go through their candy and have them trade in all the yucky chemical candy for approved candies without the chemicals, stickers, a special toy or game, maybe even a little money! In my area there are schools and dentists who will take donated candy and arrange to send it to the Troops.  Do you have a trade in policy?

We follow the Feingold Diet removing all artificial colors, artificial flavors, vanillin, and preservatives.  Check the label on your next candy bar, m&m, skittles, etc and you will see these treats are made up of dangerous chemicals. Click here to read my post about the Feingold elimination diet and symptoms commonly helped.  

Last year, households from 50 states and 7 countries participated in the Teal Pumpkin Project™.  Raise awareness by becoming part of the teal pumpkin project. We did this last year for the launch and it was very well received. Tons of parents of the little trick or treaters asked about it and some even asked questions about how we started out with Feingold. Everyone liked seeing the options of treats and non food treats.  I purchased a can of teal spray paint at Home Depot and wola!  Such a beautiful color!

As you trick or treat this year, take notice. For more information about the Teal Pumpkin Project, click here. Take the pledge to join the 100,000 households who are raising awareness for a safer, happier Halloween experience for all those who struggle with serious food allergies and side effects and interactions from unsafe chemical additives found in most US candy.

Dye Free Easter Eggs - Yes!

With Easter just a couple weeks away it's time to start thinking about dye free egg decorating.  Did you know that the typical Easter egg dye kits you buy in the store are chock full of red 40, yellow 5, yellow 6, blue 1?  You usually add some vinegar to the concoction for more vivid coloring.  The problem?  Well, the dye leaches into the egg.  You definitely don't want to eat these eggs.  But there is more, you really don't want this dye to be absorbed through your skin.  These kinds of dyes have shown to have effects on children with adhd tendencies.  Artificial food dye is made from petroleum, a crude oil product.  This is the stuff that is also used to make gasoline, diesel, tar, and asphalt.  Yuck.  

Click here to read my post about the ADD/adhd and artificial food coloring connection.

Look at the eggs we color with natural dyes.  They may not have that artificial vivid color look, but to me, they are even more beautiful.

Here are some simple recipes to color your Easter eggs naturally.  Do you color your eggs with natural ingredients?  What do you use?

PINK~ Mix 1 cup strained juice from canned beets, 1/2 teaspoon vinegar and 3 cups water.  Soak cooled eggs for about 1/2 hr, less or more to your desired color.

ORANGE~ In a pot, mix 1 cup yellow onion skin (about 2 onions' worth), packed loosely, 1 teaspoon vinegar, and 3 cups water. Boil mixture for 1/2 hour, cool to room temperature, strain out the onion skins, then add cooled eggs and soak them in the dye for 1/2 hour.

PURPLE~Mix 1 cup purple grape juice, 1/2 teaspoon vinegar, and 3 cups water. Soak cooled eggs in the dye for 1/2  hour.

YELLOW~In a pot, mix 1 teaspoon turmeric, 1 teaspoon vinegar, and 3 cups water. Boil mixture for 1/2 hour, cool to room temperature, strain out stray turmeric grains, then add cooled eggs and soak them in
the dye for 1/2 hour.

LIGHT BLUE~In a pot, mix 1 cup red cabbage leaves, torn and loosely packed, 1 teaspoon vinegar, and 3 cups water. Boil mixture for 1/2 hour, cool to room temperature, strain out the cabbage leaves, then add cooled eggs and soak them in the dye for 1/2 hour.


http://www.feingoldmemberinfo.com/aprilpartyplus2014.html

Mars Inc. Ditch the Red 40 Petition Alert

Change.org petition.
www.change.org/MMsDyes

My children have an intolerance to chemical additives including artificial colors, red 40, yellow 5/6, blue 1, artificial flavor, vanillin, BHT, BPA and TBHQ.  I do not buy products containing these additives.

Several years ago it all started with an itchy tongue.  We were also having problems with focus in school, impulsivity, behavior, self esteem in my then 5 year old.  My other kids had problems falling asleep, staying asleep, night terrors, gait problems, migraines.  I started researching and thankfully learned about an elimination diet called the Feingold diet.  We have not looked back. Today my kids are honor roll students and involved in many extra curricular activities.  They demonstrate self control, and have confidence in their abilities.

