FREE Kitchen Detox Safer Alternatives Guide (reduced)

Safer Kitchen Alternatives Guide
What to buy to avoid harmful toxins in your kitchen so you can keep your
family safe!
By Lara Adler
Certified Holistic Health Coach
www.laraadler.com
Safer Kitchen Alternatives Guide
What to buy to avoid harmful toxins in your kitchen so you can keep your
family safe!
Our kitchens are our safe-haven. They are the heartbeat, and social hub of our homes. In our
kitchens we feed and nurture ourselves and our families with healthy, wholesome food. But lurking in
our cabinets, in our refrigerators, and under our sinks are products that have the ability to inflict
lasting, permanent harm.
Through this guide I hope to help you start making the transition to healthier, safer products
so you can keep your family safe, and free from unnecessary exposure to harmful toxins.
The last few years I’ve immersed myself in complex scientific journals, reading all about the
dangerous toxins lurking in the products we use every day. I’ve geeked out on this so much that I’ve
had successful colleagues begging me to help their clients clean out toxins in their own lives and
bodies so they can have the peace of mind that they’re doing their best job as parents. I’m also
working to create certified training programs aimed at Holistic Health Coaches to educate them on
environmental toxins and safer alternatives.
But it wasnʼt always that long ago, that I was probably a lot like you... concerned, scared, and
overwhelmed by the choices out there. Which stroller, which bottles, which toys? It is safe? While
healthy eating was second nature to me, looking at the “stuff” in my life was too difficult. I was
paralyzed with confusion and stressed about what choices to make, conflicted between buying the
shampoo that smelled great and made my hair shine, and my knowledge that it was profoundly
toxic. I felt like a hypocrite because being healthy was my whole life, yet I was still making choices
that I knew weren’t. When my niece was born I realized I could no longer keep my blinders on and
had to proactively look at the toxins in my own life, and hers, so that we would be safe and healthy. I
step by step started looking at each room in our homes, and identified where dangers lived, and
painstakingly sought out alternatives.
I’ve now developed a series of programs aimed at helping people just like you create a truly ‘safehaven’, a place of peace, without succumbing to the overwhelm of making changes. The sooner we
can move in the direction of using the kids of products outlined in this guide, the better for our
health, the health of our children, and the health of our environment!
This Safer Kitchen Alternatives Guide is an opportunity for you to start taking those first small
steps to having the peace of mind that you’re doing you’re absolute best as a parent and that you’re
proactively looking after you’re children’s health on all levels. Harmful, health damaging toxins, linked
to things like cancer, heart disease, early onset puberty, thyroid disfunction, and infertility, show up in
every single room of your house in levels that can measurably affect your health. Getting healthy and
having a healthy home are journeys. You’re reading this, so you’ve already taken the first step!
Congratulations on being way ahead of the curve. The changes you make by following the
suggestions in this guide won’t make you lose weight, it won’t grow your hair back, or cure your
allergies... what it will do is lighten the toxic burden that we all have. It will help slow, in a
considerable way, the amount of harmful chemicals that you and your family are exposed to in your
home. Check out the end of this booklet for an opportunity to take this further and start clearing out
toxins in all those other rooms as well!!
Cookware
STAINLESS STEEL, CAST IRON & ENAMELED CAST IRON
Many people have inexpensive aluminum pans or teflon or other non-stick coated pans. Both of
these options are less safe as they’ve been shown to leech chemicals into food and the air. Be wary
of some of the newer technology “green pans”. Manufacturers are keeping the ingredients in these
products to themselves, citing “proprietary trade secrets” which means we have to rely on their word
that they’re safe. These products are too new - It’s better, and less expensive to err on the side of
caution, and purchase cookware that has a long term proven safety and durability track record.
Stainless steel, cast iron, and enameled cast iron have been around for many, many years,
and if cared for properly, will easily last a lifetime. Making one smart cookware purchase early on will
save you from ever having to buy more.
The key to cooking with stainless steel is heating your pan properly to avoid sticking. Done the
right way, your foods, even delicate ones like fish, will never stick. To learn how to properly heat your
stainless steel pans, click on the following links to view a short video demonstrations on how to do
this. VIDEO ONE and VIDEO TWO.
Cast iron, if cared for properly, will also have a natural non-stick surface, allowing for even
delicate foods like eggs, and crepes. Cast iron only get’s better with age, provided it’s well cared for
as it’s surface will continue to get more and more slick, reducing your need for cooking with oil. New
cast iron is extremely inexpensive, particularly from companies like Lodge, which has been around
for over 100 years. A small benefit to using cast iron is the slight amount of iron that will be absorbed
into your food - this is a good thing as many people are iron deficient. Until your cast iron has a very
well seasoned surface, it’s not recommended to cook highly acidic foods, like tomato sauce, as it
can actually strip some of the protective seasoning off, requiring extra steps to care for your pan.
Additionally, highly acidic foods can result in a slight metallic taste from the iron.
For acidic foods, or things like soups or stews, enameled cast iron is preferred. The enamel
coating is safe, and inert, or non-reactive. While you can spend a lot of money on beautiful
enameled cast iron from companies like Le Cruset, good old Lodge has a functionally identical line
for a fraction of the price.
