Here's a link to the organization that provides all of the necessary resources to make following this diet very easy: www.feingold.org
From their website:
"The Feingold Program eliminates these additives:
- Artificial (synthetic) coloring
- Artificial (synthetic) flavoring
- Aspartame (Nutrasweet, an artificial sweetener)
- Artificial (synthetic) preservatives BHA, BHT, TBHQ
The salicylates rich foods (apples, berries, tomatoes, etc.) are added in after about six weeks, but added in a way to determine what foods might be causing problems. My kids love fruit and I was sad to see that many of their favorite fruits were full of salicylates. In a few weeks, I'm going to start adding those fruits back into their diet BUT only one at a time. Like we all did with baby food, I'll give them one of those food for several days to see if I see a difference.
Following the FD isn't difficult, however using the Feingold Organization's resouces makes it very easy! Since many of the things listed above are not listed as ingredients on foods, the organization has researched many products and they provide a shopping list of food that they know are "Feingold Approved". From milk to chips to lunchmeat - they tell you what products are 'safe'.
The Feingold Diet was created for many reasons, but has gained the most recognition for it's help for children with behavior issues.My kids have NOT been diagnosed with any hyperactivity disorders (ADHD, etc.), but they are VERY active. They behave perfectly at school (never one color change or conduct mark), but all three of them do seem to daydream a little and sometimes have trouble staying still. They usually wake up very grouchy in the morning, no matter how much time they've slept. My little boy doesn't really walk anywhere - he is FULL SPEED AHEAD every where he goes. My daughters still throw temper tantrums occasionally and argue to get their way, even though we never (really NEVER) give in. We would always ask, "do you get your way when you act like this?" They would always respond "No, but..... " They really are GREAT kids and usually behave very well, but sometimes things just set them off and my husband and I are just blown away at how such wonderful kids can suddenly behave in a way they know is not acceptable. It's like sometimes a switch comes on and they become some other children we don't recognize. Since Feingold. . . . they are the wonderful kids we know they are ALL THE TIME!
Not only has the FD been shown to improve behavior problems, but improvement of learning disabilities also been shown as a side effect. My two daughters that are already in school (7 & 6) both read far above their grade level and get nothing but high praises from their teachers - but just imagine if changing their diet can make them soar even further. Anyway - this part of the FD really hasn't effected my kids because they don't have any learning problems, but I'm sure that some kids could really benefit from this!
So, kids are behaving better on this diet worldwide and are able to learn better, and a few other things happen when kids start eating the FD way. . . other health issues disappear! The FD has been known to help with asthma, bedwetting, Eczema, constipation and a whole host of other things. Each of my three children suffer from at least one of the health issues I listed above, so I couldn't resist giving the Feingold Diet a try.
In just doing the FD for 3 weeks, I have seen a HUGE improvement in their behavior! They go to bed easily and get up happy! They don't really seem to argue with me very much at all - when they are told or asked to do something, they gladly do it. They are less frustrated with each other and the sibling fights that have long plauged our home, have virtually disappeared. My always running three year old, walks now (this is a big deal). I took him to the grocery store last week, and he didn't run once!
One of my kids has had a problem wetting the bed, and we've done everything short of put her on medication trying to stop it. After a few days on Feingold - the bedwetting stopped! That is until, she ate the cafeteria lunch one day at school. We didn't do anything differently that day, just the preservative & food coloring filled lunch, and low and behold she wet the bed that night. Needless to say, I was stunned. I really hadn't even connected her bedwetting to her food until that day, thinking it was just a fluke that she's gone so long without doing it. Nope it was Feingold! ;)
I've said all of the above just to tell you why I'm probably going to be blogging a lot about food soon. I thought the FD would have me eating flavorless food, the same flavorless food every day - BUT I WAS WRONG! Most food seems to have more flavor and I'll tell you more about that later. . . but I just had to share about Feingold because it really has changed our life!
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