Colors for lunch means rough afternoons

I am not a doctor.  Nor am I a counselor (though perhaps I should become one).  I am a fairly well educated mom of one child who presents me with a host of challenges and obstacles.  What I'm about to tell you is strictly my observations from our family ~ and a few articles that you can decide upon yourself.  

I have read a multitude of books about ADHD and plenty of articles about the impact of processed foods.  In my child there is a direct and dynamic relationship to what he consumes and how he behaves.  His behavior intensifies and worsens ~ we start to see even more problems including increased hyperactivity, irritability, poor concentration, restlessness and more sleep disturbances.  

Today his squirmy impulsive behavior got him on orange (which is worse than yellow but not quite red).  It comes in a week when we have already been to the principal for a separate impulsive issue that was quite serious.  It was reported to me by his teacher that he had a rough afternoon of bad choices, touching, impulsive crashing and the like.  It was puzzling.  So I contemplated it for a bit and tried to think of what we had done differently that may cause this behavior.  

Then it struck me... And I asked one clarifying question... Did the behaviors intensify AFTER lunch?  And indeed they did.  In a moment of weakness I had purchased a bag of Troll Strawberry Puffs and a container of S'More Little Dippers with Halloween frosting.  Yes... after several weeks of really great food choices I supplied him with Red, Yellow, Blue and a host of processed ingredients. He had the dippers for lunch (along with his normal healthy food).  

There are thousands of articles on the correlation between behavior and food.  I will put several well written ones here: 

Are Fruit Loops Evil?

Are Artificial Colors Bad for You?

Food Dyes and ADHD

There are many many more... all it takes is a google search. 

Basically, the FDA deems artificial colors safe for human consumption and yet our European friends find them to be unsafe and outlaw them.  The American public prefers foods that "look" a certain way ~ that is why we use the colors.  Tragically, the impact is noticed on a child like mine.  And perhaps on countless others.  There is speculation that the colors we consume actually cause hyperactivity and that children are being misdiagnosed.  That is not our case... but it is a solid speculation to ponder.  Maybe the reason Europe has far fewer diagnosis of ADHD is the foods they consume?! 

Today we are back to the very limited artificial colors and processed foods.  We believe in allowing him to try things within reason and it is extremely hard to prohibit all intake when we can not control the treats given by others at school.  We can monitor and control what we give him and we go back to what works really well.  

Pure food ~ as close to the way it is intended to be.  Costs more, harder to find, have to go out of my way to find it... all horrible excuses when it comes to the benefits for my child.  Whole Foods does not allow artificial colors in foods they carry.  Otherwise we read the labels.    

Tomorrow is a new day... one we get to start fresh at.  And my child will get that fresh start!