Need fresh, new and trendy ideas for Mother’s Day or for any day? Since it’s past and i forgot to post this??? Consider eco-friendly gifts for the kitchen that can also help to reduce Mom’s exposure to man-made chemicals! But first, you need to make this cake I made for Mother’s Day. DELICIOUS!
Search her cupboards:
1) Does Mom use plastic containers to store her leftovers?
There are tremendous consumer advantages to plastics in that they are lightweight, economical, and easily stored. The concern is that chemicals such as styrene, phthalates and BPA used to manufacture plastic, Styrofoam and Teflon can migrate into food and then we ingest them. This is especially true when hot food and beverages are placed in Styrofoam, or micro waved in plastic containers, as migration increases with temperature. So replace her plastic collection with glass and stainless steel food storage containers available at The Container Store, Crate and Barrel, Costco, or Amazon. They can also be found at Bed, Bath and Beyond. And if those glass or stainless steel containers still come with plastic lids, fill containers far enough below the top so foods don’t come in contact with the lids or place a piece of unbleached parchment paper between the lid and the food.
2) What does Mom use for disposable party products?
Chemicals can also leach from plastic utensils and dining ware. But not to worry. Eco Products ecoproductsstore.com features recyclable dining ware made from sugarcane and bamboo. Alternative compostable and recyclable serving containers are also available made with wheat straw fiber from World Centric Organization worldcentric.org/.
3) Does Mom own a plastic coffee maker?
Coffee drinkers are advised not to use plastic coffee makers due to the migration of the plastics chemicals into the water as it heats. Using a glass or stainless steel French press, percolator or Chemex will completely transform the taste of Mom’s morning coffee. A simple internet search will result in dozens of options!
4) Check out Mom’s paper products and wraps!
In keeping with the theme of avoiding plastics, unbleached paper snack and sandwich bags are available from If You Care www.ifyoucare.com/ and Lunchskins makes recyclable and sealable bags www.lunchskins.com/. What to do about replacing plastic wrap? Etee Products www.shopetee.com/ offers organic cotton wraps, lasting on average for 120 uses, that are waterproof and will fit as snugly as plastic wrap.
5) Does she cook with traditional nonstick pans?
According to EcoWatch, the most eco-friendly, nontoxic and durable materials for cookware are stainless steel, cast iron, glass and ceramic. However, GreenPan ceramic cookware (available at Williams Sonoma and Kohls) provides the convenience of nonstick without toxic PFOS chemical coatings.
Learn more about why avoiding chemical exposure is so important to our health and the health of our loved ones in Cindy Klement’s new book, “Your Body’s Environmental Chemical Burden.”
