Red 40 and other food dyes?

My friend's son is very sensitive to red dye. (He is not ADHD.) When he was very young, they thought it was chocolate, but it turns out that red dye is in cheap chocolate (like Easter Bunnies.) When he was very young he would have a total screaming meltdown when he got stuff with dye, which because his parents do few chips , sodas or fruit drinks, was not often. But when he did (at a party) he was totally out of character mean, angry and then to melt down. Now that he is older (9) it is more irritable than melt down. He does know what this does to him, and is able to avoid the dyes on his own most of the time.

The family does make most meals from scratch, but do get some prepared items from places like Trader Joe's. They do junk food like chips - but look at the ingredients. No cheap chocolate. Juice boxes are a big dye containing item. CapriSun pouches have no dye (but lots of sugar.) Tortilla chips (plain) have no dye. So it is looking at stuff like cakes, frosting, chips with seasoning, juice in general. It is not hard to eliminate from the diet as there are lots of things out there without dye, or that use beet dye instead. My kids are not sensitive, but I do try to limit dye. Most of the dyes are made from petroleum. I feel that should only be put in my car - not my kids.

My thought is, try to eliminate it. Your family is not likely to notice other than changing brands of chips or juice, or eliminating soda. Dye is much easier to eliminate than gluten. Go for a week without, then give her something with it. You should know pretty quickly if dye is an issue.

I wasn't recommending eliminating gluten. I was just saying that dye is easier to eliminate than gluten.

Gluten is in SO many things that most people eat daily that it is really hard to do unless there is complete buy in by the family members, teachers and friends. It can be done, but it does mean limited to no eating out, buying expensive or making your own. (Which, making your own of anything is usually easier than people think, but if you are working and have limited time, that may not be an option.) (Yes, Corn Flakes are cheap and gluten free. But making the bread is not so cheap. And buying it is more expensive than some limited budgets can do.) I know several families who are gluten free or trying to be. It is hard for them, especially the kids who are used to eating it. But, they are all diagnosed with Celiac Disease, and unless that is the issue here, then gluten would just be a really hard thing to remove to eliminate. Dairy may actually be easier! (And boy is that in a lot of things too - but not Cool Whip, LOL!)

Along with removing the dye, it may be beneficial to increase protein, and decrease carbs. (Have an egg for breakfast instead of cereal.) According to the book "Healing ADHD" by Dr. Amen, some types of ADHD do better with more protein.

I have another friend with ADHD and Aspergers who when he gets cranky his mom gives him protein and he does much better. (Less likely to melt down.) He does have a family history of people with blood sugar issues, which may also be his issue too. Mom has tried to get this checked by the doctors but they keep blowing her off, so she just keeps a bag of jerky in her purse to snack on when needed.