RECOMMENDED BRANDS:
All-Clad and Le Cruset are the most expensive of these lines, but again, the quality will last you a
lifetime. As you start making the switch, know that all of these companies sell open stock items,
meaning you can buy one piece at a time, allowing you to slowly build your set. I recommend at
least 1 large cast iron skillet, 1 large enameled cast iron dutch oven, and a full set of stainless.
Food Storage
GLASS & STAINLESS STEEL
By now you know that plastic isn’t all it’s cracked up to be - that the convenience they afford is
shadowed by the health risks they pose. The worst offending plastics, and ones you absolutely want
to avoid are those marked #3, #6, and #7. While the easy to remember rhyme “5,4,1,2, all the rest
are bad for you” may have some validity, the reality is that new studies are showing that all plastics
are bad. Plastics leach hormone disrupting chemicals into your food, and if at all possible, should be
avoided. Glass and stainless steel are fantastic replacements, as they are inert, safe, and easily
recyclable if they break or dent.
GLASS
Glass can be used safely in the fridge and the
freezer making it perfect for at home use. Stores
like Crate & Barrel, Ikea, and even Target usually
have an assortment of glass food containers meant
for food storage. Reusing glass jars is an easy and
inexpensive way to store your food as well. If you
prefer a more uniform look in your pantry, glass
mason jars, in sizes ranging from 4 ounces up to
1 gallon are available at some hardware stores,
and online. You can even freeze in glass jars
provided that you leave enough headspace
between the top of the food and the lid to
accommodate for expansion. For safe freezing, always wait until the food is cold before putting it
in the freezer. Adhesive labels are indispensable for labeling your food! Always write the date on
your label so you know what it is.
STAINLESS STEEL
Stainless steel is also great for food storage, as it’s lightweight
and less prone to breakage than glass. These will also last a
lifetime and and are dishwasher safe. The only downside to this
kind of container is that you can’t see the contents inside, making
food more likely to be forgotten and spoil. See the “To-Go” section
to find out about lightweight travel sized stainless steel
containers.
Both glass and stainless steel are perfectly safe in the kitchen,
but sometimes take longer to transition to. Open your pantry and
look at how your dry foods are stored. Consider stocking up on a
case of quart, or half gallon glass mason jars to store things like
rice, oats, dried beans, and even sugar and flour. Not only will you be able to see immediately if
you’re running low, but your foods will stay fresher longer in the airtight containers. No more bag
clips, spilled rice, or pests in your pantry!
Ball Mason Jars are my preferred choice, as they are easy to find, long lasting, and come in a
variety of sizes. You can even find old, vintage mason jars at flea markets and yard sales! (Although
I’d make sure you clean them very well if you plan on using those for dry foods storage!) Mason jars
are also made for canning, or preserving foods. While this certainly isn’t for everyone, making quick
summer fruit jams, pouring it into a small jar, and freezing it, means that you can have homemade
fruit jams in the dead of winter. For a fancier, more european style glass jar, you can try WECK Jars.
They’re a little more expensive, but are so beautiful to look at!
BALL MASON JARS
WECK JARS
Travel & To-Go
CUTLERY, FOOD & DRINK CONTAINERS, NAPKINS, ETC
Replacing plastic tupperware for use when on the go is the hardest transition to make. But
thankfully there are easy replacements for those as well, which will more than pay for themselves in
the long run. Instead of reusing glass jars for taking to work, or to school, which can be heavy and
broken if dropped, try switching to stainless steel “tiffin” boxes. Tiffin’s have been used in India,
where they originated, for decades, and are how all
working people take their lunches with them. Tiffins are
stackable, locking, stainless steel containers that now
come in a variety of shapes and sizes.
Packing lunches in tiffins is really fun! Each tier is a
different course - appetizer, entree, and dessert. Kids in
particular love opening each tier to see what lies inside.
There are even insulated packs with shoulder straps so
you can easily pack your tiffin to go.
You can find stainless steel tiffin lunch containers on
Amazon.com, at www.happytiffin.com and at www.togoware.com. These are relatively inexpensive, and
buying one set for each member of your household will mean that you’ll never have to deal with
plastic tupperware again.
Ditching plastic utensils has also gotten easier thanks to a few
companies making sets of bamboo cutlery, like To-Go Ware, complete
with it’s own carrying case. These lightweight full utensil sets pack
easily into lunch boxes and purses, which means that you’ll never have
to buy or use a plastic fork or spoon ever again! Simple wash them
after each use and you’re good to go.
For beverages, instead of buying water in plastic bottles,
which leech chemicals right into your drinking water, and
which often come from tap water sources, carry with you an
unlined stainless steel bottle. Klean Kanteen is the most
popular, and readily available line with sizes ranging from 12oz
sippy cups for kids to a full 64oz. If you prefer to carry hot
coffee or tea with you, consider getting an insulated version,
with a fully stainless steel interior.
Life Factory makes a beautiful glass travel bottle that has
a silicone sleeve to protect against breakage. The upside to
using these is that you can see how much is left in the bottle.