There is a petition on change.org that is asking Mars Inc., makers of M&M's, to replace artificial dyes with natural coloring.  They already do this in Europe. Why is the US so far behind?  More signatures are needed.  Please sign and share with your groups and blogs.  Together, we can make a difference.
www.change.org/MMsDyes

Fooducate : Do you know your ingredient list?

As I continue to learn and grow I come upon things that make me pause.  We avoid harmful additives as much as we can, my kids have a direct reaction to foods and products that contain artificial colors like red 40, yellow 5, yellow 6, blue 1.  We avoid artificial flavors, especially vanillin,  high fructose corn syrup, MSG, and preservatives like sodium benzoate, TBHQ, BHT, and BPA.  We also cut foods that contain high levels of salycilates.  Salycilates are chemicals that are found naturally in some plants.  Strawberries, grapes, and cherries are just a few fruits that are high in salycilates.  Tomato, peppers, and water chestnuts are some of the vegetables that are high in salycilates.  I've recently cut foods that are GMO.

Many children with ADHD/ADD react poorly to food that contain any of the above.  

To learn what's in your food while you are at the grocery store check out fooducate.  Fooducate is available in the ap store.  They also have a blog here.. http://blog.fooducate.com/  

And, remember to always check labels.  Just because it says "100% juice" does not mean it actually is "100 juice".

New Awareness - Essential Oils Lavender

It is with great gratitude I write this post.  A good friend of mine, Wendalyn Cole Kirpanos recently introduced me to Essential Oils.  Thank goodness for her patience.  Wendy is full of knowledge about EO's and follows an organic lifestyle.  I admire her so much.   I had dabbled with essential oils in the past but never to the point of realizing their true potential. 

I want to share what I am learning about EO's.  I will start with lavender.
Essential Oil Lavender
I keep a bottle in my pocket.  This was my first purchase a couple weeks ago.  I read up on lavender and I just couldn't wait to try it.  I just placed an order for a 2nd bottle to keep at home.  Lavender has come in handy in so many ways, there are so many uses for it!  
Recently a friend burned her finger taking something out of the toaster.  I knew  lavender would help soothe and heal quickly and I was able to say "I have an oil for that."  A drop is all it took to take the sting away and the blistering healed quickly.
Headache?  Apply lavender on your temples or at the base of your skull.
Monthly cramps?  Rub a couple drops in a clockwise motion where it hurts.
Restlessness?  Close your eyes and inhale for a few seconds from the bottle.
There are so many reasons to love lavender.
Lavender oil is one of the most calming oils.  Not only is it a relaxing agent, but is commonly used to relieve tension, treat aches and pains, treat skin conditions, and used to enhance circulation and respiration.
For these reasons, Lavender oil is also used as a massage oil. For those with ADHD, Lavender oil can be massaged into the feet and shoulders to help regain grounding.  Try it, it really works!
Popular applications include adding drops of Lavender oil into a hot bath and soaking, or combining it with water in a spray bottle or mister.  I read somewhere about a woman who hated entertaining her family because there were always arguments and tension.  She put a few drops on cotton balls and put one in each room of her home.  She said the family disputes were replaced with peace and family enjoyment!
Today, lavender is most commonly used for anxiety, depression, mental exhaustion, insomnia, scrapes and wounds, digestive problems, headaches, skin problems and women's health problems. In addition to this, lavender can be used to treat exhaustion, heat exposure, fevers, aches and pains, over-exertion, jet lag, rashes, sprains, sunburn, sunstroke, bruises and burns. It can also be used as a disinfectant and insect repellent. Lavender is an antiseptic, natural antibiotic, sedative, and can detoxify.
These are conditions that make the pharmaceutical companies a lot of money.  Many OTC medicines can be replaced with essential oils.  Of course, always consult your physician and do your own research.
Essential oils are a natural way to heal darn near everything.  They are affordable and a little goes a long way.  The foundation of essential oils and aromatherapy date back 1000's of years.  I look forward to sharing my experiences with essential oils.


Usage Tips
+ Inhale lavender essential oil to soothe and 
relax the body and mind.
+ Make an herbal tea by mixing 2 drops of 
lavender essential oil with 1 teaspoon of blue 
agave syrup and adding to warm water.
+ Add 4–5 drops of lavender essential oil to 
a bath gel base and use in warm bath for 
relaxation.
+ Drop 1–2 drops of lavender essential oil on 
your pillow to aid in a restful night of sleep.
+ Massage several drops of lavender essential 
oil on feet to promote relaxation.


