I decided to start switching our family over to a more low-toxic, more sustainable lifestyle after I was diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis. There are many reasons for this, but some of the main reasons for me are that we will never be able to eliminate heavy metals in our foods, microplastics, and more as we rely on purchasing food from stores. While I can’t control big brand companies’ ethical or moral compass, I can control what is in my kitchen. What we cook with and how we store our food.
Remember, this is a slow process as I have a 9-5 career and a limited income like most everyone.
**This post contains affiliate links, meaning I receive a small commission if you purchase an item and I share.
Cookware
Finding a low-toxic kitchen alternative to cookware is challenging because I am a massive fan of using the dishwasher, which is a time saver for me as a mom and career woman.
We have mostly switched to using cast iron or stainless steel in our home, but they require hand washing, which I do make time for.
Look for cast iron skillets at thrift stores or garage sales. You will likely get the best price that way. If they are rusted, they can be brought back to life with a little bit of effort.
Stainless steel can be found just about anywhere; it just depends on your budget. I got a few of mine on a clearance sale at Macy’s or Home Goods.
For baking, I have purchased some stainless steel baking sheets, but most of the time I just put unbleached parchment paper on the baking sheet.
Food Storage Containers
No more plastic for storing food. Bye-bye. The only time plastic ends up in our kitchen is when a family member or friend sends leftovers to our home, which rarely happens.
Instead, we switched to glass and stainless steel containers, and with kids, I’m adding even more stainless steel containers. I also use Mason jars to store fruit and fridge pickles.
Stainless Steel for kids lunches
- Stainless Steel Snack Containers
- Salad Dressing Containers For Lunch Box (we put ketchup in these and they do NOT spill in the lunchbox.)
We occasionally use silicone bowls and containers for the kids because they aren’t loud when playing with them, and the silicone will not break. If your silicone smells like soap, you can either start hand-washing it or soak it in vinegar water.
Here are some of my favorite silicone containers.
- Silicone Food Storage Bags
- 20Pack Dishwasher Safe Reusable Storage Bags Stand Up
- PandaEar Reusable Silicone Baby Food Pouches
- Silicone Bowls with Lids, Silicone Food Storage Containers
Cleaning Products
Finding low-toxic kitchen cleaning products can be a challenge. Many products promote clean ingredients and practices, but a greenwashing. After doing my own research I’ve decided to switch from the major dishwasher detergent brands to Attitude Dishwasher Pods and Ecover Automatic Dishwasher Soap Tablets. I switched after noticing my kids’ silicone plates smelled like soap. I had been thinking about it for a while, but once I noticed, I couldn’t sleep at night until I made the switch. Have you ever eaten off a silicone plate that smells like soap? Well, if you haven’t, your food tastes a little like soap, and your kids are ingesting that with each meal.
I use Attitudes fruit and vegetable cleaner and their toy and surface cleaner. If I could recommend one product to try, it would be the fruit and vegetable cleaner. I used to soak my fruits and vegetables in water with vinegar and thought the food was clean after 10 minutes. After using Attitudes cleaner, my eyes have been opened and now Attitudes fruit and vegetable cleaner will forever be well-stocked in my kitchen. I encourage everyone to try it.
Don’t get me wrong, store-bought cleaners are great, but I make a few home cleaners that are used daily. Mainly my citrus fruit peel and vinegar. All you do is put citrus peels such as lemon or orange in a jar, then fill it with vinegar and let it sit. You will currently find 2-3 jars marinating under my kitchen sink; that is how often I use it. I use it to clean tables, counters, and highchairs; I even use it to clean my kitchen floors. It’s simple, cost-effective, and it works.
Kids Items
Since I became a mom, I’ve been fine-tuning drinkware, plates, and bowls for my kids. I’m constantly trying to find the best solution that works for my family and is not toxic for my kids. Again, I will not purchase plastic for my kids—not for plates, silverware, or cups. On that note, baby bottles would drive me to the verge of angry outbursts. The idea of heating up a plastic bottle or putting any liquids into plastic and then microplastics getting into those tiny, precious little bodies would bring out the Mom rage in me tenfold. Our children deserve better solutions.
So here is what I have slowly cultivated for my children.
Silicone Tommy Tippee bottles where what I decided to use for my second child. I breastfed my child, and this bottle was supposed to be closest to breastfeeding. Of course choosing a bottle is difficult and you need to find what works best for your baby, no matter what the material. With my first born we used MAM bottles.
White Corelle plates from Goodwill. From articles that I found, Corelle is okay, but the fewer colors, the better. We also have the silicone suction cup plates for my youngest, but it quickly turns into a game as he tries to detach the plate from the table. As you can imagine, food flying everywhere. So, I have purchased a regular silicone plate without suction cups on the back to try with him, as I’m unsure if he is ready for the Corelle plates.
- Mia Li Suction Plates for Baby
- WeeSprout Suction Plates with Lids for Babies & Toddlers
- melii Non-Suction Silicone Plate
- Elk and Friends Kids 6.7” Porcelain White Plates with Silicone Sleeves
- WeeSprout Baby & Toddler Non-Suction Plates with Lids
For my youngest, he has silicone cups with straws simply because that is what works for him. I have some stainless steel cups with silicone sippy cup lids from my firstborn. We try those occasionally, but when it falls to the floor, the silicone lid does come off, spilling its contents all over the floor.
- Silicone Sippy Cup and Training Cup for Baby 6 months+
- Cuddle Campus 100% Silicone Baby Training Cup
- Stainless Steel Sippy Cup with Straw with Silicone Lids
- 16oz Kids Water Tumbler with 5 Color Silicone Sleeves
His favorite cup and mine were purchased from Target. It is spill-proof tumbler. . It looks like my many 40-oz tumblers he likes to drink out of, but this is the perfect size for him.
Note: it is also available on Amazon, but it is a better deal to buy from Target.
Bowls—I like a few silicone bowls for the kids, but they are rather spendy for one-off bowls. So, I did buy stainless steel bowls. Though it has come to mind that these bowls could be very loud and overwhelm my already crowded mom’s brain, at least I won’t run out of bowls every other day with this purchase.
Silicone silverware was my go to for baby food, and now that my youngest is older, stainless steel forks and spoons.
- NETANY Silicone Baby Feeding Spoons
- PandaEar 6 Pack Silicone Baby Spoons and Fork Feeding Set
- 18/8 Stainless Steel Toddler Utensils
Funny enough, my oldest likes the wood spoons that I use for honey.
So those are my current low-toxic kitchen swaps. I’m sure I will continue to make changes as my children grow.
What are you favorite low-toxic kitchen items?
