Post by christidee on Nov 30, 2013 10:55:52 GMT -5
I am seriously considering going artificial sugar and dye free. Once I get pregnant, i drop the artificial sweetener anyways, but I am thinking about making a life long change.
Stop artificial for Dec (because holiday goodies have dye) then in January add dye free to it! You don't want to feel deprived during the holidays I am not good with eliminations but I avoid artificial sugars. I would love to cut HFCS.
I'm with @tambcat. I feel (for me, personally) that eating what I want in moderation is the best route. I struggled with an ED for many years and restrictive eating places too much importance on food.
That said, I did go gluten free for my son and noticed an improvement for me as well. I think if you feel better off artificial sugars and dyes you won't want to return to them. I miss some things (donuts...fresh bread...) but the ensuing stomachache ensures I don't cheat. I accidentally consumed gluten the second week of my diet change and was miserable.
I think if it's something that makes you feel better and you want that change, you'll have no problem sticking to it
I consume very little artificial sugar and dyes and I try to avoid giving to Matilda. I'd rather she has sugar. I don't find it difficult.
That said if we are at a party and there is cake that clearly has dye I will still let her have it. And every few weeks I want a diet coke and I have one.
My husband gave up artificial sweetener but he was drinking soda daily and having 3 Splenda in his coffee so it was a big change for him.
I tend to try really hard to stray away from dyes although not so much sweeteners (my downfall - diet coke mmmm!). I eat things with food dyes, like m&m's, occasionally but I make it a habit to buy dye free fruit snacks and things that would be apart of me and my family's daily diet. I think instead of cutting it out completely, like never eating those delicious m&m's or slice of cake that just eliminating the daily consumption is important. I was really shocked to find out just how much had dyes.
Post by christidee on Nov 30, 2013 12:11:01 GMT -5
Diet coke will be the biggest thing to give up. I love it, and I think I have an addiction. It is surprising to see just how much stuff has dye in it. I'm really glad that Kraft changed their ingredients for some of their Mac and cheeses. I love kraft.
I already do most of our shopping at Sprouts, so I think finding alternatives will be pretty easy.
I like the idea of limiting. I guess that would be easier.
I tend to try really hard to stray away from dyes although not so much sweeteners (my downfall - diet coke mmmm!). I eat things with food dyes, like m&m's, occasionally but I make it a habit to buy dye free fruit snacks and things that would be apart of me and my family's daily diet. I think instead of cutting it out completely, like never eating those delicious m&m's or slice of cake that just eliminating the daily consumption is important. I was really shocked to find out just how much had dyes.
This is what we do pretty much. We cut out artificial sweeteners(it was hard to give up diet coke, even 3+ months later I crave them!) and dyes in our daily diet and grocery trips. Our one acceptation is Peyton's damn pediasure. She will only drink the strawberry one, and of course it is full of red 40. Ugh.
We also still indulge in colored candies , baked goods, drinks, and stuff on occasion so we don't feel deprived.
I had a student with pretty severe behavioral problems. His mom cut out all artificial crap and that child was an angel. She slowly reintroduced things (I think she might have cut out gluten too) and I could tell a change in behavior, for the worse, when certain things were reintroduced. I am a firm believer in moderation but I do believe that artificial ingredients cannot be good on the body especially when consumed daily.
I say do it but allow yourself to eat out/eat at orher's.
Figuring out what you can eat is the hardest part of restricting your diet IMO.
I do this with a lot of things, and it makes it much easier. You probably eat at home most of the time, so if you're strict at home but flexible out in the world, you'll be able to make a big change while still having the occasional treat and being able to participate in stuff that involves those things. I think it's a great idea!
Diet coke will be the biggest thing to give up. I love it, and I think I have an addiction. It is surprising to see just how much stuff has dye in it. I'm really glad that Kraft changed their ingredients for some of their Mac and cheeses. I love kraft.
I already do most of our shopping at Sprouts, so I think finding alternatives will be pretty easy.
I like the idea of limiting. I guess that would be easier.
I weaned myself off diet coke with zevia soda which is made from stevia I went from drinking 1-3 cups a day to 1 zevia week, I could never do it cold turkey.
I would love to do both those haha. I don't eat much artificial sugar, I believe real sugar is the way to go. Dyes would be the hardest, because they put it in so many things that don't need it!
I agree with do it at home but be more lax when eating elsewhere.