From Young Living:


Soothe minor burns by applying 2–3 drops of lavender essential oil to the affected area.  THIS ONE DEFINATELY WORKS!!
Rub lavender essential oil on dry or chapped skin to moisturize the affected area.
Add a few drops of lavender essential oil to a cotton ball and place it in closets and drawers to scent linens and repel moths and insects.
You may be able to minimize the appearance of scar tissue by massaging lavender essential oil on or around affected areas.
Place a few drops of lavender essential oil on a wet cloth or dryer sheet to deodorize and freshen your laundry.
Diffuse lavender essential oil to minimize seasonal discomforts.
Rub a few drops of lavender essential oil onto your hand and spread over your child’s pillow to help him/her sleep.
Diffuse lavender essential oil to set the mood for a baby shower or social gathering.
Diffuse or inhale lavender essential oil to calm your mind, body, and spirit after a hard day’s work.


What have you used lavender essential oil for?


Sources:
http://www.youngliving.us/pdfs/PIP_Lavender.pdf
http://www.organicfacts.net

Food Dyes like Red 40, ADHD and More

Could it be possible?  If you are wondering if your child's anger outbursts, temper tantrums, impulsiveness or aggression could be linked to what he eats, keep reading.  If you child has been diagnosed with ADHD or has tendencies you may want to look at what they are eating both at home and school lunch.


If you live in America and eat or serve your kids "snacks" it is most likely you are being subjected to artificial food dyes.  If you are drinking enhanced or flavored water, it is likely you are being subjected to artificial food dyes.   If you are eating soft serve ice cream or going to fast food restaurants...well dyes are in many of those foods too.

What are artificial food dyes?  Red 40, Yellow 5, Yellow 6, and Blue 1 are the top 4 in the US.  These are additives the FDA does not restrict from our nations food supply.  Those pretty colors that make the "fruit punch" red, the gelatin green and the oatmeal blue are made from petroleum (crude oil) which is also the source for gasoline.

You will find them on the ingredient labels, listed as "Yellow No. 5," "Red 40," "Blue #1," etc. The label may say "FD&C" before the number. That means "Food, Drug & Cosmetics." When you see a number listed as "D&C" in a product, such as "D&C Red #33" it means that this coloring is considered safe for medicine (drugs) and cosmetics, but not for food.

Kids today eat differently than their parents and grandparents.  30 years ago a lollipop was a special treat for sitting during a haircut.  A trip to a fast food restaurant was an occasion.  Today, kids are bombarded by food with artificial colors.  Take a look in your pantry and fridge this week.  I bet you'll find some red 40, blue 1, yellow 5 and 6 lurking in there.

If your child has ADHD or tendencies like hyperactivity, aggression, rage, self esteem issues, impulsiveness, take a look at what they are eating.  Try an experiment and remove these artificial dyes for a week or 2.  You may be re-introduced to a brand new kid!

Cereal Bar Comparison

The news that the Food and Drug Administration, in response to CSPI’s 2008 petition will convene an advisory committee meeting to discuss the link between food dyes and children’s behavior is welcome and overdue. Yellow 5, Red 40, and other commonly used food dyes have long been shown in numerous clinical studies to impair children’s behavior. But for years, FDA—which actually commissioned one of the first controlled studies—dismissed the mounting evidence against the dyes.  Fast forward ahead to 2011 and the FDA finally held their hearing.  In a close vote of 4 to 3, warning labels were shot down but there is agreement that more research needs to be done.

I love visuals.  This is one of the first visuals I saw when I started to research artificial colors like Red 40 and how they can effect you. 
You see two packages for Kellogg’s Nutri-Grain cereal bars. One is made here for us. The other is made in the UK for Europeans. Both use food coloring.  In the UK, the coloring is achieved using beet root. But in the US, the coloring is Red No. 40, a dye that has been associated with hyperactivity, and some types of cancer.
Why not use the beet root? The answer is that Kellogg’s probably saves half a penny on each bar using an artificial dye rather than using a natural one.
So why does Kellogg’s use the beets in Europe? Because in Europe the regulator has required WARNING LABELS on products with Red 40. Just like cigarettes. Kellogg’s did the bottom line calculation and decided the loss in sales would cause much more damage than the savings on the food dye.

