My Best Organic

I have to confess to being rather obsessed with food and nutrition, although I have been known to indulge in the occasional naughty treat, too.  I don’t believe in too much self-denial!  But, when it comes to children’s nutrition, now that’s something I do have some strong opinions about.  I try my very very best to fulfil my son’s nutritional needs, as well as appealing to his palate, and keep within the confines of his food allergies.  

One of the most informative and trustworthy books I’ve read on the subject is Dr Alex Richardson’s ‘They are what you feed them’.  It is quite scientific in places, but it does also give practical advice, too, along with some recipes.  Dr Richardson is a research fellow at Oxford University and is chairperson of the Food and Behaviour Charity.  All author proceeds from the book go to the charity to help with their research, so she is truly committed to leading the way in a quest to find food solutions to some of the problems children experience.  

I need to rant about this issue. Hope you don’t mind. As it’s winter, and the sniffle-season is well and truly upon us, I’ve needed to give my son a dose of medicine from time to time. Looking at the list of ingredients is, frankly, horrifying. One of the leading medicines for children (including those under the age of one) contains, among other ingredients:

E420 (Sorbitol) - whilst from a natural source, can cause diarrhoea and bloating. Should not be used by children under age of one
E214/E216/E218 - synthetic parabens/benzoates
E122 (Azorubine) - colouring which may aggravate asthma and cause allergic reactions in those sensitive to salicylates. In combination with benzoates, it can cause hyperactivity in children. Already banned in some other countries, but not in the UK.

So…what you end up with is a poorly child, revved up and bouncing off the walls, wheezing like mad and unable to get the rest they need in order to recover.

Let’s hope we get some sunnier weather soon and that the colds and coughs of winter go away x