Carving pumpkins is a great family activity to do on or before Halloween. What happens to all of those nutritious seeds that you scoop out with the pumpkin guts? If you are like most people, you probably throw them away. We urge you not to throw out pumpkin seeds because they contain valuable nutrients. Plus, they make for the perfect fall snack! 

There are a few reasons why most people throw out pumpkin seeds when they carve pumpkins. First and foremost, it can be very time consuming to separate them from the pumpkin’s gooey insides. After you do that, you have to rinse them and then pat them dry before you can roast them. The second reason is that most people would rather consume a bag of chips than take the time to roast their own pumpkin seeds.

Regarding pumpkin seeds, you have a few things you can do with them after carving pumpkins. Repurpose these seeds to help reduce food waste! Continue reading to learn how to save and use pumpkin seeds. 

Compost Your Seeds

If you do not want to use the pumpkin seeds at all after carving your Jack, please don’t throw them in the trash. Pumpkin seeds, and the pumpkin guts, make for great compost additions. You can add them to green material, such as lawn cuttings or other food scraps, and mix them with dry leaves or hay. The green matter helps provide nitrogen and leaves offer carbon. Don’t soak the seeds prior to composting them, though, or else they can germinate and you may end up with a rogue pumpkin plant as a result. 

Preserve The Seeds To Plant Them

You can save your pumpkin seeds to grow another pumpkin by next Halloween, just as long as you dry them for long-term storage. Soak them in warm tap water to remove any pulp and then stain them through a colander. At this point, put the seeds on a dish towel and let them dry for about a day or so. Wrap them in paper towels and place them in a sealable plastic bag or airtight jar. Store them in a well-ventilated place (such as a refrigerator) and plant them in late April or May to harvest the pumpkins by September. 

Transform The Seeds Into Butter

Pumpkin spice lattes take center stage during fall, but autumn is about all things squash. Spreading homemade pumpkin seed butter on warm toast is a special autumnal treat. Begin by washing your seeds after a successful carving session. Dry them and then add them to a food processor. Blend until they are smooth and creamy, adding a touch of oil and sea salt to help ease the blending process. It will take some time, but it is worth it. You can also add a drizzle of honey and cinnamon for more flavor. 

Roast The Pumpkin Seeds

This is potentially the best way to utilize and enjoy pumpkin seeds. All you have to do is wash and dry the seeds and place them in a large mixing bowl once you pat them dry with some paper towels. Season them with a little olive oil, sea salt, and black pepper and mix to combine. Scatter the pumpkin seeds across a parchment paper-lined baking sheet and bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for about 30 minutes. You can experiment with different seasonings or flavor combinations, such as cinnamon sugar pumpkin seeds, coconut aminos with white pepper and garlic powder, or create a sweet and spicy mix. Chili powder, sea salt, and fresh lime juice make for an incredible batch of roasted pumpkin seeds! To start you off right, use the following recipe. 

The Perfect Roasted Pumpkin Seeds

Pumpkin seeds are some of the most nutrient dense seeds, so don’t get rid of them after pumpkin carving. Turn them into a healthy snack.

Click here to make the recipe.

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According to a 2023 report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly 90% of Americans don’t eat enough fruits and vegetables. To avoid being a statistic, you buy fruits and vegetables and plan to eat them, but something happens: they go bad before you get the chance to use them. You throw out your produce and don’t even bother to compost because it’s too upsetting to throw money down the drain. 

One report found that about 25% of American families throw away one quarter of the food and beverages they buy. Fruits and vegetables comprise 22% of that, while processed produce (canned fruits and vegetables) contribute another 8% of waste to landfills. We don’t say all this to make you feel guilty; rather, we want to help you make the right changes to keep your produce fresh for longer. 

The primary reason people throw their produce away is because they lack the proper storage knowledge. If you do not store your fruits and vegetables properly, they can spoil easily. Do those greenish-yellow bananas you buy turn brown quickly? Do your herbs turn slimy and brown? What about those cucumbers or apples? If you want to stop throwing your fruits and vegetables away, learn from the following tips. 