C'mon US.  Why are we so behind on this issue?

Here is the U.S. ingredient list:

Filling (High Fructose Corn Syrup, Corn Syrup, Strawberry Puree Concentrate, Glycerin, Sugar, Water, Sodium Alginate, Modified Corn Starch, Citric Acid, Natural and Artificial Flavor, Sodium Citrate, Dicalcium Phosphate, Methylcellulose, Caramel Color, Malic Acid, Red No. 40), Whole Grain Rolled Oats, Enriched Flour (Wheat Flour, Niacin, Reduced Iron, Thiamin Mononitrate [Vitamin B1], Riboflavin [Vitamin B2], Folic Acid), Whole Wheat Flour, Sunflower and/or Soybean Oil with TBHQ for Freshness, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Sugar, Contains Two Percent or Less of Honey, Dextrose, Calcium Carbonate, Soluble Corn Fiber, Nonfat Dry Milk, Wheat Bran, Salt, Cellulose, Potassium Bicarbonate (Leavening), Natural and Artificial Flavor, Mono- and Diglycerides, Propylene Glycol Esters of Fatty Acids, Soy Lecithin, Wheat Gluten, Niacinamide, Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate, Vitamin A Palmitate, Carrageenan, Zinc Oxide, Reduced Iron, Guar Gum, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B6), Thiamin Hydrochloride (Vitamin B1), Riboflavin (Vitamin B2), Folic Acid.

Salicylates and Phenols / Feingold Diet

Feingold Diet / Phenols
The Feingold Diet removes phenols and salicylates. Artificial ingredients such as artificial coloring, artificial flavoring, aspartame (Nutrasweet), and artificial preservatives such as BHA, BHT, TBHQ are made from a petroleum base and are strong phenols. Salicylates are naturally occurring phenols in plants – particularly in many fruits such as apples and grapes.

For some children, their bodies have difficulty processing phenols. Build up of phenols in the system can affect behavior and the body's physical condition. This was first discovered by Dr. Ben Feingold, when he noticed that these phenols created hyperactivity in some children. Phenols can have negative effect on the brain when our chemistry can't processes these phenols and they build up in the body. Although phenols and salicylates do occur naturally in healthy foods, children who are sensitive to these chemicals can have significant reactions.

Many children with autism, ADHD and other neurological and immune system disorders commonly have faulty sulfation systems and cannot process phenols and salicylates well.  Common physical signs of phenol sensitivity in children include dark circles under eyes, red cheeks/ears, ear infections, asthma, sinus problems, diarrhea, hyperactivity, impulsivity, aggression, headache, head banging/self-injury, impatience, short attention span, difficulty falling asleep, night walking for several hours, inappropriate laughter, hives, stomach aches, bed wetting and day wetting, dyslexia, sensitivity to noise/lights/touch, speech difficulties, tics and some forms of seizures.

When implementing the Feingold Diet, people avoid phenols and salicylates that are not tolerated – typically determined through food trial/testing. These substances and foods may include: FD & C colors, artificial flavors, preservatives, vanillin, aspirin, almonds, peanuts, oranges, apples, apricots, all berries, cherries, chili powder, cider and cider vinegar, cocoa, cloves, coffee, cucumbers, pickles, currants, red grapes, raisins, plums, prunes tangerines, tea, tomatoes, wine and wine vinegar and oil of wintergreen.

Feingold Association of the United States reports that 70 out of 100 people using this diet can expect good results, although their studies used only approximations of the diet. Member of their surveys have indicated that the diet success rate is just above 90%. A qualified nutritionist can help a parent implement this diet and suggest supplements and substances that add sulfate to aid sulfation and enzymes to help break down remaining phenols.  Some children may need to keep phenols very low, while others may only need to reduce phenols by avoiding the high phenol foods such as apples and grapes.

We avoid strawberries but will re-introduce them this summer with berries from our strawberry patch.  We eat plenty of other fruits including pineapple, mango, bananas, watermelon, kiwi, and golden delicious apples and they are all well tolerated.I just read this from http://www.nourishinghope.com/. We deal with many of the issues listed but I wasn't aware of speech problems.   Now that I think about it, it all makes sense.

