Safe, eco-friendly, and EASY egg dye

Disclaimer: In accordance to the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR Part 255, Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising, it is my responsibility to let you know the following is a sponsored post. I received product and/or compensation for this review. However, all opinions are my own.

My granddaughter was excited about trying these

With Easter less than two weeks away, many parents are examining their options for dying eggs with their children. Sure, there are safe, natural ways to do this, which many blogs and Pinterest boards are featuring. But they involve gathering various food sources and making your own dye. While that's great for some, it's not practical for many overworked moms and dads who simply do not have the time. 

But really, why is it even important to avoid the artificial egg dyes on the market? After all, we all used them growing up and we're okay, right? 

Well, according to an article in the NY Times, 

The federal government has been cracking down on artificial food dyes for more than a century in part because some early ones were not only toxic but were also sometimes used to mask filth or rot. In 1950, many children became ill after eating Halloween candy containing Orange No. 1 dye, and the F.D.A. banned it after more rigorous testing suggested that it was toxic. In 1976, the agency banned Red No. 2 because it was suspected to be carcinogenic. It was then replaced by Red No. 40.

Many of the artificial colorings used today were approved by the F.D.A. in 1931, including Blue No. 1, Yellow No. 5 and Red No. 3. Artificial dyes were developed -- just as aspiring was -- from coal tar, but are now made from petroleum products."

Interestingly enough, stores like Whole Foods Market and Trader Joe's, refuse to carry foods that contain artificial coloring.

For those of you who care not only about the health of your children, but also about the environment, it's important to note that the so-called "natural dye" currently used for red in most naturally dyed products, including lipstick, Cherry Coke,  some natural egg dyes, etc., is actually from the blood of the cochineal bug (carmine). Ecologically, these bugs are farmed and crushed in irresponsible manners, worthy of some attention.

Okay, now you know about some of the whys for opting for safer dying methods, and you can find out many ways for the hows. But I have really good news for you, and that is that there is an easy alternative, which I've tried, and so have my grown daughters. We really like these dyes.

Jessica's results

What are they?

The Natural Egg Dye Kit from Natural Earth Paint. It's perfect for creating beautiful eggs while protecting your kids from the toxins in many dyes.

For just $8.95, you can get 4 dye packs for creating beautiful egg displays in time for Easter. And with the code "eggdye14" you can even receive FREE SHIPPING! Of course, you have to move quickly on this. I recommend ordering TODAY!

The dyes are made from fruit, herbs, and vegetables, not synthetic crap or carmine. 

My husband and I tried two of the dyes and then experimented with mixing the colors a bit. Here are our results:

Don't you like the little duck that just appeared on the light green egg? 

My daughter, Bethany, dyed the eggs with her 3 YO. He seems happy with them.

She used all of the colors.

Bethany's results

You can do other things to the eggs for variety, such as adding a fern, leaf, flower, doily, or some other object and securing it to the egg with a nylon stocking held tightly in place with a rubber band. After soaking the egg in the dye (which is made by adding the powder to water), you simply remove the stocking and get results like these:

You can also use a white crayon to draw designs on the eggs prior to dying them.

While we loved the safe-for-kids-and-the-environment factor, there was one thing we, especially the little ones, weren't especially keen on -- the soaking time. With children, there is a patience-factor and these eggs take 10-20 minutes soaking time. So, when dying the eggs, just make sure you have another activity planned with the kiddos while they await the results.

The Natural Earth Paints company also has a set of wooden eggs that can be painted with their wonderful natural earth paints. You can seal the paints with a natural varnish made by combining 4 parts olive oil to 1 part melted beeswax. Rub it on with a rag and let it set for 1-2 hours. Rub the excess off and display! Through 4/14/14, get 20% off the wooden eggs set with the coupon code "eggs20".

Here's what you could win!

Here's the extra special good news -- one of you is going to receive a set of the wooden eggs, along with the paints and the egg dyes! All you have to do is enter below on the Rafflecopter. But hurry! This is a flash giveaway and it ends at 11:59 p.m. ET tomorrow (4/9)! There's even an easy entry everyone can click on. Of course, if you want more chances to win, do some liking and following! Winner will be announced on 4/10 and will have 48 hours to respond before an alternate winner will be chosen. U.S. only. 18+ years old.

Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Artificial food coloring... YUCK!

Earlier today, I promised you a post about living a healthier life by eliminating artificial dyes this holiday season. It's tough to do, considering all the festive green and red icing, sugars, and sprinkles tempting your taste buds. While you can't dictate what anyone else uses, you can make wiser choices with your own baking and purchases.

Why avoid artificial food coloring? 

The main issue seems to be ADHD -- researchers have found a link between artificial food dyes and attention problems and hyperactivity in children. Often, when dealing with these issues, parents will go out of their way to avoid sugar, but little thought is given to the dyes in the foods. While the UK does still allow the dyes, they demand labeling that states, “May have an adverse effect on activity and attention in children.” 

Unfortunately, most of us are unaware of the multitude of products that have artificial food coloring in them. Things like pickles and yogurt. The FDA is not protecting us, so it's our responsibility to read every label. 

Whole Foods is one place where I can shop, confident there will be no synthetic dyes lurking in the food. They prohibit it. I served a cake on Thanksgiving from Whole Foods and loved the muted colors that could only come from natural sources. No fluorescent icing here! 

Cake from Whole Foods. Isn't it lovely?

While some people make their own food coloring, there are others who prefer the bottled kind. The good news is that it's available!

I use Color Garden dyes, which come in lovely shades of yellow, orange, blue, and red and are 100% plant based. But there are other choices available. Click the links below to find the right natural food coloring and colored sugars/sprinkles for your healthier lifestyle:

•  India Tree -- created with vegetable colorants (red, pink, yellow, blue)
• Maggie's Naturals -- fantastic selection of colors (green, red, orange, yellow, pink, blue, purple)
• Colors from Nature by Wild -- they even have this nifty chart to show you which colors to use to substitute for Red #40, Yellow #5, etc.
• Seelect -- a wide array of choices when it comes to certified organic colors

Getting away from artificial food dyes is just one of the many ways to live healthier lives during the holidays when we are often tempted beyond our tolerance level to indulge in foods that are not-so-good-for-us. 

To read more about artificial food coloring, click here to check out this excellent blog post over at 100 Days of Real Food.

What other things are you planning on implementing for your own personal well being? Why not consider joining the Hyland's Holiday Wellness Challenge?

Finish this sentence: This holiday season, I challenge myself to... 

For me, it's to stick to natural food coloring. What about you? Check out the Challenge on Hyland's Facebook page to participate. There are going to be some great giveaways and exclusive offers for those who sign up for the challenge. 

Why wait for the new year to start focusing on healthier living. Now's the time! Join Hyland's Holiday Challenge and let me know what you're going to do to help meet your wellness goals. I'd love to hear all about it!

Here's to our health,