Plastics in the Kitchen

Why does everything come in plastic?

There are so many uses for plastics in the kitchen! We use plastic products for so many things and I understand how convenient they make our lives. We drink our water from plastic bottles and store our food in plastic containers, with plastic wrap, and in plastic baggies. A lot of times when we purchase food from the grocery store it comes pre-packaged in plastic containers and bags. Then there are the plastic serving utensils, dishes, cutlery, and even straws. We’re aware of all these things that make our lives easier but did you consider that we even have numerous small appliances that are constructed with plastic parts? From our blenders to our coffee makers, plastic is everywhere!

Plastics don’t break down in the environment.

Effects of All These Plastics

There’s overwhelming evidence that such overuse of plastics is wreaking havoc on our environment. They simply don’t break down. When we toss plastic bags and bottles into our landfills and oceans they stay there. For a really long time. And they aren’t good for our ecosystem and they hurt our sea life and land animals. It just feels irresponsible when you stop and think about it.

There are also many health concerns associated with exposure to plastics. Bisphenol A (BPA) is a chemical produced in large quantities for use primarily in the production of polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins. BPA leaches into our food from the inner coatings of canned foods, from food storage containers, water bottles, and plastic tableware. Heating the containers cause BPA to leach at greater levels. Older containers leach more BPA.

BPA is an artificial form of estrogen and has been linked to premature puberty and hormone disruption. It is also associated with heart disease, diabetes, and some cancers.

Limit or Omit

It’s a little scary that a substance that we’ve grown so accustomed to and reliant upon can potentially harm us so profoundly. So what can we do? Well, we can limit or omit plastics from our lives. Stop buying food in plastic. Easier said than done, I know, but worth the effort. Choose to boycott spaghetti sauce, apple sauce, peanut butter, etc. that has been packaged in plastic. Eliminate plastic storage bags and containers and let go of the notion that you have to carry around a plastic water bottle everywhere you go.

Healthy Alternatives

There are healthier alternatives. Buy from the bulk bins. Bring your own bags when you shop. Cloth bags are great for grains and dried beans and mesh bags work great for produce. Start making your own condiments, spice blends, snacks, and meals. You can store your pantry items in quart-sized mason jars. Bonus, they look cool on the shelf. Labeling is cheap and easy if you grab a roll of masking tape and a sharpie. Masking tape peels off easily if you want to change the label.

Use Cloth Shopping Bags

Pyrex bowls and dishes are wonderful for storing your food in the refrigerator or freezer. Pyrex can also go into the oven, just don’t go straight from the freezer to a hot oven. Opt for glass drinking bottles and glass or steel drinking straws. Use wood, steel or silicone serving spoons. And stick to wooden cutting boards.

At the end of the day, we all need to go back to the way our Grandmother’s or Great grandmothers did things. It just feels good to know that you’re having a positive impact on the planet and on the precious bodies of the ones we love.