All Natural

So my latest "thing" has been eliminating chemicals from my family's day to day life. These chemicals include artificial colors and flavors in foods. Over the last few years, since Athan has shown "behavioral issues", I have asked his pediatrician for advice and he has always geared my towards his diet. For some unknown reason, just in the last month I have actually tried to eliminate artificials from his diet in hopes that his behavior might improve. Rather than singling out Athan for the change, our whole family tried it (Calvin counts because he drinks what I consume).

I was very nervous for my first shopping trip. In Payson we don't have a Trader Joes or Sprouts so I went thinking I was going to only be able to get a few things and my grocery bill would be outrageous. I was so wrong! There is an All Natural option for everything. I am saving money. I am having to go grocery shopping more often but we don't waste money on fast food or quick snacks. I have noticed a huge difference in Athan AND Damen. Damen seems to hear me more often and Athan's mood swings are way less volatile. The best part....I feel great! I have lost 5 pounds and I'm not even doing anything really different. Colt's Crohns acts up way less often. Calvin spits up less.

The more I think about the concept, the more it makes sense. Our bodies may not be poisoned by these FDA approved chemicals but that doesn't mean that out body doesn't react to them.

There is a downside. Getting the rest of the world on board. I seem like a hippy or a freak I'm sure. Just the other day when having dinner at a friend's house, Damen announced (because that's what he does) that he could not eat anything with artificial flavors or colors. Well one of the middle aged, guests that was also having dinner at this house, had a hay day harassing my children about it. "Hey can you eat that?!" He would say "are you sure there are no artificial colors or flavors in there?" it was really cute. A man in his mid 50s giving a 7 and 5 year old a hard time about their diet restrictions. What if they were allergic dude!? Well it just so happened that this guy was probably only 5 feet tall. Just a wee man ha! So I politely said to the boys in front of him "Mommy doesn't like for you to eat those artificials so that you can grow up to be healthy and strong! and tall..." (haha take that wee man!) I know I shouldn't have but come on! Besides the vertically challenged man, there will be other hurdles. Birthday parties, Halloween, School treats ect. But we will continue one day at a time until the world catches up.

I didn't have any pictures to go with this post about food so enjoy some silliness!

This one in particular is zoomed in. It was actually and nice family picture with all the Scott kids one Christmas. Nice Athan.