Limp, Slimy Lettuce

Big heads of lettuce in the grocery store inspire large bowls of salad and optimal health, as they should. The problem is that storing your lettuce improperly can cause those crispy leaves to become soggy, slimy, and limp. Moisture in the fridge causes most fruits and vegetables to lose their crisp texture and go bad. One way to counteract this is to line your fridge’s vegetable drawer with paper towels or terry-cloth towels. In doing so, the towels absorb excess moisture and keep produce, like your lettuce, crispier for a lot longer. The same rule applies for those bagged salads or tubs of greens!

Sprouting Potatoes

If you are tempted to buy the 10-pound bag of potatoes to save some money, make sure that you store them properly if you aren’t going to use them right away. Potatoes start to sprout more quickly if you keep a large bag on hand. To keep your spuds from sprouting, store them in a cool, dry place with as little moisture and sunlight as possible. Some people have had great success keeping potatoes fresh by throwing an apple in with the potatoes, but some experts warn against this. The reason not to do that is because apples emit ethylene, which can encourage sprouting. 

Mushy, Brown Bananas 

Like apples, bananas emit ethylene gas to ripen themselves. Some people swear that wrapping the top of a banana bunch with plastic wrap delays the ripening process, but that doesn’t solve the issue. Ethylene is produced throughout the banana, not just the stem. The best way to store bananas is to hang them on a hook, so that they get plenty of air circulation. Additionally, don’t store them near apples because the ethylene from apples will cause bananas to ripen more quickly. 

Slimy Mushrooms

Mushrooms are great vegetables that can make their way into myriad dishes, unless they become slimy and unappetizing. To avoid a slimy, mushy mess, make sure that you do not store mushrooms in plastic bags. Plastic traps moisture, which causes mildew and mushy mushrooms. Keep mushrooms in a paper bag so that they can breathe and moisture can escape. If you don’t have paper bags, keep mushrooms fresh by keeping them in their original packaging, but poke holes in the plastic to allow ventilation.

Rubbery Celery

Celery can become tasteless if you allow it to go from crispy to rubbery. You can, however, lengthen its time in the fridge if you store it properly. Experts encourage you to separate, wash, and dry the stalks before wrapping them in aluminum foil. That keeps most of the air and moisture in, while still allowing the ethylene gas to escape. If you store celery in a plastic bag, the moisture stays in the bag, which can accelerate the ripening process and turn your celery rubbery. 

Moldy Berries

Berries can be quite pricey, especially if they are not in season. To ensure that you don’t waste your berry money, protect them by giving them a bath in water for 10 seconds. What about soaking them in a vinegar bath? Well, that can leave a vinegar residue and cause your berries to taste unappetizing. Hot water can inhibit mold growth, according to research. The last step is to make sure that your berries are completely dry before storing them in the fridge. The hot water bath and proper drying before fridge storage can help extend their ripeness.

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Here’s the scenario: you go to the store to get groceries for a recipe you want to make in a few days. You buy the necessary protein, grains, vegetables, or herbs to create your perfect dish. You bring these groceries home and store them. In a few days time, you pull out the ingredients to create your culinary masterpiece. There is just one problem: the herbs you purchased are slimy, brown, and no longer usable. 

Know What You’re Working With

There are two types of herbs: soft herbs and hardy herbs. In order to make these herbs last, you have to store them differently. Before you learn how to store herbs, you have to know how to differentiate hardy from soft herbs. Fortunately, this is very easy.

• Soft herbs have tender stems and delicate green leaves. The stems are edible and may taste slightly bitter. Some common soft herbs include cilantro, dill, mint, parsley, and basil.
• Hardy herbs have woody stems, which you should not chop up or eat. They do not have a pleasant taste and the flavor you want is from the leaves. Examples of hardy herbs are oregano, thyme, and rosemary. 

With the exception of basil (more on this later), most fresh herbs should be stored in the fridge. In order to make your hard or soft herbs last long in the fridge, though, you have to store them properly. That requires a small amount of preparation.

Why Do Herbs Go Bad?

If your herbs start to smell funny or the leaves turn dark, slimy, or moldy, you have to throw them out. There are a few reasons why they go bad, though, and we’ll detail them below:

• It’s possible that you chose herbs that were already going bad in the grocery store. Make sure to select herb bunches that do not have any wilted or discolored leaves. They should be very vibrant in color without any limp, discolored stems. Always do the sniff test to see if they have a pungent, fresh aroma. 
• Herbs can take a turn for the worse when exposed to too much oxygen or light. An environment with too much oxygen causes herbs to brown quickly, while too much light can lead to yellowing leaves. 
• If you do not pat the herbs dry before you store them, they will quickly become slimy and start to rot. If the leaves are too dry, they can turn brown and die. 
• Temperature is probably the main reason herbs go bad. If you store herbs in areas of the fridge that are too cold, such as the back of the top shelf, they can freeze and start to become mushy and brown. 

