Welcome back, friend! We’re halfway through Week 7: Ditching Artificial Colors and Other Chemical. If you want to start at the beginning of the challenge weeks click here. Otherwise, I want to pause for a moment to tell you something important:
You’re doing a GREAT job. Even if this feels like one of the harder weeks… it is. Reading ingredient labels, spotting hidden chemicals, and choosing cleaner foods takes practice — and you’re learning new skills that will help your family for years to come.
Take a breath. Celebrate the wins you’ve already had. And let’s walk through this next part together.
Why This Week Feels Bigger — and Why It’s Worth It
Artificial colors and additives are sneaky. They hide in products that look kid-friendly, quick, or even healthy.
But every time you choose a product without dyes… every time you skip foods with chemical preservatives… every time you swap the artificially flavored snacks for something real…
- You’re teaching your family what real food looks like.
- You’re reducing unnecessary chemicals.
- You’re building confident label-reading skills that last.
This is huge. And you’re already doing it.
Mid-Week Label-Reading Tips to Keep You Going
If learning to read labels feels overwhelming, here’s a simple roadmap to make it easier. You don’t need to become a food scientist — just a thoughtful shopper with a few go-to tools.
1. Start With the Ingredient List — Not the Front of the Box
The front is marketing.
The back is the truth.
Skip the flashy claims and jump straight to the ingredients.
2. Look for Short, Simple Ingredient Lists
The shorter, the better.
And ideally:
- Words you recognize
- Foods you can picture
- Ingredients your grandmother would understand
If it reads like a chemistry class… it’s probably not real food.
3. Watch for Artificial Colors (They Usually Stand Out)
These are some of the biggest culprits:
- Red 40
- Yellow 5
- Yellow 6
- Blue 1
- Blue 2
- Green 3
- Any color listed with a number
If you see them — that’s your cue to put the item back.
4. Be Mindful of Flavors
Look for:
- “Artificial flavor”
- “Natural and artificial flavor”
Better options include:
- Real vanilla
- Real fruit puree
- Spices
- Cocoa
These small changes help you avoid mystery ingredients and lab-made flavors.
5. Skip Ingredients You Can’t Pronounce (Most of the Time)
Sure — not every unfamiliar word is dangerous.
But when you’re trying to ditch chemicals, this rule helps keep things simple.
Examples to avoid:
- Sodium benzoate
- Potassium sorbate
- BHA
- BHT
- Propylene glycol
If it doesn’t sound like food… it probably isn’t.
6. Compare Two Brands Side-by-Side
This is one of the easiest real-food hacks.
Pick up two versions of the same product:
- One will usually have dyes
- One will have fewer ingredients
- One might skip preservatives
- One is obviously the cleaner choice
Grab that one.
Real-Life Encouragement (You’ll Want to Hear This)
Remember:
You don’t need to get this perfect.
You just need to make progress.
Maybe you swapped your kids’ favorite rainbow cereal for a naturally colored one.
Maybe you chose the yogurt without dyes this week.
Maybe you tossed one snack with questionable ingredients.
Those are REAL wins.
And you’re doing the work — even when it’s not convenient.
You’re raising label-literate kids.
You’re building a healthier home.
You’re proving that small changes matter.
And you’re showing them what it looks like to care enough to try.
You’ve Got This — And I’m Here With You
Keep going.
Keep choosing real.
Keep trusting yourself.
You’re already making a difference.
And don’t forget — I’ll be back soon with more tips, support, and encouragement. Week 7 is a big one, but you’re absolutely capable of finishing strong.
Keep reading those labels, keep ditching the chemicals, and keep celebrating the real food lifestyle you’re building one choice at a time.
Now Let’s Finish Week 7 Strong!
You’ve already proven you can make powerful changes in your kitchen, one ingredient at a time. This week is all about awareness, courage, and choosing better for yourself and your family — and you are absolutely rising to the challenge.
Now is the time to stay focused.
- Keep reading those labels.
- Keep choosing cleaner versions.
- Keep ditching the artificial stuff that doesn’t serve your family.
These choices matter. They add up. And YOU are making them happen.
So, here’s your call to action:
Choose one food today to upgrade. Just one.
Swap the dyed snack, the artificially flavored yogurt, the neon cereal, or the drink with chemical colors — and replace it with something real.
One small swap today becomes two tomorrow, and soon your kitchen looks completely different.
You’re building a real food lifestyle brick by brick, and I’m cheering you on every step of the way.
Looking Ahead: Week 8 Is a Big Milestone!
Next week, we begin a brand-new phase of the Real Food Challenge — looking at meals as a whole, beginning with the meal that sets the tone for your entire day:
Breakfast!
We’ll talk about building balanced, energizing morning meals that keep your family full, focused, and fueled — without relying on sugary cereals or processed convenience foods.
You are going to love this next step.
Keep going, friend — you’re doing incredible work, and Week 8 is right around the corner!
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