These are available in smaller sizes with silicone nipples for
babies too and are a prefect alternative to plastic baby bottles.
If you hate wasting napkins, you can buy a set of Peopleʼs Towels,
an on-the-go, sustainable alternative to paper towels in public facilities
and napkins. People’s Towels are made of 100% certified organic Fair
Trade cotton, are lightweight and fast drying. You can’t get better than
that!
If you’re a ziplock bag junkie, you may find switching to cloth
bags difficult at first, but the cute designs will surely win you over.
Instead of tossing crackers, carrots, or grapes into ziplock backs,
put them inside a Lunchskins velcro closure bag! These come in
a variety of totally amazing prints, and even have a place to write
a name! Made of food safe fabrics that are dishwasher safe,
these alternatives to plastic zip bags come in 3 sizes - snack,
sandwich, and sub. You can also find DIY versions of these all
over the crafters website ETSY (just search cloth sandwich bag)
with super adorable patterns for kids and adults alike.
For those tea and coffee drinkers, instead of using insulated
mugs lined with plastics, try an double-walled insulated glass
tumbler. While these do get warm on the outside (but not hot), and
can easily break if dropped - they make a nice travel container for
hot drinks if you’re careful! Blue Q makes a line with vintage
inspired designed on them.
And lastly - plastic straws. They’re sort of a nothing thing that
we never ever think about, but people use (just once!) millions
upon millions of straws each year that end up immediately in
landfills, and of course are made of plastic. There are amazingly
safer alternatives for straws as well - glass straws! While you may
cringe at the idea of putting glass in your mouth, you can rest
assured that glass drinking are made with borosilicate glass - the
same glass that used in Pyrex dishes, and in delicate things like
coffee pots. GlassDharma, one of the pioneers in glass straw
making, even has a 100% guarantee. Other glass straw makers
include Strawsome, and GlassParadise.
Cleaners
ALL PURPOSE HOME CLEANERS
Household cleaners are some of the most toxic things in your kitchen, and switching to equally as
effective, but less toxic products is really simple, and takes almost no adjustment or transition at all.
While the best place to find safer cleaning products is at a natural foods store, like Whole Foods,
many regular grocery stores have started to stock better alternatives. Many cleaners can be made
simply at home, using household ingredients, but if you’re not quite ready for that, then the following
brands are great alternatives to harsh, nasty chemicals.
Foods
ORGANIC FOODS
Conventionally grown foods are often loaded with residues from pesticides, herbicides, and
fungicides that end up our bodies and can potentially cause or contribute to a whole host of
diseases, none of which we want. Thankfully, organically grown foods are available pretty readily
these days! Making the switch from conventional to organic produce can cost a little bit more, so if
budget is an issue, use the Environmental Working Groupʼs “Dirty Dozen” list to help you
prioritize. This is a list of the 12 most contaminated fruits and vegetables and is updated each year.
You might also consider participating in your local CSA or Community Supported Agriculture, which
gives you access to fresh, seasonal, just picked and almost always organic (check!) vegetables
from a local farm.
Consider also where your animal foods come from, as conventionally raised animals are often
pumped full of growth hormones and anti-biotics and fed genetically modified grains. These
hormones and anti-biotics can impact our heath in profoundly negative ways, to say nothing of the
types of lives that animals raised in this manner. Seek out USDA Organic meats, preferably local
meats, which you can find at your local farmers market. Look for farms that are Animal Welfare
Approved, as these farmers meet the highest standards when it comes to the ethical treatment and
healthy, natural environment for their animals. AWA farmers typically don’t sell in large scale food
stores - so look for them at your local green market or sustainable foods restaurant.
I hope that in reading through this guide, your eyes have been opened to the many safe and
healthy alternatives to unnecessary plastics, toxic cleaners and contaminated food. Making the
changes outlined in this guide can help you to keep your family safe and protected from harmful
chemical exposure in last place it should be - your home. Remember though that the kitchen is only
one room your house!
Your bathroom, living room and even your bedroom are full of dangerous chemicals. Working to
clean out all the rooms in your home will have the biggest and most impactful effect on your family’s
health. Let’s start looking at those other rooms together!
I want to invite you into a gifted “Safe-Haven, Safe-Home Detox Strategy Session” with me,
where weʼll discuss where youʼre at now, whatʼs in your home, and what your next steps
should be so you can rest easy knowing youʼre protecting your children to the best of you
abilities.
This 20 minute Strategy Session is normally $87, but Iʼm offering it to the readers of this
guide as a gift - because Iʼm totally committed to helping you “detox” your home for your
health and the health of your children.
CLICK BELOW TO SIGN UP!
https://my.timedriver.com/Q2H3L
Join me in transforming your home into a true safe haven, and in protecting your children’s
health!
Yours in health,
Lara Adler
Certified Holistic Health Coach
& Detox Expert
www.laraadler.com
917-438-0860
P.S. - Did you know that by not taking these steps to detoxify your kitchen and your home, you’ll
be knowingly exposing your children to carcinogens, neurotoxins, respiratory irritants, and hormone
distrupting chemicals. This is too serious to ignore! Signing up for your gifted Strategy Session tells
me that you’re deeply connected to the health of your family!