Week 7 Challenge: Ditching Artificial Colors and Other Chemicals

We’ve made it all the way to Week 7 of the Real Food Challenge — can you believe it?

Think back over the past several weeks:

• You started by building a strong foundation with real fruits and veggies.
• You added protein with real, recognizable ingredients.
• You learned how to pick wholesome snacks without the junk.
• You embraced whole grains, choosing foods that actually fuel your family.
• Last week, you even tackled natural sweeteners, cutting back on refined sugars and bringing in real-food alternatives.

Every week you’ve taken another step toward feeding your family with intention — and I’m so proud of you. These aren’t tiny changes. These are the habits that truly shift your kitchen culture.

This week, you’re ready for a big one.

A challenge that will change the way you read labels forever.

Why Week 7 Matters: Artificial Colors + Chemicals = No Thanks

Artificial colors, preservatives, and chemical additives hide in SO many foods marketed to kids and busy families. They’re in cereals, snacks, drinks, yogurts, candies, frosting, even things that look healthy.

And while the FDA may approve them, many families choose to avoid them because:

• They’re linked to behavioral and attention concerns in some children
• They offer zero nutritional value
• They’re often used to make low-quality food look more appealing
• They crowd out real ingredients your family actually needs

When you ditch the artificial stuff, you’re not just avoiding additives — you’re making space for real food that supports better energy, mood, and overall health.

This Week’s Challenge: Ditch Artificial Colors and Other Chemicals

Your goal for Week 7 is simple:

Choose foods made from real ingredients, not chemical formulas.

That’s it. And don’t worry — perfection is NOT expected. Start by choosing one or two swaps that feel doable. Here are some beginner-friendly ideas:

Swap colorful cereal

Replace neon-colored cereals with options sweetened naturally and colored with fruits or spices. When we first switched to real food, I rediscovered how delicious homemade oatmeal is. Here are a few of our favorite oatmeal recipes to get you started.

Switch out artificially flavored yogurt

Choose plain or naturally flavored yogurt and add your own fruit or a drizzle of honey. Honey looks the same as caramel syrup on my yogurt. What’s not to love!

Skip brightly colored drinks

Choose water, 100% juice, or fruit-infused water, coffee and tea. Water is the easiest of course and will quickly become the more. Be careful when you buy anthing in a bottle or package. Make sure you check out those ingredients first.

Choose snacks with real ingredients

Look for short ingredient lists, and watch for dyes like Red 40, Yellow 5/6, and Blue 1. Really look closely at those labels. You will be shocked where you find those pesky artificial colors.

Upgrade your baked goods

Make homemade treats using whole ingredients — and skip the artificial colors by using fruit-based natural dyes when needed.

Each small decision adds up. And before you know it, you’ll naturally gravitate toward products with clean, simple ingredient lists.

Label-Reading Tip of the Week

Turn the package around. If the ingredient list looks like a science experiment, put it back. Real food should read like real life: foods your grandmother would recognize. Wait till you figure out how many different names there are for sugar. It will blow your mind when you discover three different sugars in a package that you thought would have zero sugar.

You’ve Got This!

Look at the progress you’ve already made. Week after week, you are building healthier habits, showing your family that real food is worth the effort, and proving to yourself that you CAN do this.

Keep that momentum going!

And don’t forget — your mid-week motivation and extra tips are coming, just like always. I’ll be cheering you on every step of the way as you ditch artificial colors and chemicals and keep moving toward a real food lifestyle that works for your busy mom life. Post your real food wins on Instagram with #realfoodchallenge

You’re doing amazing. Stay tuned — more help is on the way!