How to Check Labels

By Mark Lindgren (typing and grammar correction by Mom)

Food coloring isn’t good for me so I check ingredients.  Sometimes I check them and see that it has food coloring and eat it anyway because I really want it.  I know I shouldn’t but sometimes if I’m at a party or at school I do.  My mom gives me a remedy to carry with me in case I do that.  I don’t do it all the time, maybe two times a week.

Did you know that the marshmallows my friend brought over had blue no.1?  I still don’t get how white marshmallows have blue food coloring.  That’s why I always have to check labels. 

I also have trouble with triclosan which is in a lot of antibacterial soaps so if I go to someone’s house and they have antibacterial soap I don’t use it.  My mom put a special spray in my backpack that I can use.  I also use it when I go on field trips or if we go to a restaurant because I don’t know if the restaurant soap has triclosan.  If I use triclosan soap for some reason I get a crazy feeling in my head and I can’t listen.  Instead of triclosan my mom uses soap that has oils in it for germs.  I like the way it smells. 

I’m also supposed to watch out for high fructose corn syrup because I get red circles under my eyes when I have it.  But sometimes if I’m at a party I’ll have a little bit of pop because it tastes good and I like the way it smells.  I make pop at home with mineral water and stevia and it tastes so good. My mom buys a lot of my stuff at Jimbos and Trader Joe’s because they have lots of stuff without bad things in them. 

Do you know how to read labels?  It’s really easy.  You just turn the package over and look at the ingredients.  If you see colors or bad ingredients you shouldn’t eat it. 

We buy lots of good stuff without the bad ingredients and my mom still makes me treats and I have a special bag at school that has lollipops, gum and candies that don’t have colors.  My gum doesn’t have aspartame.  Aspartame makes my head hurt.  My mom buys gum with xylitol.  Even my toothpaste has xylitol.  It’s really good.

Mark’s recipe for Pop

Mineral Water

Stevita Stevia – available in a variety of flavors.  Mark’s favorites are lime and grape.

Stir until stevia is dissolved.  You can also make a liter ahead of time.  Chill the mineral water in the fridge and add stevia quickly (the contents will spill over if you’re not fast enough) and twist the top back on.  Shake the bottle and put in back in the fridge.  Enjoy in a few hours.

Mothers Note:  The remedy Mark uses when he “cheats” is a homeopathic remedy called Histaminum hydrochlorinum that helps reduce his reaction to these foods and chemicals.  Please consult your homeopath, naturopath or physician to see if this option is helpful for your child.