30 Simple Changes Anyone Can Make
I wanted to give some examples that anyone, regardless of if they choose to do the Feingold Diet or not can make. I’ve listed some brand names below. Ingredients can change
at any time, so please be mindful of that. If you’re a Feingold member,
please refer to your current shopping guide. This post is for those of you who are not yet ready to start Feingold for whatever reason, but would like to make better choices in food by avoiding dyes, artificial flavors, and preservatives as much as possible.
at any time, so please be mindful of that. If you’re a Feingold member,
please refer to your current shopping guide. This post is for those of you who are not yet ready to start Feingold for whatever reason, but would like to make better choices in food by avoiding dyes, artificial flavors, and preservatives as much as possible.
Important Note: Some of the products listed are not approved but we use them without a problem. I’m not endorsing the examples below (some are obviously not
healthy), but it’s better than the dye and chemical laden alternatives that many people are consuming every day.
Some of these suggestions would be stage two and a few contain corn syrup. These are just some examples of a few things the average person can do to try to stay away from harmful additives. This is not the same as doing Feingold. To do the Feingold Diet, you have to pay for a membership and shop solely off their shopping guide, and you would start off in stage one (avoiding many fruits). See their web site. www.feingold.org.
1. When eating out, instead of the
bright orange pop loaded with dyes, a better option would be Sprite, Sierra Mist, Coke, apple juice or water
instead. Stay away from pink lemonade or fruit punch. Those often have red
dyes.
bright orange pop loaded with dyes, a better option would be Sprite, Sierra Mist, Coke, apple juice or water
instead. Stay away from pink lemonade or fruit punch. Those often have red
dyes.
2. Avoid macaroni and cheese when
eating out. It often contains yellow dye, especially if they use Kraft. We often opt for a hamburger or steak
instead with a side of vegetables or a plain baked potato. Hamburger buns can contain preservatives but we are gluten free, so we order without the bun anyway. Some people bring their own buns. Most fries contain preservatives.
eating out. It often contains yellow dye, especially if they use Kraft. We often opt for a hamburger or steak
instead with a side of vegetables or a plain baked potato. Hamburger buns can contain preservatives but we are gluten free, so we order without the bun anyway. Some people bring their own buns. Most fries contain preservatives.
3. At McDonald’s, opt for a hamburger
or cheeseburger instead of chicken nuggets and skip the fries or do apples
instead (no caramel dip). (Wendy’s fries are approved.) We get the apple juice here too. For a treat, get the Cherry Berry Chiller.
or cheeseburger instead of chicken nuggets and skip the fries or do apples
instead (no caramel dip). (Wendy’s fries are approved.) We get the apple juice here too. For a treat, get the Cherry Berry Chiller.
4. Use Heinz or Hunts ketchup (We use
the ones with no corn syrup.)
5. Cook more and eat out less often. You
will avoid a whole host of bad things by doing so. Check out my recipe blog below for
ideas or my previous blog post, 30 Days of Feingold Dinners (Week 1).All Natural Recipes
will avoid a whole host of bad things by doing so. Check out my recipe blog below for
ideas or my previous blog post, 30 Days of Feingold Dinners (Week 1).All Natural Recipes
6. Make (and sometimes freeze) your kids’ desserts
instead of buying them (cupcakes, muffins, cookies, brownies, cake, etc.)
instead of buying them (cupcakes, muffins, cookies, brownies, cake, etc.)
7. Make homemade popsicles instead of
buying the artificially colored ones. Amazon has some really cool popsicle molds.See my previous post: How to Make Homemade Popsicles
buying the artificially colored ones. Amazon has some really cool popsicle molds.See my previous post: How to Make Homemade Popsicles
8. Replace gum with an all-natural
variety like Glee (some have corn syrup but can be found at Whole Foods or a health food store) or B-Fresh Bubble Gum or Solar Moon Melon
(we order online from www.iherb.com).
Use the code EPI399 (or search the Internet for a code) to get $5 off your
first order.
variety like Glee (some have corn syrup but can be found at Whole Foods or a health food store) or B-Fresh Bubble Gum or Solar Moon Melon
(we order online from www.iherb.com).
Use the code EPI399 (or search the Internet for a code) to get $5 off your
first order.
9. Bring snacks and drinks (optional)
whenever you leave the house. Kids often get hungry when you are out somewhere,
making it easy to want to stop and pick up something to eat or drink. Give them
a snack to tide them over until you can get home to eat. Sam’s Club sells
individual bags of Lay’s and Ruffles potato chips and Fritos that we sometimes
take in the car (Lay’s recently stopped filling out forms but was approved for
years). Gum is also a good thing to keep on hand in the car.
whenever you leave the house. Kids often get hungry when you are out somewhere,
making it easy to want to stop and pick up something to eat or drink. Give them
a snack to tide them over until you can get home to eat. Sam’s Club sells
individual bags of Lay’s and Ruffles potato chips and Fritos that we sometimes
take in the car (Lay’s recently stopped filling out forms but was approved for
years). Gum is also a good thing to keep on hand in the car.
