Catherine Burns

Let’s keep it short but sweet this week.

Short because Belle is in the office with me and is systematically emptying all my drawers and filling every cup she can find from the cooler. She is off “sick” for the day but I suspect I may have been duped.

The mysterious cough that brought her into our room in the early hours has disappeared, leaving me juggling deadlines with the demands of a cheeky toddler. It’s only a matter of time before she discovers the giant box of candy in the corner…. at which point, it’s game over.

Of course, I don’t usually have candy in the office but this is the bulk order I made on behalf of the Mums doing my Natural Kids class. We found some great local options for Halloween but ended up ordering in glow sticks and fun candy multipacks too. Sure there’s sugar, but everything is free from the artificial nasties that can take the trick-or-treat rush to a whole new level.

Next year we’ll try and get the multipacks in the stores, but in the meantime you can check out www.naturalcandystore.com. To check out the best options locally (and also the worst) have a look at my Facebook page.

It goes without saying that even when it’s “natural”, it’s wise to be moderate. Natural sugars still contribute to weight gain, fatigue and hormone imbalance in excess. But, it is a relief to know that the sugar isn’t bundled up with extra chemicals too – the chemicals that have been scientifically linked to behavioural issues, and are suspected carcinogens.

The problem with food dye is that sometimes when you go natural, the treats just don’t look as fun. It’s hard to beat the super-bright pigments of petroleum based dyes.

However, I did have a flash of inspiration the other day when I was eating goji berries. They are very much on the orange side of red, and I wondered if I could make orange Halloween frosting with them.

It turns out you can.

This is one of the simplest natural tricks I have tried, and it looks just as good as the chemical version. The colour is a deep, bright orange, and it lasts too (some natural colours fade over a period of 24hrs.) If you would like to give it a go, get hold of some plain goji berries and use this method. If you’d like to see pictures – just pop on over to Facebook. Have fun.

The advice given in this article is not intended to replace medical advice, but to complement it. Always consult your GP if you have any health concerns. Catherine Burns BA Hons, Dip ION is the Managing Director of Natural Ltd and a fully qualified Nutritional Therapist trained by the Institute for Optimum Nutrition in the U.K. Please note that she is not a Registered Dietitian. For details, please go to www.natural.bm or call 236-7511. Join Catherine on Facebook: www.facebook.com/nutrifitandnaturalnutritionbermuda