So, as a special treat I took my daughter to see the Chimpanzee movie in the theater this week. And, I guess I was in an extra special mood because I let her get a kid's size popcorn AND soda at the theater. I even let her choose the soda. And she chose Fanta, you know, the super orangey stuff, which I had never given her before (on the rare occasion she gets soda, it's usually Sprite).
We had a great time and later that night she went out to dinner with my hubby and her grandma while I stayed with our son in the NICU. I wasn't there, but word on the street (or from my husband) was that he's never seen her act so out of control. Don't get me wrong, our daughter is not the sit-quietly-with-an-angelic-expression-on-her face type, but she knows how to behave at a restaurant. But this night involved constant high pitch screams and multiple time outs in the parking lot with daddy. It wasn't one, big, naughty thing, but just constant super, super hyper behavior. Like she just lost any ability to control herself. And I'm pretty sure that the orange soda had something to do with it.
Most parents with kiddos who struggle with hyperactivity (ADD, ADHD) will tell you that they notice increased issues following the consumption of certain foods. And this can happen in kiddos who don't have ADHD as well (like mine). Most of the time, the culprits are additives in highly colored, processed foods (aka orange soda). So, it's worth keeping an eye on what you're kiddo is eating and noticing if certain foods affect their behavior. Here's a list of additives to keep an eye on:
- Sodium Benzoate
- Yellow No. 6
- Yellow No. 10
- Yellow No. 5
- Red No. 40
- Some kiddos have a hard time with artificial sweeteners
How about your kiddos? Do processed/colored foods affect their behavior?
My friend who's 36 can't have red dye our she gets insanely hyper!
ReplyDeleteMy own kids taught me that they really can't handle or need the colored stufff- that's why I feed my grandchildren CHOCOLATE- no food coloring!!!
ReplyDeleteOrange Soda is my fav :) Please share its some Easy Recipes
ReplyDeleteThis is helpful to know. I have always just thought sugar was the culprit, but knowing that artificial food coloring can be trouble as well is good to know.
ReplyDelete