You know that food coloring is horrible to ingest.  But did you know that the same effects can happen just by allowing it to touch the skin?  The skin is the largest organ and acts as a sponge to anything that can be absorbed.  Did you know that the dye seeps through the shell of the eggs and will be eaten along with the hard boiled eggs?  Yep.  That's right - you may think you are just decorating the eggs, but reality is that you are allowing the dyes into your children (or yourself). I'm including information on why you should skip the food coloring at the end of this article.  That way you can sound completely educated on this topic if a friend starts telling you that you are ridiculous for not dying your eggs in the "normal" way. (I'll probably turn that into an entire blog soon) Easter is challenging in our house, as we have a child allergic to eggs! We also do not do food dyes or processed foods. It can get expensive trying to fill a basket with REAL chocolate and treats...  So we have resorted to just a small treat in the baskets.  We were also terrified to dye eggs with my son's allergy.  We have learned though that he can touch eggs, but not consume them.  This has allowed us to bring eggs back into our house! (THANK YOU GOD - eggs are ah-ma-zing!) Two years ago we painted wooden eggs, and we still pull them out each Easter!  I would love to add more each year, but I also love that we get to decorate real eggs now!   I've compiled a list of all the fun ways I have found to dye, decorate, and fancy-up hard-boiled eggs - that kids can easily help with.

Dye-Free Easter Egg Decorating

You can still dye the eggs using natural methods, but I'd suggest combining this method with strings, stickers or something to give it a little more pop! Dying Eggs with Foods Allison from No Time for Flashcards makes it easy for kids to color eggs in a plastic bag! Just squeeze in some washable paints with the egg and shake up for little-to-no clean-up for parents!    Washable Paints Liquid Water Color Eggs If you love the melted crayon look, check out how A Thrifty Mom creates bright, beautiful eggs!  Melted Crayons Easter Eggs GLITTER EGGS!! Oh the toddlers will love tearing up tissue paper for this one!  Decoupage Eggs Older kids will love these: Using puff paint, kids decorate their eggs and let them dry.  You can paint them anyway you'd like afterward!  Puffy Eggs Grab the feathers, google eyes, and everything else craft-related for these fun eggs!   Bird Eggs A little background on food dyes: According to the FDA, in 2007 Americans were consuming five times more artificial food colorings than they were in 1955. That number in no way has decreased in the mast eight years. http://www.organicauthority.com/blog/organic/banned-in-europe-food-coloring-linked-to-behavior-problems/ The Food and Drug Administration has approved the use of these dyes, even as they are band in other countries across the world due to their significant side effects.  Countries throughout Europe have banned against food dyes and insisted on strong labeling with warnings including all health risks to these dyes.  But yet, here in the United States we not only promote the use of dyes, but they are included as ingredients within our health-boosting supplementation and medications. The seven FDA approved food dyes include: http://www.fda.gov/ForIndustry/ColorAdditives/

• FD&C Blue No. 1 – Brilliant Blue FCF, E133
• FD&C Blue No. 2 – Indigotine E132
• FD&C Green No. 3 – Fast Green FCF, E143
• FD&C Red No. 40 – Allura Red AC, E129
• FD&C Red No. 3 – Erythrosine, E127
• FD&C Yellow No. 5 – Tartrazine, E102
• FD&C Yellow No. 6 – Sunset Yellow FCF, E110

Some of these artificial colors (Yellow Dye 5 & 6) are derived from toxic coal tar.  Coal tar is a mixture of many chemicals, derived from petroleum. It is recognized as a human carcinogen, with the main concern of using it for individual colors (whether produced from the coal tar or synthetically) is the potential to cause cancer. These colors may also be contaminated with low levels of heavy metals and even be combined with aluminum substrate. Aluminum compounds and many heavy metals are toxic to the brain. Coal tar is used for purposes such as: roofing, outdoor sealants, exterior paints, and heating. This should obviously NOT be ingested. http://www.davidsuzuki.org/issues/health/science/toxics/chemicals-in-your-cosmetics—coal-tar-dyes/ [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]