10. Use plain Ivory soap bars instead of
brightly colored and scented soaps. For the kids, we used Desert Essence Fragrance Free body wash. I get it online from www.vitacost.com or www.swansonvitamins.com. If you have a jacuzzi tub, this will double as bubble bath soap (trust me). Many kids’ bath products contain dyes which will absorb into the skin when they bathe.
brightly colored and scented soaps. For the kids, we used Desert Essence Fragrance Free body wash. I get it online from www.vitacost.com or www.swansonvitamins.com. If you have a jacuzzi tub, this will double as bubble bath soap (trust me). Many kids’ bath products contain dyes which will absorb into the skin when they bathe.
11. Use a laundry detergent like Tide
Free or Seventh Generation instead of detergents with heavy perfumes and dyes. (I use 1/4 the recommended amount of detergent and then 1/4 cup of Borax because my daughter has very sensitive skin.)
Free or Seventh Generation instead of detergents with heavy perfumes and dyes. (I use 1/4 the recommended amount of detergent and then 1/4 cup of Borax because my daughter has very sensitive skin.)
12. Ditch the fabric softener (we did)
or use Bounce Unscented dryer sheets. Or some people add about 1/2 cup of vinegar to the rinse cycle instead of using dryer sheets.
or use Bounce Unscented dryer sheets. Or some people add about 1/2 cup of vinegar to the rinse cycle instead of using dryer sheets.
13. Shop at Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s, or a health food store if you have them. See my previous post, 30 Days of Grocery Shopping. Or stick to real, whole foods as much as possible (meats, fruits, veggies, etc.)
14. When at the shopping mall or airport, opt for
Auntie Anne’s soft pretzel and lemonade for a snack or Mrs. Field’s chocolate
chip cookies (but not the prepackaged ones).
Auntie Anne’s soft pretzel and lemonade for a snack or Mrs. Field’s chocolate
chip cookies (but not the prepackaged ones).
Auntie Anne’s is no longer shown in Feingold’s Fast Food Guide, but see here for details of my contact with them.
15. Read labels and avoid red, blue, and
yellow dyes, artificial flavors, and the preservatives BHA, BHT, and TBHQ when
listed (sometimes they are hidden or not listed which is why Feingold is so helpful). Sorry, those Doritos have got to go. 🙁
yellow dyes, artificial flavors, and the preservatives BHA, BHT, and TBHQ when
listed (sometimes they are hidden or not listed which is why Feingold is so helpful). Sorry, those Doritos have got to go. 🙁
16. Replace regular candy with more
natural options like Yummy Earth brand suckers or gummy worms, Surf Sweets gummies, SunDrop or Justin’s chocolates, Unreal candy, etc. You can find these online, at
Whole Foods, or your local health food store. The Unreal ® candy you can find
at Target. We have yet to try those.
natural options like Yummy Earth brand suckers or gummy worms, Surf Sweets gummies, SunDrop or Justin’s chocolates, Unreal candy, etc. You can find these online, at
Whole Foods, or your local health food store. The Unreal ® candy you can find
at Target. We have yet to try those.
17. Replace artificially colored
chewable vitamins with an all-natural variety found at Whole Foods, Trader
Joe’s or your local health food store. You can also order online. Sam’s Club and Costco also sell Lil’ Critter Gummy Vites.
chewable vitamins with an all-natural variety found at Whole Foods, Trader
Joe’s or your local health food store. You can also order online. Sam’s Club and Costco also sell Lil’ Critter Gummy Vites.
18. Get your cheese slices from the deli
instead (Land O’Lakes White American). It tastes the same, just without the
yellow dye. They’ll slice it for you there. Or use Horizon Organic cheese slices from Whole Foods. Cheese can often contain dyes or hidden preservatives. Natural cheeses will use annatto or other natural ingredient to color the cheese.
instead (Land O’Lakes White American). It tastes the same, just without the
yellow dye. They’ll slice it for you there. Or use Horizon Organic cheese slices from Whole Foods. Cheese can often contain dyes or hidden preservatives. Natural cheeses will use annatto or other natural ingredient to color the cheese.
19. Buy Hormel Natural (prepackaged) deli meats. They have turkey, ham, roast beef, etc.
20. Buy Annie’s macaroni and cheese
instead of Kraft. Costco sometimes sells them in a case.
instead of Kraft. Costco sometimes sells them in a case.
21. Use Ghiradelli chocolate chips for
baking, or Enjoy Life if you are dairy free.
baking, or Enjoy Life if you are dairy free.