How To Store Soft Herbs In The Fridge

As a quick note, always wash your herbs before you store them. Some people have their own opinions about this because washing them adds moisture, which can cause them to decay. Bacteria can remain on the herbs if you don’t wash them. Just wash and dry your herbs before you put them in the fridge. 

• Remove any rubber bands or fastenings that secure your herbs in their bundles when you buy them. These things can damage your herbs. 
• Wash soft herbs in cool water to remove dirt and grime. You can do this in a large bowl until the water runs clear. 
• Dry the leaves well in a salad spinner or by putting them on paper towels/linens and then patting them dry.
• Trim about one inch from the bottoms of the stems. 
• Add the herbs stem side down in water, just like you would a bouquet of flowers. Fill a large glass about one-third of the way with water and place the herbs in the jar. Make sure the leaves do not touch the water.
• Cover herbs and the jars of water they are in with recycled bags, tucking the bags under the glass to create a tent. 
• Place them just like this in the fridge, changing the water every few days to extend longevity.

What About Basil?

Unlike cilantro, parsley, or mint, basil is very delicate and not meant for the fridge. Trim the basil stems at a 45-degree angle about one inch from the bottom. Fill a jar about half-way with water and put the basil bunch in the water, ensuring the leaves don’t touch the water. Cover with a plastic bag so that it loosely fits over the bundle in the jar. Store at room temperature and trim the stems/change the water every few days. 

How To Store Hardy Herbs

Just like soft herbs, you can store hardy herbs in the fridge. Begin by washing the herbs to remove any grime or bacteria before you do anything else, and then follow these next steps:

• Once you wash and pat the hardy herbs dry, trim about an inch off the stems. Wrap or roll the herbs in damp paper towels so that you cover them completely. 
• Place the wrapped herbs in plastic sandwich bags and store them in the fridge. 
• Without special care, hardy herbs tend to last longer in the fridge than soft herbs do. You can store them in a plastic container in the fridge if you don’t want to use plastic bags. 
• If you keep these herbs in the little plastic containers they are often sold in, they’ll last about one week in the fridge.

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If you plant on traveling out of, through, or to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) anytime soon, you won’t see plastic water bottles for sale. Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA), the airport authority that oversees LAX and Van Nuys Airport (VNY), banned single-use plastic water bottles. The reason for this is to encourage more sustainable travel. That said, bottled water served on aircrafts is exempt from the ban. 

The Los Angeles Board of Airport Commissioners approved this ban in June 2021; therefore, a two-year phase-out period has been in place. This period allowed vendors to sell out bottled water inventory and modify their purchasing contracts to fit with the new regulations. Now, all businesses with leases or concession agreements at LAX and VNY must use containers made from recyclable glass or aluminum. That means that you will see canned water and glass water bottles available at these airports from now on. 

Why The Change To Plastic-Free Water Bottles?

As part of LA’s “Green New Deal,” LAX and VNY are contributing to making the city of Los Angeles carbon neutral by the year 2050. The Green New Deal aims to create zero-carbon transportation, buildings, and electricity, in addition to eliminating waste and sourcing water locally. LAWA also partnered with the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) to install hydration stations throughout LAX and VNY. More hydration stations provide passengers easier access to drinking water. It also incentivizes passengers to bring reusable water bottles to avoid buying canned water or glass bottled water.

Because LAX is one of the nations’ largest airports, it is a hub for three primary U.S. airlines. It also serves as a major international gateway, while VNY doesn’t have regularly scheduled commercial airline service. That said, VNY is a popular aviation airport in Southern California. Even Justin Erbacci, LAWA’s CEO, encouraged passengers to bring reusable water bottles to these airports. Eliminating single-use plastic water bottles helps to enhance sustainability efforts and promotes environmentalism across all airports. 