ADHD? Say Yes to Vanilla, No to Vanillin

This is the first of a series of posts about additives and potential effects. If you are dealing with ADD / ADHD, have a child with or know someone with adhd, you may be interested to know consuming artificial vanilla could have a nasty effect.

In the early 1970s, Dr. Benjamin Feingold, then chief emeritus of the Department of Allergy at the Kaiser Foundation Hospital and Permanente Medical Group in San Francisco, reported a link between diet and several physical and allergic conditions. Thirty to 50 percent of Feingold's hyperactive patients said they benefited from diets free of artificial colorings and flavorings, and certain natural chemicals called salicylates which are found in apples, berries, tomatoes, and other foods.
The Feingold Diet is based on the premise that allergic reactions or sensitivities to certain types of foods cause or contribute to ADD/ADHD symptoms, such as problems with:

• Behavior (marked hyperactivity, impulsive and compulsive actions, emotional concerns)
• Learning (short attention span, neuro-muscular difficulties, cognitive and perceptual disturbances)
• Health (physical complaints and/or sleep problems)

Artificial flavorings are made up of hundreds of combinations of chemicals, both natural and synthetic. A popular flavoring agent is "vanillin", also listed as "vanilla flavoring".

Most chocolate chips contain it. Most store bought chocolate cake contain it, (many contain Red 40 too!).  Candy bars contain it and lots of other sweet foods have it too.  The chocolate and ice cream industry together make up 75% of the market for Vanillin flavoring.  Vanillin is also used in the fragrance industry to add hints of vanilla to perfumes, the wine business to smooth the flavor of wines,  the pharmaceutical industry to neutralize foul tasting medications, and in the process of chromatography where it is used as an all purpose stain.

VANILLIN

Why is it used so often, simple...it's cheap!
Today, a small amount of synthetic vanillin is made from with lignin wastes, a by-product of the paper/wood pulp industries. However, most of the synthetic vanillin is made from guaiacol, which is a petrochemical precursor.

Petrochemicals are important...for my car, for my plastic lawn chairs, maybe even for something I wear, but I do not want to be ingesting petrochemicals.  I prefer the real thing, pure vanilla to add flavor.

Read the ingredient label.  If you see Vanillin, put it back.  Look for pure vanilla.

This year I'm making several batches for holiday gifts!

Vanilla beans - 9 You can use less or more.
1.75 liter of Vodka or try Rum 
You can make the vanilla right in the liqueur bottle.  Keep it in a cool dark place but handy because everything settles at the bottom and you will want to give it a shake every few days.  The vanilla will soon take on a darker color.
If you want to make small separate batches, use 1 cup liqueur to 3 vanilla beans.  Make sure your jar is clean and has a tight fitting cap.

Using a sharp knife, slice the beans open lengthwise to expose the seeds. Put the beans in the bottle. The mixture will get darker and darker over time.
You can start using your extract by the end of the eighth week. After you have used say 20% of the extract -- top it off with more liquor (preferably of the same type) and shake again.  A tip--drop the beans in with the stem (hooked end) up. That way, if you need vanilla seeds in a recipe, you can use a little piece of wire with a hook on the end, to 'catch' one of the beans to remove it from the vodka.

Get yourself some dark or amber colored bottles and make some cute labels.  Pour your homemade vanilla into the bottles, cap, slap a label on and you have the perfect gift!  You can also leave some of the vanilla bean in the bottle and all your recipient needs to do is top off to keep the gift going indefinitely!

Easy Dye Free Easter Treat Recipes

Easter is tomorrow and my kids are anticipating dyeing Easter eggs later today, going on an Easter egg hunt to find eggs and special Easter baskets on Sunday.  Later feasting on Easter dinner and the special treats made that are safe for my kids to eat.  These are things that are made without unnecessary added artificial food dyes.  Nothing is worse than a nice celebration to turn into one that is full of aggression, impulsiveness, uncharacteristic behaviors, rage, and all of it followed by low self esteem with a really negative crash.  Hyped up kids is one thing but watching your child dissolve into this picture is completely another.  Thank goodness we realized what was hurting our kids a couple years ago and can now control it by watching what we eat and avoiding petroleum laced fake food.  It has changed our lives. 
I want to share a few easy recipes that we will be enjoying Easter Sunday. 

