joseys - are you here?

peekaboo716

Hi! I wanted to ask you about something you mentioned in a post a while back... Something about artificial sweetners or something? I think you are trying to avoid them. What sort of difference have you noticed in Rory with limiting these things?

joseysbride

Yes, I did mention that awhile back. I don't even know for sure how long I've been watching it.  I think since June.  I had read an article in a local mommy magazine about artificial flavorings and how they are hidden in so many things that we'd never imagine.  It had some tips on what to look for, and the two major things that were noted was the artificial vanilla flavoring vanillin and anything with carmel coloring.

The example she used in the article was that she thought she was doing the right thing by making homemade cookies for her son rather than store bought, yet the chocolate chips she used had vanillin in them, and she had no idea.

Anyway...since reading that article, I've made an effort to not buy anything that contained artificial colors and flavors.  I have always tried to avoid artificial colors, but the flavors are the thing I was really not aware of.  It is actually pretty simple once you know what you're looking for, and it's not like I'm buying all sorts of expensive organic foods either.  It's just a matter of checking the ingredients and picking the yogurt that uses pure vanilla over vanillin.  Things like that.

So, to answer your question.  After about a week after I started doing this, I noticed a huge difference in her behavior.  It's not like she was horribly behaved before, but for a few months, it seemed like every day she would have the most irrational freak outs over nothing and there was no way to get through to her.  It was to the point where we started taking things away, like major things we'd been planning for and everything, and it didn't help at all.  I really can't even remember a melt down like that at least in the last month, though.

I don't know...maybe it was coincidence, but I have seen a huge improvement, and I think that if it is a healthier way to live, than I'll stick with it!   HTH!

peekaboo716

Thank you! DH and I are always trying to give our kids the best diet possible. We already worry about organic (like dairy and the "dirty dozen"), better options for meat, and such, and your comment a while back got me thinking.

I am going to start looking into this too and see if it makes a difference in DS's behaviour. After a couple outbursts last night (one when I told him he needed stop and use his words, and he shouted back "NEVER!" ), I am willing to try this, too, to see if it can help.

Thanks for providing the info. I really appreciate it.

joseysbride

If I think of it, I will look for the article and scan it for you! That is, if Cohen hasn't eaten it. He likes magazines! Wonder what kind of nutrients is in paper? 

peekaboo716

joseysbride:

If I think of it, I will look for the article and scan it for you! That is, if Cohen hasn't eaten it. He likes magazines! Wonder what kind of nutrients is in paper? 

Fiber!