LAX Is Not The First To Ban SIngle-Use Plastic Water Bottles

Although this is a great step in a more sustainable direction for LAX, it is not the first airport to enforce this ban. San Francisco International Airport (SFO) was the first to introduce this ban in August 2019. Since then, SFO expanded the ban to include sodas, teas, and juices in single-use plastic bottles. At this time, LAWA has not pursued efforts to that extent, but it may head down the same road in the future. 

Karen Bass, the Mayor of Los Angeles, said that the ban of single-use plastic water bottles was essential to aid the city’s effort in combating climate change. Climate crisis is a serious issue that the city faces, and phasing out these single-use plastic water bottles aids sustainability. Bass encourages all Angelenos to aid these efforts to reduce the city’s environmental footprint. Not only does that help improve the livelihood of Angelenos, but it also encourages a better future for the environment.

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Have you thought about the plastics you microwave? It’s time plastic containers gets reconsidered. If you decide to continue to use plastic containers, maybe consider using glass containers. This will help avoid phthalates and BPA.

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A vacation, especially if it is longer than a week, is the perfect time to recharge your batteries. It’s a chance to gain a new perspective on life, become more worldly, see some of the world’s wonders, or simply relax and enjoy the culture. While eating your way across Italy sounds dreamy to you, your plants may think otherwise.

During the pandemic, a lot of people bought plants to help occupy time. Now, those indoor or outdoor plants are thriving and you want to keep them that way. Sadly, a vacation can ruin your plants if you don’t prepare properly. That’s why we did a little digging (no pun intended) to find out some expert plant care tips for when you leave town. Go enjoy your vacation, but make sure that your plants stay alive while you’re away. Read on to learn about some expert out-of-town plant care tips. 

Tweak Light And Temperature

The more sunlight your plants get, the more thirsty they become over time. Plants utilize the most water during transpiration, a process of exhalation of water vapor through the stomata. The rate of transpiration will depend on how much sunlight the plant receives. That means that the more natural light the plant gets, the more water it will need. If you are out of town for a while and leave your plants in a sunny area, they may look wilted or dead when you return home. To help your plants from wilting while you’re away, place them in the middle of the room so they are far from the heat and light from the windows. When you return, you can move them back to their usual spots. While you’re away, don’t leave an air-conditioning or heating system blasting near your plants. These systems can deplete your indoor humidity and kill the plants. Lastly, give your indoor plants a good dusting, remove all dead leaves and blooms from the soil, and keep the soil moist. 

Maintain Moisture

If you are going to be out of town for longer than a week, there are a few techniques to keep your plants hydrated. One thing to determine is how frequently you water your plants in a week’s time. You want to avoid overwatering your plants before you depart, and you want to keep the time of year in mind. Is it hot, cold, humid, or dry? Consider the following tips to help your plants maintain moisture:

• The Lava Rock Trick: Add lava rocks on top of the soil to help your plants hold moisture while you’re gone. Only put the rocks on the soil after you give your plants a good soaking. If you don’t have lava rocks, you can use mulch, wood chips, or damp newspaper to help keep the soil moist. 
• Create A Makeshift Greenhouse: This sounds more complex than it actually is. Water your plants thoroughly and then cover with a clear plastic bag just below the lip of the planter. This essentially establishes a mini greenhouse, but make sure to cut a couple slits in the plastic to allow for air circulation. You can use sticks to hold the bag up and away from foliage.
• Line A Shallow Tray With Rocks And Water: Place some small rocks in a shallow tray and pour water in to fill up the tray. Set your planter on top of the rocks, so that the base of the planter sits just above idle water. The rocks should help elevate it just above the water. This works to increase humidity and moisture levels in the soil without overwatering. 

Determine The Maintenance Level Of Your Plants

Are your plants high-maintenance or low-maintenance? Once you figure out how much attention your plants need, you can figure out how to keep them alive while out of town. It’s perfectly fine to neglect succulents, pothos, and yucca for a little while. Maiden hair fern, gardenias, or red maranta prayer plants require a lot more love. If your plants are low-maintenance, you can give them a good watering before you go; just make sure the roots don’t sit in water. If your plants are high-maintenance and you’re going to be away for over a week, you may need to call a friend. This friend may need to become your plant sitter. Some plants require daily misting and regular pruning. Consider leaving plants with a relative or friend to make it easy on them.

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New research found microplastics deep within the lungs of living humans for the first time in history. In previous years, researchers discovered micro-plastics in human cadaver autopsy samples. In 2018, the Environment Agency Austria estimated that over 50% of the world’s population may harbor microplastics in their stools. A 2022 study, however, discovered the disturbing fact that microplastics exist in human blood. 

