With UK pediatricians asking parents to stop feeding their children food with artificial dyes because the dyes are neurotoxic and can cause behavioral problems, it seems completely appropriate for parents to look for candy that is not only colored naturally, but add to the wish list finding candy that is organic, corn syrup-free, gluten-free, allergen-free, kosher, and even follows the Feingold diet to stop hyperactivity.

Enter the Natural Candy Store! A family-owned and operated business fun by two sisters and their mom, they offer the largest selection of natural and organic candy available anywhere. Many of the natural candy brands they carry can be difficult, if not impossible, to find in local stores.

Check it out! naturalcandystore.com.

Another option are SunDrops, a natural alternative to M&M’s. Their bright candy color comes from beet juice, beta carotene and natural caramel. Their chocolate centers are made with rich milk chocolate, sweetened with evaporated cane juice and a touch of unsulphured molasses.

For a fun family tradition, make your own dye-free candies using natural dyes that you make yourself or buy.

By Annie B. Bond, best-selling author of five books, including True Food (National Geographic, 2009).