5 Easy Kitchen Swaps to Make Your Home Healthier

Ever wanted to 'clean up' your home and lifestyle to improve your health, but didn't know where to start? A great place to start is the kitchen. The heart of the home - where we prep meals, grab snacks, and in my house, have the occasional toddler dance party!

This blog is not about food, though. It's about the kitchen products we use that are sneaking in unwelcome toxins. Yep, even that innocent-looking plastic cutting board. Or the dish soap you've been using forever.

Ready to give your kitchen a healthy makeover? Let's dive into some easy kitchen swaps that improve your health in a big way.

1. Wooden Cutting Boards

When it comes to cutting boards: Plastic is out, wood is in.

Stock your kitchen with a solid, single piece wood cutting board. Ideally, it should be treated with natural waxes and no mineral oil.

And get rid of the plastic cutting boards. They are like that one friend who seems nice but secretly stirs up drama. That's because every single swipe of the knife on plastic is putting microplastics in your food. You unknowingly consume them, because you can't really see them and the body suffers. Microplastics are linked to serious health issues. For example, endocrine disruption, weight gain, insulin resistance, fertility issues, and cancer.

What you probably don't realize is that you may be consuming about a credit card's worth of plastic weekly.

2. Glass or Stainless Steel Food Containers

Out with the plastic containers, in with glass or stainless steel. Glass containers are microwave, freezer, and dishwasher safe. Plus, they keep your food fresher.

Plastic containers may be convenient, but they can leach chemicals into your food. One of the biggest ways microplastics are leached into foods is by heating up (microwaving) plastic containers. Or even by placing hot food in plastic containers.

If you ever take food on-the-go for yourself or for your kids, take this into account. Opt for a stainless steel lunchbox, stainless steel sippy cups, and stainless steel water bottles.

3. Non-Toxic Cookware

Nonstick and teflon are out. Pots and pans without toxic coatings are in.

I get it - nonstick pans are convenient, but they can come at a cost. Teflon and other nonstick coating often contain chemicals that can release harmful fumes when heated. No one wants their scrambled eggs served with a side of toxins, right? Even pans marked as PFOA-free cans still have PFAS - aka "forever chemicals."

So what's best to use? Cast iron, carbon or stainless steel, and glass cookware. If you want to use ceramic, make sure it's 100% ceramic (not only coated in ceramic). These options not only remove the risk of toxic fumes but also last a lifetime. Bonus: cast iron pans double as an arm workout.

4. Gentle Hand and Dish Soap

Soaps with harsh preservatives are out. Gentle soaps are in.

If you've ever looked at your soap's label, you might have spotted "methylisothiazolinone." Don't ask me to pronounce it - I couldn't if I tried. But I can tell you it's one of the many questionable chemicals often found in dish and hand soaps. They are harsh preservatives that are known to cause dermatitis reactions to a lot of people. If your hands get red, dry, or itchy after washing, isothiazolinones are something to watch out for.

ATTITUDE has great non-toxic soap for dishes and also for hand washing. Truly Free is also a popular non-toxic alternative for these.

5. Non-Toxic Cleaning Products

Ok, I know this one is tough for some of us. These products have been staples in our homes growing up. Windex, Lysol and Clorox Wipes. They might seem like kitchen MVPs, but they're loaded with harsh chemicals. These chemicals can linger on your countertops, where you prep food. Do you really want yesterday's cleaning chemicals hanging out in today's lunch?

It's time to make the switch to non-toxic alternatives for kitchen cleaners:

For the Dishwasher: I use Puracy dishwasher pods. They are plant-based, effective, and won't leave any toxic residue on your dishes. Other great options are Truly Free and ATTITUDE.

For Counter Tops: I use Branch Basics, a multi-purpose concentrate you can use to clean your entire home. Other fantastic alternatives are Truly Free and Seventh Generation Disinfectant Wipes.

Bonus: Fruit & Veggie Wash

Unless you are growing your own food in your garden, it's safe to assume it's being sprayed with toxic pesticides. Unfortunately, even organic fruits & veggies are sprayed, albeit less. A Fruit & Veggie Wash can be your secret weapon for giving your produce a fresh, non-toxic cleanse. You can DIY one, but to keep things easy for myself, I use the ATTITUDE Fruit & Veggie Wash. This plant-based wash is hypoallergenic and removes more than just surface grime. It gets rid of pesticides and other contaminants that water alone just can't handle.

Making These Swaps Is Easier Than You Think!

The beauty of these swaps is how easy they are to implement. One by one, you can replace the toxic items in your kitchen with healthier alternatives. You don't need to swap everything at once. Each small change adds up to a home that's not only safer but also more aligned with your wellness journey.

So what's your first swap going to be? I say start with those cutting boards - you'll be chopping veggies like a pro in no time!

*This content is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice.