Halloween is around the corner, and when I think about all the candy across the US, it makes me feel anxious, mad and sad at the same time. The candies available in stores are full of harmful artificial food dyes and coloring (banned in Europe!). I see moms buying huge bags of contaminated candy at their favorite supermarkets. I wish they knew what's in it.
I try to talk to my kids about the dangers of these ingredients (a lot) and how they can affect our bodies. My older daughter is 11 and knows more about nutrition than many adults, which makes me really proud. She understands that we’ll sort through the candy after trick-or-treating. My younger daughter, who’s 9, still struggles a bit, but she’s slowly starting to get it.
There are also great apps that let you scan barcodes or type in names of personal care products and foods together with your children to make informed decisions (for example Yuka, Think Dirty, EWG's Healthy Living App), which can help kids understand visually that Mom isn’t just talking nonsense. Instead, involving them is an important process and it will encourage them to make healthy choices for themselves. And because I don’t want to be a total "granola mom" or buzzkill; we’ve agreed at home that they can trade their candy with me for "less bad" options, which is still giving them some control while encouraging better choices.
But why are Artificial Food Dyes and Colors So Harmful:
Artificial food dyes, commonly found in candies, have been linked to various health issues, including hyperactivity in children, cancer, allergic reactions, and other potential long-term health risks. For example:
Yellow 5 can trigger allergic reactions
Red 3 thyroid cancer
Red 40 may increase hyperactivity
Blue 1 has shown associations with tumors in animal studies
Blue 6 can cause allergic reactions, potentially contribute to hyperactivity in children
All artificial flavors can shape kids' taste preferences, potentially lead to hyperactivity and behavioral issues, cause allergic reactions in some cases, contribute to poorer diet quality due to their presence in processed foods, and may affect overall health negatively.
This 2024 Halloween, I encourage and challenge YOU MOMS (and dads) to consider swapping candy for healthier alternatives, even if it feels inconvenient at first. Change can be daunting, especially when we’ve always done things a certain way, but it’s crucial for our kids’ long-term health. By making these conscious choices, we can help them avoid future health problems and stand up against the overwhelming influence of the American food and candy industry. Let’s prioritize their well-being and create a healthier Halloween experience together!
I don’t mind if our kiddos have some refined sugar or even natural flavors on Halloween. (We normally avoid these as much as we can) But we also have to be realistic and focus on the most harmful ingredients. So lets see what would make good swaps, I picked a few for you.
What alternatives you could buy this year:
Black Forest Organic Gummy Bears (replacing regular gummy bears)
Yum Earth Organic Pops (replacing Dum Dums)
Yum Earth Organic Giggles Chewy Candy (replacing the most toxic candy: Skittles)
Unreal Peanut Chocolate Bars (the less bad Snickers)
Lesser Evil Organic Popcorn (air-popped, reducing the need of unhealthy oils)
Smart Sweets Variety Pack (less bad sour worms, tropical candy and peach rings)
Yum Earth Organic Chewy Fruit (= Starburst, our kids think they’re actually better)
Lake Champlain Organic Chocolate Quinoa Halloween Squares (most chocolates do not have any food dyes but many artificial flavors! Always read the labels)
Justin's organic peanut butter cups (no TBHQ - a synthetic antioxidant to preserve processes foods - like used in Reese's!)
This Halloween, give your kids treats that won't haunt their health, because a little swap can make a BIG difference!
Please always read the ingredient lists carefully and if you find any artificial food dyes or flavors, please DON'T BUY it.
If you found this helpful, I'd love it if you could share this post with your frinds and/or family!
xo
Mandy
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