Educate Bergen and Myself. Please.
I’ve mentioned it casually on my Facebook page, but I’ve decided that now it’s time to bring it to the blog.
My boy Bergen is concerned about our health.
He’s a label reader.
Well – he’s just a reader reader.
He can’t help himself apparently.
And he is a Question Asker.
I’m glad he’s both.
I’m glad he reads.
And I’m glad he questions.
Lately his questions are thus ….. What’s soy lecithin? Why does this cereal have BHT? Should we be eating high fructose corn syrup?
I’ve explained when I’ve known the answer.
And I’ve googled letters and abbreviations and symbols. I’ve allowed him to read news articles discussing the pros and the cons of these items.
At the end of his readings so far, he has been on a spree.
Reading every minute label on every food product in our home.
His favorite food? Peanut butter and jelly?
Well, yesterday he refrained from eating his sandwich when he discovered our bread had soy lecithin in it. (Good grief – by the way – does anyone have a store-purchased bread without soy lecithin?)
At breakfast he gave up his former favorite cereal for a bowl of pumpkin flax seed granola.
I’m not making this up and I’m not putting this seven-year-old up to this.
I promise.
He’s just a concerned kid.
And here’s the thing.
I do not want to to be the voice that says, “No, son. It’s okay. It doesn’t matter if we eat a little soy lecithin.”
I mean, I do firmly believe in the philosophy of moderation. I do. All things in moderation.
But I want to be the kind of mother who allows her child to think about a subject. To learn about both sides of a debate. To get informed.
And then I want to be the kind of mother that empowers the kid to choose well. To be wise. To say, “I believe this” and then to follow through.
I don’t want to say, “No, Berg – it doesn’t matter what you put in your body. It’s not important. Now – eat those Frosted Flakes and pass me that chocolate syrup boy.”
I want to say, “You learned about this? We talked about this. And this is where you fall on the argument? Good for you. I’ll toss that Pam then.”
I know there’s so much good information out there.
And so much conflicting information out there too.
I know about the biggies I think.
We’ve long been about buying local meats and produces. We love our raw milk man. I avoid high processed, prepackaged, unnaturally colored foods most of the time.
But I know we still have a lot to learn.
And a lot to wade through.
I want to bring my sweet Hawkeye along on this journey with me though.
I want him to grow up aware and educated.
I want that for all of my ones, of course.
But for some reason, right now, Bergen really cares. He’s really hungry for the knowledge.
And if that’s not the best time for learning, then I’m pretty sure my entire educational theory is garbage.
So here’s what I’m asking from you guys.
My educated, thoughtful, passionate readers.
In what food area are you an expert?
What’s your passion to avoid?
Share with me the one product (or eight) that you have removed from your shelves permanently.
Tell me what ingredient you refuse to let enter your home.
What alternative have you created to fill the gap?
And – please – tell me why.
My boy wants to know. He likes answers.
And maybe he’s becoming obsessed a little. London told me this morning, “Mom – during the night I heard Bergen talking in his sleep.”
“What was he saying?” I asked.
“No high fructose corn syrup.”
4 Comments
@treadingwater
For us, number one avoided food is anything containing artificial colors. Number two is sodium benzoate. I am a stickler about these things. I've read all kinds of scientific reasons to avoid them, but the truth is that we see a big change in our kids behavior when they consume them. A big NEGATIVE change primarily characterized by a lack of self control and an excess of nervous energy. So that's the only reason I need. The other things that I avoid if at all possible are: other artificial preservatives, high fructose corn syrup, and, well, anything not found in nature. But don't be shocked if you come in the house and find something breaking these rules. You won't find any food coloring, but Drew insists on a certain kind of soda and granola bars that I wouldn't allow for the kids. So we talk a lot about moderation, too. And making wise choices without allowing ourselves to become obsessed with those choices (or judgmental of other's choices). I tell the kids that the truth is that God is sovereign, and just as He can protect us from car wrecks and house fires, He can protect us from food additives. :o)
Rhonda F.
HFCS is a no-no here, and I have learned tricky things about it. For instance, Emeril's pasta sauce didn't have HFCS for years, and then it did, and then it didn't again. You have to check the labels every time you go. I now make my own tomato based pasta sauces (but not from canned tomatoes – see next paragraph) and barbeque sauces for the same reason.
Instead of typing my other foods, which are all listed here, I'll let you read it. We eat none of them, including canned foods that are highly acidic (tomatoes, beans, soda). Can your own in glass or dry the beans.
http://shine.yahoo.com/healthy-living/the-7-foods…
Rachel
I try to avoid HFCS. However, I am an "all things in moderation" girl, so we still have the occasional dunkin donut! I was surprised to see how many things contain HFCS. I prefer to buy things made with real sugar (because it comes from the cane, and thus, the ground, with minimal processing). So I buy real pure maple syrup, make my own spice mixtures (taco, ranch), buy full fat sour cream and yogurt, use simply Heinz (I am a ketchup snob), buy non-HFCS bread and make 95% of the baked goods we consume. My goal is to bake all of our bread, but I am not there yet.
We also avoid, as much as possible, added food dyes. Again, I am a moderation girl, so we consume some, but not a ton (but is even a little ok? I am trying to change my family's eating habits, and you can't make grand sweeping changes overnight and expect success, right?)
I spent a great deal of time two years ago conversing with a local organic farm couple. I now buy all of our eggs, chickens and beef from them. It's all local and grass fed. When I buy a pound and cook it, I still have a pound, because there are no added fillers. No fear of e-coli or salmonella or a recall. A local butcher processes their animals, one that I could visit. Chicken prices are equivalent to trader joes, but their beef and eggs are actually cheaper than Kroger! And I feel good knowing I am not feeding my family all sorts of antibiotics or synthetic hormones.
I also use pure olive oil spray instead of Pam 🙂
I would encourage Bergen to talk to farmers about how food is grown and how it really should go from farm to table. Encourage him to bake bread and come up with experiments that show how preservatives work. Study what Scripture has to say about what we eat and how we treat our bodies. Also encourage him that it may seem to be a HUGE problem, but making little changes consistently helps. Maybe he could interview a doctor about these things!
This is great, and I look forward to reading other answers. And as I debone my local organic chicken tonight (that is currently cooking away in the crockpot for dinner and then stock making) I will pray for wisdom for you in this!
Sarah W.
I avoid McDonald's at all costs. After watching the movie, SuperSize Me, I was convicted to not allow that food enter my body. I would rather starve, well maybe not, but I would try really hard to eat something else if that was my only choice. There are so many preservatives used in that food, that if left out over YEARS it is somehow still good or possible edible. Imagine what that's doing to your body. It grosses me out. So, we don't eat there. I may purchase a drink from said restaurant, but never eat there.