A few years ago, microplastics were discovered in fish guts and shellfish, making the consumption of seafood somewhat dangerous. Shellfish, in particular, was a big worry because people eat the entire animal, unlike fish. In 2017, Belgian scientists announced that seafood consumers could consume up to 11,000 plastic particles per year by eating mussels. Not only do microplastics exist in our waterways, environment, and seafood, but they also exist in our bodies. Some evidence found microplastics in rain and the air we breathe! 

What Are Microplastics?

Plastic is a material that is composed of synthetic compounds and semi-synthetic organic compounds. Plastic materials are easy and inexpensive to manufacture, which is why there are so many plastic goods in existence. Microplastics are tiny pieces of plastic smaller than five millimeters in size. They disintegrate from larger plastic materials, but you can also find them in food containers, clothing, and exfoliants. 

Plastic materials are not biodegradable; rather, they break up into much smaller pieces after physical abrasion or ultraviolet light exposure. When plastic bottles end up in the ocean, for example, the continuous sunlight exposure causes them to break down. Once microplastics move with the currents of the ocean, they can travel throughout all areas of the marine ecosystem. 

Five Main Types Of Microplastics

Nurdles

Even though this is a fun word to say, these small plastic pellets easily end up in waterways. Manufacturers use them to make plastic goods, but their tiny size causes them to spill out of transportation vehicles. Similar to microbeads, nurdles end up in the ocean or waterways, where wildlife mistake them as food. 

Microbeads

Microbeads are non-biodegradable particles of plastic, which measure less than one millimeter in diameter. They exist in exfoliating products, facial cleansers, toothpaste, and more. It’s very easy for wildlife to mistake microbeads for food, and this poses a danger because plastics are not digestible. In fact, microbeads clog the intestines of animals, leading to potential starvation and death.

Fibers

Fibers come from cigarette butts, fleece clothing, diapers, and other materials. Microfibers easily enter waterways via washing machines. Unlike cotton or wool, microfibers are not biodegradable, which is why they harm the environment. 

Foam

Coffee cups, food containers, and other similar styrofoam items are some of the most harmful items to the environment. Foam chemicals leach into beverages and foods, and reheating food in styrofoam containers increases the risk of toxic exposure. Similar to fragments (detailed next), styrofoam breaks down into lots of tiny pieces. 

Fragments

These are essentially smaller pieces of plastic that break off from larger plastic materials. The sun’s UV rays break down fragments into even smaller pieces of plastic. Fragments are commonly from plastic cutlery, single-use water bottles, or plastic lids. 

Microplastics In Humans

Research on microplastics is far from new. In fact, Richard Thompson, a marine scientist from the University of Plymouth, coined the term “microplastics” in 2004. The term followed Thompson’s discovery of plastics the size of grains of rice above the tideline on an English beach. Since then, researchers have discovered microplastics around the world, from the deepest point of the ocean to the summit of Mount Everest. They are even in fresh fruits, vegetables, drinking water, and the air we breathe. In fact, they exist in incomprehensible numbers, with the latest 2021 tally totaling at 24.4 trillion microplastics in the world’s upper oceans. To put that in perspective, that’s the equivalent of 30 billion half-liter water bottles.  

Scientists in the U.K. and the Netherlands found tiny plastic particles in living humans. The microplastics were deep inside the lungs of surgical patients and in the blood of anonymous donors. Scientists agree that they have never seen plastics in those areas of the body before. The published studies never answered the question of potential harm; rather, the focus seemed to shift from plastics to airborne particles that we breathe. Some of these particles are so small that they can penetrate deep within the body and end up inside cells. 

More research is necessary on how the types of microplastics affect plasma or cell types. If microplastics end up in cells, can the cells transport them across the mucosa and into the bloodstream? And once plastic particles are in the bloodstream, they can exist in immune cells, posing a serious risk for overall immune function and autoimmune disorders. By 2050, the World Economic Forum says there will be more plastic than fish in the world’s oceans. Let’s do our best to correct that statistic! 

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Plastic face shields are abundant among beauty salon and restaurant employees nowadays. It’s essentially the equivalent of the spit guards that most stores installed at cashier stations to protect customers and employees. That being said, health officials say that plastic face shields are not meant to replace cloth facial coverings or N95 respirator masks.

