5 Swaps for a Nontoxic Kitchen

Are you sabotaging your efforts to eat clean? Buying organic food and eating clean is great, but it shouldn’t stop there. You should also be thinking about what you are using to cook with and on. 

Think about it if plastic melts at high heat then don’t you think some of that is latching on to your food when you are cooking with it? And nonstick is great in theory, but have you thought about the fact that Teflon is a chemical coating that they spray onto those pans?

Same goes for storage, you want to be mindful of which container you are storing your food in, especially if it is a food container that needs heating in the microwave. Why heat a “microwave safe” plastic container when you can heat up a glass container with no risk at all.

5 Swaps for a Nontoxic Kitchen:

1 . Cooking Pans

Teflon is a famous nonstick chemical and it is just that… a chemical, it’s actually made by DuPont, the world’s largest chemical manufacturer. Most nonstick pans are made with Teflon. 

When using nonstick pans at a high temperature it can break down the chemical coating. Nonstick coating can become scratched and the particles end up in the air and release toxins. 

When you think about eating healthy or clean something about cooking on a chemical filled surface and heating that chemical up doesn’t sit well. 

Instead of non-stick pans try:

• Stainless Steel, they are perfect to heat things in because they are nonreactive.

• Cast Iron Skillets are awesome! They are one of my favorite cooking pans because they heat evenly. The heat distributes so well that it actually helps things cook more quickly. Cast iron is versatile and can be used in both the oven and stove top. They just need a little bit of care, but they last forever. 

• Glass Baking Dishes, Pyrex pans are great to cook or bake with and are always a nice option to have. 

2. Utensils

Wood utensils are an affordable and safe alternative to plastic. Plastic is not only bad for the environment, it’s bad for your health. Think about it, how many plastic spatulas have you seen melted because someone got it too close to the hot pan?

Instead of using plastic utensils try:

• Wood utensils, they last forever and you don’t have to worry about toxins being in your food. I got a variety pack of wooden cooking utensils from the thrift store, it was the best $3  I’ve ever spent. 

• Stainless Steel, they do well with high heat. You will never have to worry about a stainless steel utensil melting.

• Wood or Bamboo Cutting Boards,  If you have a plastic cutting board I’m sure it has knife marks on it. Where do you think that microscopic plastic is going? I switched to bamboo cutting boards years ago and I love them!

3. Plates & Cups

Swap plastic plates and cups for glass. Glass is really nice to have on hand or ceramic, they last awhile and won’t give off toxins when reheated. Yes glass can break every once and awhile, but it is really less common than you’d think. 

When I bought my house I knew I wanted glass plates so I decided to go to the thrift store and I found a plate set that looks exactly like this one.

4. Storage containers

As far as Tupperware containers go, BPA and other harmful toxins can latch on to your food when you are reheating things. Even if it is marketed as “microwave safe” I truly believe the only thing safe to microwave is glass containers. Heating your food in plastic can increase your risk for cancer and other medical conditions. 

Here are some great options for glass storage containers. Pyrex has a bunch of variety sets with different size options, here’s one I really enjoy.  

5. Cooking oils 

When cooking you also want to think about what oils you are using. For any high heat cooking you should use avocado oil because of its high smoke point. It is healthier for you to use the  proper oil for the proper temperature. 

Olive oil is a popular oil to cook with, but it has a medium to low smoke point so it should be used for lower heats. If you cook in high heat with olive oil it can produce harmful fumes. Avocado oil is a great choice for any temperature cooking. It is also a very healthy fat to add into your diet. 

There are more than these 5 swaps, but it’s a nice starting spot that you can slowly incorporate. Like I mentioned many of these items can be found at a great discount from your local thrift store. Buying on Amazon is another great place to look before checking another retailer.    

If your health and well-being is something of importance to you then it’s a good idea to be mindful of not only what you ingest, but everything that goes into the process of cooking your food. 

For more mindful wellness & Eco tips check out my Instagram!

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What is Simple Living?

Simple living is a term that’s getting thrown around everywhere.

What does it mean?

I like to think back to how I imagined my grandparents might have grown up. Everything was just that...SIMPLE. Every aspect of the way they lived was intentional. 

They grew food in their gardens, canned food in mason jars for the winter, sewed clothes when they had a hole in them, hung clothes out on the line to try, connected with each other on a human level (no technology involved), and so much more. 

Now simple living is more of an umbrella term. It can mean a variety of  things but they can all be grouped together. One main way they can differ is the level of simplicity you chose. Some people will be minimalists, others low waste, or more intentional, or self-sufficient, or a few of these together, or maybe even all of the above. There’s no right or wrong way to do it, just go with whatever you are called to and test things out along the way. It’s an ever evolving journey. 

One thing we can all agree on is that living simply and holistically go hand in hand. Better yet, simplifying your life will also lead you towards living out your life’s purpose.

When you are living intentionally you are living life on purpose and doing things with purpose. Slowing down is a part of simplicity because you notice each moment and you are living in the present. With our busy lives it can be difficult to make time to slow down. I think it is necessary in the chaos of daily life to take time for yourself and be intentional with it. Whether that’s making time to read or journal every morning or sipping your morning tea or coffee with no distractions. (phone & computer screen I’m talking to you)

Simple living gives you the ability to live in the moment and enjoy every gift the world has to offer. 

It’s about learning what nature can give to us and what we can give back to it in return. 

It’s about being grateful for what you already have and not buying into the concept of needing more.

It’s about doing it yourself instead of buying goods the world makes you think you need. 

It’s about slowing down when the world around you is at hyper-speed. 

It’s about connecting back with this earth and being mindful of your impact.

Simple and sustainable go hand in hand. In time you might be feeling more in tune with your body and nature. If you are eating fresh fruits and vegetables that you are growing yourself or your local farmer is growing you can’t help but feel more in tune with both. Your body wants what nature has to provide not some processed, convenient BS. 

Meditation can also be a great teacher when learning how to slow down and connect with yourself. When you take moments for yourself like this you get clearer on who you are and what you are meant to do. You feel alignment with yourself and you are no longer opposing who you are meant to be.

When you practice this you may come to find you are truly living in harmony with what you feel is right for your life. You are no longer distracted so you can finally find what you are called to do and how you are meant to live. 

Taking moments to be still and slow down are truly a treasure when everything around us is in a hurry. We often buy into the notion that we need it now or that we don’t have the time. The more we slow down and simplify, the more we can be grateful for all that we have and realize we have the time if we prioritize what’s important to us.

Living in this way gives you so much.  You have more time to spend with the ones you love and  have more time to do the things you love.

Simplifying isn’t a competition and you don’t have to suffer to live this way. That’s why there are so many things that simple living can mean because it’s not one size fits all. It’s what works for you in your life and makes you happy. You know what makes you happy so do more of that.

Think about it. Give it a try! 

What are some ways you could simplify your life to nourish your mind, body, and the environment?