Easy
Organic Carrot Cake Recipe from Healthy Cake Recipes

1 1/2 cups organic sugar

1 cup vegetable oil

3 eggs (or egg replacer)

2 cups organic flour

1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon vanilla

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

3 cups organic shredded carrots (about 5 carrots)

1 cup chopped organic walnuts

Mix the sugar and oil. Add the eggs and beat for about a minute. Add everything except the carrots and walnuts and continue mixing. Last, add the veggies and nuts. Bake in a greased baking pan at the temperature of 350 F for about 50 minutes.

You can ice this cake if you wish, but it stands alone well or with a glass of cold or slightly warmed milk. (You can even get organic milk!)

Easier
Candy Nests reposted from Mother Nature Network

1 9-ounce bag of organic chocolate chips, Sunspire Fair Trade Organic and Trader Joes also has their own brand.

1 cup (or more or less, depending on your love of coconut) organic coconut

Organic jelly beans, check your local health food stores, Whole Foods or Trader Joes 

Directions:

1. Melt the chocolate chips in a double boiler on the stove (or put them in a heatproof measuring cup, and set that in a saucepan filled with some water). Or you can microwave them for a minute or two.

2. Add the coconut to taste, and stir together with the chocolate.

3. Take a cookie sheet and cover it with parchment paper. Using a spoon, put a dollop of chocolate-coconut mixture on the parchment.

4. Add three jelly beans in the middle and press them down … like eggs in a nest.

Put in the fridge until they are “set.

Easiest

Seedless Frozen Grapes

Take the grapes off their vines, rinse, place in a bowl and place in the freezer for a few hours.  They will last and last and you can take a few out to snack on anytime.  SO yummy!

What is your easiest natural dye free treat recipe?

Food dye and hyperactivity

Chicago Tribune health reporter Julie Deardorff and panelists Michael Jacobson and Dr. Keith-Thomas Ayoob had an hour long live chat today on food dyes and hyperactivity.  I wish I could have joined in but the transcript is available.  Click Food dye and hyperactivity to read what they talked about.



.

Please Help Get Food Dyes Out of School Food Programs

This is a message from
Dr. Michael Jacobson of the Center for
Science in the Public Interest:

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has proposed common-sense standards to improve school lunches and breakfasts: more fruits, vegetables, and whole grains; fat-free and low-fat milk; less salt; fewer unhealthy saturated and trans fats; and moderate calories.

BUT, USDA did nothing to get rid of food dyes, which the Food and Drug Administration acknowledges cause hyperactivity in some children. I hope that you, as a parent concerned about the effect of dyes on children, will send a comment to USDA! Tell USDA that dyes have no place in school breakfasts and lunches.

The deadline for comments is Wednesday, April 13th.

To submit a comment, GO HERE. Copy and edit the sample comment included below, if you wish. Or submit your own comment or your own story. (The form gives you only 20 minutes, so you may want to prepare it first, and then paste it in the form.) Whatever you do, please submit a comment. This is our golden opportunity to get dyes out of school foods in the U.S.


Sample comment to use or edit

We need your help to
get food dyes out of schools!

I thank USDA for its efforts to improve the nutrition quality of school lunches and breakfasts. However, USDA's proposal says nothing about food dyes. As a parent of a child whose behavior is impaired by dyes, I strongly urge USDA to bar the inclusion of any foods containing synthetic dyes (Red 40, Yellow 5, and others) in the School Breakfast Program and National School Lunch Program. These neurotoxic chemicals have no place in school cafeterias.

The evidence for an adverse effect of dyes on the behavior of some children is widely recognized. In fact, the British government, on the basis of two major studies that it commissioned, has urged (largely successfully) food manufacturers to switch to safer natural colorings. Subsequently, the European Union required that most dyed foods bear a label warning. And recently the FDA acknowledged at its March 30-31, 2011, advisory committee meeting that dyes (and other food constituents) impair the behavior of some children.

Because dyes harm some children, because dyes serve no health function whatsoever, because synthetic dyes can be replaced by safe natural colorings, and because school meals are consumed exclusively by children, the only responsible action is to bar the inclusion of dyes in school meals.

Respectfully,

[Your Name]
[Your Address]
[City, State ZIP]

ABC News Piece on Food Dye and Hyperactivity

CSPI and FAUS have been involved in preparing for the FDA Hearings on Food Dyes later this week.  This is an article and video(s) ABC did.

http://abcnews.go.com/Health/food-dyes-hyperactivity/story?id=13221478