My ds is 3 years old, and can be quite the handful like most kids. And to make matters worse, hyperactivity runs strong on both sides of the famly. I've read on the net that some kids are "oversensitive" to food dyes and it can contribute to behavior problems. So I did an experiment, and avoided all food dyes, especially yellow no. 5. Within a week, I had a normal child. It was also within weeks of his third birthday, so hey I thought, maybe just coincedence? But once he was back on normal food, I was pulling my hair out within 2 days. So now, my dye free son is doing quite well.

Question is - Has anyone else experienced this? And are there any tips on saving money at the grocery store? All natural products are sooo much more expensive. I live in a one cow town with no health food stores. We had to get rid of all of his favorites....shampoo, bubble bath, toothpaste. Not to mention chips, crackers, drinks, vitamins, pain relivers, etc.

Thanks for the ear...

I think this is the 1st time i've ever opened this forum.

but, have you read anything by dr. feingold? i just started reading a book of his. talks about the food dye's and etc.

i have a feeling my 3 yr old has sensitivities to this too. she's always been very active. i dont know where to begin though in cutting that stuff out. it seems like its in everything.

may i ask what your son can eat? what shampoo and toothpaste do you use?

i also live in a very small town, and there isnt much natural stuff around here either.

I've removed artificial colors completely from his diet. Feingold also removes artificial flavors - which I haven't done yet. His behavior has drastically improved, avoiding dyes, but the artificail flavors are going to be much, much harder....they're in a lot more foods.

I use Burt's Bee's soap and shampoo, toothpaste is oral b toddler (bear on the front). Cheetos white chedder chips taste like the regular ones with no dyes, yogurt with fruit on the bottom, Mac & cheese that comes in the creamy packet - not the dry mix!! I also make it from scratch a lot. He has vitamins from a health food store, and candy made from natural sources only. Any medicine that he takes is dye free.

The hardest part is when we're away from the house. He's still too yound to understand why he can't have a red popsicle at a friends. This is just the beginning on a list, email me if you'd like more info...
Blessings~

I did not notice where you are but I get most of our food from a natural buying club/co-op. We had to go dairy free and gluten free for my 3 y/o. I can't shop in a grocery for the most part. One or the other of those is in nearly everything. Also, my oldest reacts to yellow dye. But, check around. Even if you have to drive an hour or more (I do), it is worth it to find a co-op. If you are in the south, check out www.ozark.coop and www.somethingbetternaturalfoods.com. There is another also.

wow! i just put my dd 3yrs on that same diet. she was really out of control and i changed the diet. no artificail color/ flavors. she is still a handful but i've notice alittle change here and there. and so have other people. i ordered the kit on feingold.com it cost $65 but it gives you everything you need. thereis a food list that they keep updated 10 times a years. we really have had to change what we eat just what brand we eat.

and i figure you save so much making your own bread and cakes and Soft pretzels that it rounds out the expensive stuff. we've been using tom's maine nonfood products. toothpast ect.

but she still always has to be redirected. and she instist on being naked all the time lol.

if you go to the feingold website they have alot of recipes even one for gummi like candies.

candy made from natural sources only

where do you get this from?

Thanks!

This has been a Big issue lately, I went about 12 years before We realized I was allergic to Red Dye. For many years people looked at me like I was crazy. I couldn't eat or drink anything with red dye. I got asked Can you wear lipstick? eat strawberries?even wear red??
This got soo frustrating!!!!! After I had my son and had to put him into daycare I had a slight relief one of the little girls there had the same problem as me. As they are putting all of this artificial %^&%$# in our foods they are slowley making the up and comming generations sick. It's not only red as you know but it is a prominent one.
I was unaware of the link to hyperactivity, but when it comes to this it definatley doesn't suprise me!!!!
Good Luck
Jodi