I’m not really into New Year’s Resolutions.  Truthfully, I live in sort of a permanent state of resolution and I know for a fact that Mr. Native Texan often wishes I were less resolute.

Anyhoo, in lieu of a “New Year’s Resolution,” I thought I’d offer up a review of a few of my favorite newish kitchen containers.  Some are new to my kitchen as of last week’s Christmas celebration, while others have been in use for about a year now.

These containers are a part of my ongoing resolution to detoxify our home.

By now, I’m sure you’re well aware that plastic is not good for one’s health.  In fact, I won’t bother citing research or studies, under the assumption that you’ve already read all about it or can easily google the information on your own.

Even though I’ve known for some time about the ill effects of plastic on the long term health of my family, it’s been a slow process to rid our home of the stuff.  A person can only overhaul so many things at a time, right?

First on my list was food.  Namely gluten, and then sugar.  After that, we tackled other nasty processed ingredients in our foods.  These steps consumed my energies for at least one year, and continue to be an ongoing process.

Next, and overlapping Project Real Food, came the Health and Beauty Products Overhaul.  This has included avoiding prescription drugs and over-the-counter medicines, as well as mainstream (toxin-laden) cosmetics and hygiene items.  We have embraced natural ingredients, essential oils and home remedies.  I’m even making a few of our products myself, like tooth-soap, hard lotion, deodorant, air fresheners, laundry detergent, etc.

Which brings us to Phase Three of my Yankee Homestead Household Detox: kitchenware.

Want to know my current general goals for all tools and procedures related to food-prep?

1. Use the microwave less (with the tentative future goal of eliminating it altogether–this one still seems a bit daunting, but I’m making strides).
2. Use nonstick cookware less.
3. Use less plastic.

The key for me is less.

I tend to be an all-or-nothing kind of gal, so gradual implementations are often a challenge.  It’s going pretty well, actually, which is kind of a big deal for me.     I have to keep reminding myself that any improvement is just that: an improvement.

• I’m still using the microwave, but am trying to use it less.
• I haven’t thrown out my nonstick cookware, but have been using it less.
• Over the past few months, I’ve been focusing on #3 and working my way towards removing most plastic from the kitchen.

I did it.  It’s gone!  I can’t bring myself to remove it completely from the house, so it’s currently hanging out in a “holding spot” down in the basement.  But it’s out of the kitchen!

I cleared out all the plastic Tupperware-type containers, and I had a LOT of those.  I cook a lot, and in huge quantities.  I also freeze many, many things, especially during the summer.  I’m still not exactly sure how that will work come garden-harvest-time, but I’ve been saving glass jars (we have a small army of Amy’s Salsa jars, for example).

I cleared out all the kids’ plastic: plates, bowls, snack cups and silverware.  Little Brother is still using plastic sippy cups for milk, but Older Brother has switched to a regular glass.  They both still use BPA-free Nalgene water bottles (pictured below), which I do not plan to replace.  Both boys are using regular dinnerware and silverware.

This is huge!

So, here are two of the products I’m totally loving as we replace our plastic with healthier materials:

Last Christmas, I received one set of Glasslock Snapware.  I love it!  Each piece has been well-used, and I requested another set this Christmas.

Here’s what I love:

• We can see the contents of the dish with a simple glance into the refrigerator.
• The glass containers and plastic lids go in the dishwasher.  Ours have held up really well, after a full year of constant use.
• The lids are BPA-free.  
• Getting the lids to snap on can be a bit challenging at first, but now that we’ve got the hang of it it’s no big deal.
• The containers nest well in the cupboard and stack well in the fridge.
• I love them!

Find Glasslock Snapware at:

• Amazon
• Costco–I”m not a member, but I’ve heard from several friends that Costco carries a set.
• I’ve seen them at other retailers, too, so check around at Target, Walmart, Bed Bath and Beyond, etc.
• I’ve even seen them at grocery stores!

 

Another item I’ve been researching is reusable food bags.  

I received this fun lunchskins set for Christmas:

  

These pics are a bit blurry, but you can read all about lunchskins here.

Here’s what I love:

• The patterns!
• Easy to clean.  Most of the time, we just wipe them out.  Once, in the two weeks we’ve owned them, we ran one through the dishwasher.  Worked great!
• Easy to store.
• Variety of sizes.  The 6-pack has worked out great for us so far, and I’m contemplating ordering more of the snack size.  I thought they might be too small to be useful, but it turns out they’re perfect for the boys’ snacks.  (Imagine that!)  We’ve owned them for only two weeks, but thus far we’ve filled them with grapes, nuts, crackers and beef sticks.  All have worked well.
• Great reviews on Amazon.

 Find them at:

• Amazon
• The Container Store
• Lunchskins.com

Are you really interested in reusable snack/sandwich/etc bags?  

You might want to read these…

• Kitchen Stewardship’s reviews of multiple reusable food bags
• The Nourishing Gourmet’s Replacing Plastic Sandwich and Snack Bags

(Thanks to my friend Teresa for pointing me to the above reviews).

Next on my list is stainless steel divided lunch containers.

These are the ones I’ve settled on: LunchBots Stainless Steel Food Containers.  They come in single, duo, trio and quad varieties, with multiple lid-color options.

I received the LunchBots Uno Stainless Steel Food Container (with a stainless steel lid–pictured below) for Christmas, and am eager to try it out.  I’m pretty sure the LunchBots Trio Stainless Steel Food Container (pictured above, with a red lid) will be perfect for our on-the-go lunches and picnics.

I’ll keep you posted on our satisfaction with these non-plastic food containers, as well as with Phase Three of our Household Detox.  [Update: Check out my review of our entire set of LunchBots Stainless Steel Food Containers, including the Uno, Trio, Quad and Condiment containers.]

Happy New Year!

Have you replaced your plasticware?  Found any products you love?  Tell us about them below!

Other posts you might like:

• Ditching Paper Napkins for Good (hopefully)
• My Favorite Brands of Non-toxic Make-up
• Real Food
• Tea Time: Traditional Medicinals Herbal Teas for Self-Care