We pretty much all know that we should get rid of plastic, right? Whether you do it for environmental reasons or to better protect your health, reducing the amount of plastic in our lives is definitely a good thing.
As for the environment, plastic is just flat out awful. There is SO much of it, it’s not biodegradable (doesn’t break down so it just stays around as plastic dust which contaminates the soils with toxins), and pollutes our oceans creating danger to aquatic life and our ecosystems. As for our health, many plastics contain toxins such as BPA, phthalates, and flame retardants. These plastics can leach chemicals into our foods and drinks, thus finding their ways into our bodies and wreaking havoc. In fact, the chemicals in plastic can have an estrogenic effect on the body, contributing to hormonal imbalances which seem to be the norm among women in this country.
As a family, we have been making swaps over time to ditch the excess plastic in our kitchens. We all have glass water bottles, use regular plates and cups, and threw away all the plastic food storage containers quite a bit ago. But there have been a few things still lingering … mostly because I haven’t found replacements that I like … combined with a bit of laziness.
But in honor of Earth Day, I’ve finally tacked the big one — sandwich bags. I’m feeling pretty proud of myself right now.
If you’re like me (wanting to make the swaps but dragging your feet), here’s a quick list of four items to get rid of! And I’ve included my personal recommendations to make some significant progress in the quest to ditch plastic in the kitchen.
*Please note that I may earn some affiliate income if you purchase through my links. I promise that money goes straight back to this business so I can keep giving you guys as much free content as possible!
Sandwich Bags
Man, I ‘ve been putting this one off for a long time. I don’t want to use the cloth substitutes. I haven’t been so sure about the quality of the silicone used in many of the safer options. I DO NOT WANT TO HAND WASH THEM EVERYDAY. And then my sweet friend told me about Stasher. Stasher is a B Corporation, which is always a huge selling point for me! Stasher bags are made from 100{14558ebb005ca3a014f8e1f496704d81e0a2f10192e8e315668058e58697a03a} naturally healthy materials, are eco-friendly, environmentally safe, and long-lasting. They are made from 100{14558ebb005ca3a014f8e1f496704d81e0a2f10192e8e315668058e58697a03a} pure platinum grade silicone (a standard higher than food grade silicone), are endlessly reusable, and you can put them in the dishwasher. SOLD! If you order by the end of Earth Day 2018, you can get 30{14558ebb005ca3a014f8e1f496704d81e0a2f10192e8e315668058e58697a03a} off with the code EARTHDAY18 — Shop Stasher here!
Kids Cups
I’ve been on the hunt for really great stainless steel cups for my kids for a while now. Glass is ok, but it still makes me nervous in those little hands. When I went to my very first natural health seminar over a decade ago, the instructor told us the best quality of stainless steel is 18/8. Do you know how hard it is to find 18/8 grade stainless steel?!? I have a mish mosh of pots and pans because I find them randomly. I’m so happy to have finally found these 18/8 grade stainless steel cups for my kiddos. They are BPA-free, lead-free, and phthalate-free. Thank you, Terrabean, for making these! You can grab some here on Amazon.
Food Storage Containers
We have actually been using glass food storage containers for a few years now, and they are fantastic. Instead of keeping that huge collection of plastic food containers (you probably have more lids than actual containers anyway), invest in a set of glass containers. They are super affordable, come in multiple sizes, and are super sturdy. They do have plastic locking tops, but I make sure the plastic doesn’t touch the food and remove them if I heat anything. We have two sets! You can get some at your local Costco or Sam’s, but they are also available here on Amazon.
Plastic Wrap
I try my best not to use aluminum foil or plastic wrap on my food. With the use of the glass storage jars above, I manage to avoid them most of the time. But sometimes you just need a simple wrap to cover food! I’ve seen these for a while but finally grabbed some this week as part of my Earth Day celebration. Bee’s Wrap is made with eco-friendly ingredients, are sustainable and compostable, and they can be washed and reused. And they’re pretty. Check out Bee’s Wrap here.
I know these swaps don’t seem like all that much, but I promise you — these little things are what end up making a huge difference. When we know better, we do better. So keep committing to making those changes, just one thing at a time. Before you know it, you’ll look around and realize how much progress you’ve made! Anything that limits your toxic load is always a good thing. Plus, all of these things are super cute additions to your kitchen! And I am such a sucker for a colorful kitchen item. I mean, HELLO, look at my website. Give me ALL THE COLOR.
