8 tips for Additive Free Parties and BBQs

With summer and the party season well under way in Australia right now I thought this would be a great time to give you 8 TOP TIPS for Additive Free Parties and BBQs!

Here are the top 8 BBQ foods to look out for when it comes to additives:

1. Sausages:

Many sausages contain preservatives, flavours, flavour enhancers and some even contain colours too! The best sausages you can buy are certified organic but you can also buy failsafe sausages that are additive free and a little cheaper too. Talk to your local butchers and organic shops to find a supplier near you.

2. Crisps/Chips

A lot of plain chips will also have flavours, flavour enhancers and other additives. “Freedom Foods” do a safer alternative to potato chips and can be bought at most conventional grocery stores, online or at organic stores. Certified organic corn chips and potato chips can also be purchased just about anywhere and are additive free.

3. Salad dressing

Yes, even the salad dressing can often have nasties! Double check the label before buying. Many have artificial sweeteners, flavours and/or preservatives. I recommend making your own, it is so cheap, quick and easy. You will save a fortune and it can be stored in the fridge.

4. Bread

Many bakeries are getting much better with additives! You still need to remember to check ALL bread products, not just the loaf and the rolls, but anything containing bread can have preservatives and other nasties in it.

5. Sauces and condiments

Tomato sauces, mustards and mayonnaise can often be full of suspect and nasty additives, luckily, you can buy the safer alternatives at most conventional supermarkets, online or at your local organic store with ease! Heinz do an organic tomato sauce that is sold at most supermarkets, Melrose and some other companies make lovely mayonnaise without food additives, you will have to look in the gluten/dairy free section at your supermarket for that though, or in their “health food” section. This is the same with mustard. Sometimes I find it is easier to just get all of these items from my local organic shop, but they are all available from the conventional shops too.

6. Pre-packed cakes and biscuits:

These can be a minefield of nasty additives! You can very easily bake your own, many biscuits will store for up to two weeks and cakes and other treats can be made the day before, so you won’t need to rush around or panic on the day at all. Home-made cakes and biscuits always taste way better too.

7. Cooking oils and margarine

I think we all know that butter is a much more natural alternative to margarine, margarine isn’t food and doesn’t belong on the table. Also check your cooking  oils, most are additive free but if it has “antioxidant” or “320” or any other 300 numbers written in the ingredients list, replace it with one that just has “oil”.

8. Drinks:

“Fresh” juices often have preservatives in them but there are many conventional and organic brands that are preservative free and easy to find at your local supermarket. Soft drinks should be avoided unless you are making your own as the combination of food additives and high sugar isn’t good for any one. I always recommend having a large jug of water on the table and keeping it refilled.

There are a number of additive free beers and wine too, these can be easily purchased at your local bottle shop, just pop in and ask them. Most bottle shops now are becoming very aware and will know which products to offer you. Vodka is also generally preservative and colour free too.

It is important to remember that with a little forward thinking and planning there is no reason that any harmful food additives should have to sneak into our diets, not even at parties! We can still have fun, indulge in yummy treats and avoid harmful toxins at the same time.