Ta Da……….!!!
I am doing a new little section on the blog called NNAM’s Healthy Swaps. I did one of these graphics on Facebook the other day and the response was overwhelming and you all wanted me to do more, so here we are!
So, my swap today is all about food colouring.
What’s wrong with food colouring?
Well, it’s nasty. “Artificial food colours have been shown in repeated scientific studies to affect children’s behaviour and learning” Sue Dengate, Fed Up. They can cause hyperactivity and other symptoms, but there is also concern about long term cumulative effects. Read more here.
Try to avoid artificial colours as much as you can both in processed foods and in it’s basic form from the supermarket. Specifically, avoid the numbers 102, 104, 107, 110, 122, 123, 124, 127, 129, 132, 133, 142, 143, 151, 153, 155, 160b (Annatto), 173, 174, 175.
What do you use instead?
Hopper’s Natural Food Colouring!! Sometimes, especially for parties, you will want to colour food, so it’s a great alternative.
Want more additive free party ideas?
Great tip thank you.
thanks Mardi!! x
Hopper colours are great! I won’t let me kids have the other colourings. I do freeze my hopper bottles though and take them out of the freezer a few minutes before I want to use them. They keep such a long time in there.
that is an awesome tip – thanks so much Sharon!! x
I’ve been using Hoppers range for a few years now and before I discovered them I would only use chocolate or butter icing. Unfortunately the nasty chemical ones are in the supermarket and people use these all the time and usually on top of boxed cake mixes so children get a big dose of chemicals. I wish Hoppers was in the supermarkets!
Won’t it be great when the chemical free stuff is the norm in the supermarket? we can only dream! x
Are the colours still as bright as the chemical ones? I brought some of the natural colours in Coles and the colours are quite dull and boring I was trying to make a Dorothy the dinosaur cake and it just wasn’t the same bright green.
Yes, they are pretty good
Wow, I’m excited to track these down. I didn’t know they existed. I limit the use of colouring as I don’t like them. Only use on birthday cakes. I hope we have a stockist around my area. Thanks so much 🙂
Hey Molly, I haven’t seen them in my area, but take a look in the health food stores, otherwise they are online 🙂
Thanks for sharing where to get these Son! I only use colours once a year on the boy’s birthday cakes, and I make sure they avoid eating too much of the icing. It’s nice to know where I can get the alternatives!!
I love supporting the little companies making a difference too! 🙂
I love this. Thank you. Although I did read an article recently where the bad food colours caused a terrible rash just from contact. …so be watchful if using in playdoh or such ☺
Oh dear – this stuff truly is terrible isn’t it!