The plastic face shield, which is a thin piece of plastic that covers your face, is an added layer of protection. The fact that they attach to glasses makes them attractive and more comfortable than masks. They don’t make your face hot, fog up your glasses, or contribute to “maskne,” a new term that describes the blemishes people develop as a result of mask wearing. At the same time, plastic face shields do not effectively block aerosol droplets from entering or leaving your mouth and nose. That means that they are not effective at protecting you from coronavirus.

Do Face Shields Prevent The Spread Of COVID-19?

As many health experts have noted, the primary method of COVID-19 transmission is via respiratory droplets. Face shields help to protect the wearers from some (not all) droplets from others, and they also protects others from droplets we spray. Since many droplets are invisible to the naked eye, it’s difficult to determine how effective face shields are at blocking them. There is room on the sides and under the mask for infected droplets to come in contact with your nose, mouth, or eyes. Cloth facial coverings, on the other hand, completely cover the nose and mouth, keeping you protected. If you couple the face shield with the mask, you add another layer of protection.

How Effective Are Face Shields?

As previously discussed, they do offer mild protection for the people who wear them. Health experts say that there isn’t enough data or published studies to determine how effective they are at combating the coronavirus. About a month or so ago, there was a COVID-19 outbreak at a hotel in Switzerland. The hotel staff that contracted the virus only wore face shields without facial coverings, whereas the staff members who wore facial coverings were safe. The Swiss government has since told people that they should not rely on plastic face shields to keep them safe from coronavirus. While the masks are mildly protective, aerosol droplets can find their way into the area behind the mask, meaning they are not an effective replacements for cloth masks.

How To Get The Most Protection From Face Shields

Make Sure It Fits Well

The looser the fit, the more prone you are to exposing yourself to aerosol droplets. The shield should go down below your chin, and it shouldn’t be moving around on your face. The shield needs to reach back to the ears, and you need to make sure that there are no gaps between your forehead and the front of the shield.

Wear A Mask With The Shield

The plastic face shield is simply an added layer of protection if you already wear a face mask. Cloth facial coverings ultimately help protect others, limiting the spread of the virus. If everyone wears them, it becomes difficult for community transmission to occur. When you wear a mask and a face shield around others who don’t have masks on, you are sufficiently protected.

Always Disinfect Your Shield

As with any high touch surface, you should disinfect your shield after each use. Alcohol can harm or warp the plastic shield, so it is wise to use a chlorine-based solution for sanitation. Using alcohol can also remove any anti-glare protection on the face shield.

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In case you haven’t heard, there’s a serious plastic problem around the world. Microplastics end up in our oceans and water sources, and plastic straws, bags, cups, and containers wind up in the digestive systems of various marine species. One new study found that stadiums and concert venues worldwide throw away over five billion single-use plastic cups every year; and they aren’t getting recycled! How do we put an end to such a serious problem that threatens our health, planetary health, and the health of animals?

It all starts with you. You, as in each person reading this article and related material, have the ability, nay, the responsibility to recycle what you can and reduce your plastic waste as much as possible. About 91% of plastic does not get recycled, meaning that it ends up somewhere else, which is apparently everywhere. Fortunately, it’s getting easier to go plastic-free, and that means that there is no excuse for wasting plastic. You can reduce your plastic use by implementing the following tips into your life.

No More Bottled Water

Did you know that bottled water is less regulated than tap water in North America? Well, it is, and that makes purchasing bottled water absurd. Bottled water is basically tap water that has been moderately filtered. Plastic bottles are some of the most popular plastic items that end up in the ocean and landfills. It’s unnecessary and we need to stop. Get a reusable bottle that is either glass or stainless steel and consider investing in a Berkey filter to reduce plastic bottle waste.

Compostable Cutlery

The whole point of recycling is to avoid the use of single-use products. There’s no need to throw away something that can be repurposed as something else or easily composted. The allure of plastic kitchen utensils is that they are cheap and can be thrown away, making cleanup minimal and easy. Spend a little extra to obtain sustainably made cutlery that is recyclable or compostable. Some companies are even making cutlery out of avocado pits!