22. Use Aunt Jemima Original pancake mix
(not the Complete where you just add water).
(not the Complete where you just add water).
23. Use Rudi’s breads (at Whole Foods) or King’s Hawaiian
rolls or sandwich bread (Wal-Mart, Meijer, etc.). Most other breads at least contain corn syrup and most
contain preservatives which may or may not be listed.
rolls or sandwich bread (Wal-Mart, Meijer, etc.). Most other breads at least contain corn syrup and most
contain preservatives which may or may not be listed.
24. Switch your kids’ colorful
toothpaste to Tom’s of Maine Silly Strawberry or other natural toothpaste.
toothpaste to Tom’s of Maine Silly Strawberry or other natural toothpaste.
25. When ordering a pizza, opt for Papa
John’s hand-tossed cheese pizza with a side of pizza sauce instead of the
garlic sauce. Papa John’s is no longer in the shopping guide but it was
approved for years. See this post for more details.
John’s hand-tossed cheese pizza with a side of pizza sauce instead of the
garlic sauce. Papa John’s is no longer in the shopping guide but it was
approved for years. See this post for more details.
26. If your kids want an Icee/slushie, opt for the Coke flavor instead of the bright red cherry or blue raspberry flavors.
27. Stick with a few flavors of Dannon
All Natural yogurts (double check the labels). Many yogurts contain artificial colors
and flavors.
All Natural yogurts (double check the labels). Many yogurts contain artificial colors
and flavors.
28. Buy Simply Orange Juice, Simply
Lemonade, Simply Apple Juice, and Simply Grapefruit juice instead of other
brands that often have hidden preservatives in the packaging. Tropical Juicy
Juice is also clean.
Lemonade, Simply Apple Juice, and Simply Grapefruit juice instead of other
brands that often have hidden preservatives in the packaging. Tropical Juicy
Juice is also clean.
29. Buy Apple and Eve juice boxes (our
Sam’s Club has them). Mott’s fruit punch boxes are also clean as are Minute
Maid Lemonade boxes (has corn syrup).
Sam’s Club has them). Mott’s fruit punch boxes are also clean as are Minute
Maid Lemonade boxes (has corn syrup).
30. Choosy moms (and Feingold moms)
choose JIF. Choose JIF or Skippy peanut butter over other
brands. Some other brands contain preservatives.
choose JIF. Choose JIF or Skippy peanut butter over other
brands. Some other brands contain preservatives.
These are just some examples of
“better” choices. If you join Feingold, there are a lot more options for you
in the over 300 page shopping guide. Doing the Feingold Diet isn’t all that bad. It’s
often just a matter of knowing which brands to choose. Knowledge is power!
“better” choices. If you join Feingold, there are a lot more options for you
in the over 300 page shopping guide. Doing the Feingold Diet isn’t all that bad. It’s
often just a matter of knowing which brands to choose. Knowledge is power!
(This was a chapter from my book, ““All Natural Mom’s Guide to the Feingold Diet”” now available on Amazon! I decided to take it out because it lists a lot of brand names which could change over time.)
Click here to buy the book!
Written by Sheri Fortes - Visit Website
Author of "All Natural Mom's Guide to the Feingold Diet"
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I came across your website while surfin the net. I am a new member of the Feingold diet and I am somewhat confused and overwhelmed and was hoping you can help. I am obviously starting at stage 1 and will be eliminating the fruits and vegetables suggested. Now this is where my confusion sets in. I believe all my meats as long as they are not bought with seasoning is fine along with pasta , potatoes, rice etc… but then what I know I have to change snacks for school and now im hearing milk, bread, mayo etc…. I do have three children and not loaded with money. I know its better to get everything organic but sometimes that not possible. I am from ontario canada and alot of things i see on the canadian foodlist does not look familar. Do you have to change everything you use in stage 1 or can you just eliminate the certain fruits and veggies and then go from there. obviously i wont be iving them fruit roo ups but do i need to change everything else. Please any help or lists you have come up with would be much appreciated for this all seems very mind boggling. Thank you in advance
Hi Christine. I would suggest joining Facebook group – Feingold Association of the United States – Members Only. You have to request to join. You've listed a lot of questions. Too much to answer here. Break it down into several different questions and post them on the FB group. You will get lots of answers and support there. Good luck!
Great article. Unfortunately not all the additives are disclosed on packaging and the use of HFC is detrimental to health.
Thanks
Ray
http://www.smartfamilydoctor.com
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Hi, Wouldn’t buying organic foods/products be better than trying to figure out which of the more mainstream products contain dyes and preservatives? And why not just suggest that people feed their children real, whole foods? I’m confused about why the Feingold diet and all of the product recommendations from Feingold are necessary when buying organic and/or eating real food would eliminate the foods dyes and preservatives that seem to be the main concern.
Thanks!