Not long after starting my healthy eating journey I had a major revelation: Besides being the pathway to health, the kitchen offered endless opportunities to be green! So as I became healthier, I could help the planet become healthier, too. Here are a couple of the many “activist actions” I’ve discovered.
Action#1: Skip Non-Stick
One of our readers forwarded April’s Wellness Letter published through UC Berkeley School of Public Health. One article took a deep dive into PFAS a/k/a “forever chemicals.”
The Hidden Health Consequences You’ve probably heard about PFAS by now. Turns out they are in many of today’s handy products, but never included in the ads for those products is how PFAS are linked to a host of health issues e.g.: “cancer, liver and kidney disease, altered immune and thyroid function, reproductive and developmental problems, insulin dysregulation, higher blood lipid levels, lower birthweight, and reduced vaccine response in children.” Yikes!
Among the products containing PFAS: those colorful, non-stick pans in our cupboards that we all love because they are so easy to clean. But now (finally) we’re learning that the convenience of easy pan washing comes at a cost, not only for our health but the planet, too. Once released into waterways and landfills, PFAS last forever, endangering a lot more than just humans.
Take Action So an easy way to save the earth (and us!): Skip the allure of non-stick cookware–even if it’s advertised as “PFOA- and PFOS-free,” since “many manufacturers (including Teflon) have simply switched to other PFAS that are less well studied.”
Opt instead for high-quality stainless steel, carbon steel, or cast iron. They last a lifetime, unlike non-stick pans that lose their coatings after a couple years. (BTW, where does that coating end up?!!)
Worried about clean up? After removing food, simply add a little water to your pan while it’s still hot. Scape off any residue with a spatula and you’re about 90% of the way to a clean pan!
Action #2: Sign Up for a CSA Farm Share
Now is the time to sign up for luscious local farm produce that doesn’t get shipped from all over the country–or globally. Look for one featuring organic and sustainably-grown produce. I have been a member of Monroe Organic Farms for many years. I get to help the environment while also enjoying the best-tasting produce around! If you live in the Denver metro area, you can join here, generally the earlier in the year the better for availability. Read more about this wonderful, 4th generation farm here:
More Ideas to green-up daily meal making? Please do share!
If we get some good ideas, maybe we can organize ourselves to undertake Green Team Academy’s Climate Action Challenge in August. Imagine the kitchen being a star in the fight to save the planet! Yay!