Glass Tupperware

Glass is best when it comes to Tupperware. Not only does it not leach plastic into your food during the heating process, but it also can safely withstand higher temperatures. That means you could reheat your food in the toaster oven as opposed to using the microwave. You can also get your hands on some Mason jars because they are versatile and sustainable containers.

Reef-Safe Sunscreen

A lot of commercial sunscreens contain plastics and chemicals that harm coral reefs. Considering that most coral reefs around the world are dying or already dead, we need to work hard to preserve the healthy reefs that are left. Many sunscreen companies are releasing paraben-free, reef-safe sunscreens with all natural ingredients, which are beneficial for your skin and the planet.

Plastic-Free & Recycled TP

Toilet paper rolls are typically wrapped in clear plastic that holds the rolls together. There are companies like Who Gives A Crap that have started packaging toilet paper in cardboard boxes and delivering rolls straight to your door. You don’t even need to leave your house for new rolls of TP. Who Gives A Crap TP rolls are made from recycled toilet paper or bamboo, making them tree-friendly. Plus, 50% of their profits go toward building toilets for people in need.

It’s all about starting small when you go plastic-free. Reusable bags and straws are a great step in the right direction, but we need to do more as a species to reduce plastic waste if we want a healthy planet in the future.

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While you may have ditched your BPA bottles, Styrofoam plates, and plastic utensils, you may still have your toxic cookware at the ready. Choosing safe, non-toxic cookware is just as important as consuming healthy foods and avoiding the foods that make you sick. Most people, however, do not consider the harmful effects of toxic cookware and often purchase products that contribute to toxin accumulation in the body.

The convenience of a non-stick pan has become popular for the average home cook. In fact, some of the most popular and commonly used cookware products are of the nonstick variety. Did you know that nonstick cookware contains a chemical that could be jeopardizing your health? Nonstick cookware releases perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), which is a carcinogenic chemical, when heated. Additionally, most nonstick cookware contains harmful heavy metals that flake off into your food during the cooking process.

Is Nonstick Cookware Making You Sick?

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), reproduction, liver damage, and growth and development were affected in laboratory animals that were given large amounts of PFOA. This chemical is considered dangerous because it can exist in the human body for long periods of time. The American Cancer Society has said that PFOA is “…present worldwide at very low levels in just about everyone’s blood.”

Unfortunately, toxic nonstick cookware products are present in many homes, despite the reported health risks of using them. Some people choose to ignore these dangers because nonstick cookware is cheap and easy to clean. Well, let us say that you should not skimp on cookware. Invest in some of the following non-toxic cookware options, so the healthy food you eat actually remains healthy.

Cast Iron

You can’t go wrong with cast iron. Historically used to prevent iron deficiencies and anemia, cast iron cookware has become increasingly popular in the modern culinary world. Cast iron is one of the safest cooking options on the market and it is praised for its ability to retain heat at a lower temperature. It can also withstand a very high temperature that nonstick pans typically cannot tolerate. Free of PFOA and other chemicals, cast iron is a safe cookware option. Learn how to season it and clean it properly by looking it up online.

Porcelain Enamel

Enamel is a form of glass, and most enameled cookware is cast iron with an enamel coating. The most common form of enamel cookware is the Dutch oven or stockpot, and like cast iron, they can handle high heat and retain heat extremely well. Keep in mind that enamel coating can be made from clay, which can leach lead into food. Don’t go the cheap route when buying this type of cookware and make sure that it doesn’t contain lead.

Stainless Steel

Along with cast iron, stainless steel is one of the safest cookware options, especially when high-quality stainless steel is used. Make sure that you are purchasing food-grade stainless steel cookware because there are many grades of stainless steel. Some people view stainless steel cookware in a negative light because it contains nickel, which helps to ward off rust or other corrosions. If you are concerned with the nickel percentage, opt for either 18/8, 18/10, or 18/0 stainless steel, the first number specifying the percentage of nickel and the second number indicating the percentage of nickel. Be sure to use non-abrasive cleaning materials when you wash stainless steel to avoid damaging the lining.

Titanium

Before we delve into the benefits of titanium, you must understand that certain titanium cookware manufacturers coat their titanium with non-stick finishes. Be advised: non-stick coated titanium is not healthy! Titanium is used for medical instruments and joint replacements because it is a biocompatible metal that is non-toxic. Legitimate titanium cookware is lightweight and evenly distributes heat across the non-porous surface.

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