Have you looked at a label lately?

We feel like the photos in this post will speak for themselves, but we will add in interesting label tidbits too! We chose some of the most frequently purchased packaged items at the store and countered them with a "better" option. Basically, look at the labels of the things you buy and take note of the ingredients, we know you're going to be surprised!

MAC 'N CHEESE

We only buy white cheddar boxed mac 'n cheese for our families as they do not contain any food dyes. Annie's organic offers a boxed mac 'n cheese with mainly whole ingredients. Or, make your own at home with organic milk and shredded monterey jack cheese--my kids love it!

CHEESE

What would you prefer to eat--cheese, or a "cheese product". Look at the difference in ingredients!! Yikes. And again, we choose white cheese so as to avoid the food coloring. (Especially the ones with sneaky names, like Annatto!)

KIDS' GUMMY VITAMINS

The first ingredient in most mainstream gummy bear vitamins for kids is glucose syrup and sucrose--SUGAR! Not to mention a laundry list of food dyes. Try a healthier option like the one shown here.

CEREAL

First ingredient in Fruit Loops--Sugar! Not the best way to start the day, especially for kids with growing bodies and brains. Fruit Loops also uses BHT (butylated hydroxytoluene), which is an additive used to preserve a food’s color, odor, and flavor. It is commonly used in cereal and processed foods. The same chemical is also used in cosmetics, pharmaceutical drugs, rubber & petroleum products, jet fuels, and embalming fluids!!

Lab tests have shown BHT causes cancer in animals, which begs the question--what could it do to humans?

FRUIT JUICE

We tend to stay away from juice because it is loaded with sugar (unless you use a juicer like Sarah!!), but if you must, make sure you choose a juice that is not loaded with high fructose corn syrup!

YOGURT

Yogurt--it should not have 13 ingredients like the Dannon one above!! Siggi's is a favorite brand at my house. As an added bonus, the cows that provide the milk for this yogurt are grass fed and are not given growth hormone or antibiotics.

CRACKERS

A year ago, my youngest was certifiably addicted to Cheez-its. At a year old, she cried for them all day long and more often than not, I gave them to her. Once I started talking about cleaner eating with Sarah, this was one of the first foods to leave my pantry. We now keep packaged crackers to a minimum, but when we do, we opt for ones with 5 ingredients or less.

CRACKERS #2

A lot of us give our kids goldfish (yes, I'm raising my hand here too!) but when I started looking at the label, I didn't see things I liked. Way too many ingredients. So again, we choose crackers with less ingredients, or make our own! Homemade crackers are super easy! (check out my chia seed cracker recipe on the blog or under the snack section of our recipes!)

Well, there you have it! Hopefully these 8 examples will motivate you to start peeking at the labels in the grocery store. Heck, go into your pantry now and take a look at what you have! If it's too overwhelming, just pick one of these areas to change and go from there. We all have to start somewhere! ~Briana

http://www.examiner.com/article/bht-the-harmful-food-additive-your-everyday-diet