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How to Live a Life Free From Toxic Plastics
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11. Avoid Frozen Foods
Almost all frozen foods– potatoes, vegetables, meats, or dinners– come in plastic containers. Sometimes you can find frozen vegetables in cardboard boxes, but these are rare. Cook foods from scratch as much as possible.
12. Skip Plastic Holiday Ornaments and Decorations
Most artificial Christmas trees are made from very toxic PVC. Buy natural trees, or use a live potted tree that you can plant later on. If you search online, you can find some artificial trees made from natural materials such as recycled wood, glass bottles, or cardboard. Buy only glass, ceramic, or natural ornaments and forget the cheap plastic crap. Kid love to make their own ornaments from paper, glue, and natural materials such as pinecones, dried flowers, and other natural items.
Use real hard boiled eggs for Easter and skip the cheap plastic ones. Find ways to wrap Christmas (and other gifts, such as birthdays) gifts rather than use plastic tape. Wrap them in cloth (dishtowels are fun) reuse old gift bags, wrap with string, rather than plastic tape, reuse wrapping paper, ribbons, and bows, or simply present the gift as is. Try to give things that will be used and appreciated, rather than more plastic stuff.
13. Healthcare and Medicine
Try making your own natural health remedies, rather than buying more stuff that is generally sold in plastic containers. You can make your own cough drops, use essential oils to clear up stuffy heads, and make your own gummy chews or tinctures for instant flu or headache relief. Use cloth handkerchiefs that you can rewash, rather than tissue. Although tissue is made from paper and is often sold in a cardboard box, they often come with plastic wrap, or have that little plastic piece on the top of the box. Why add to the landfill when you can reuse a hankie over and over again?
Prescription medication bottles are recyclable, so be sure to put them in the proper recycling bin. Ladies, use plastic free feminine hygiene products. You can buy washable cloth liners and pads, or use the Diva Cup, which is simply washed, then reinserted. Buy toilet paper that is wrapped in paper, not plastic. Buy an old fashioned safety razor or at the very least, a refillable razor. Make your own deodorant, toothpaste, and shampoo and store them in glass containers, or reuse the plastic bottles you already have. Use bar soap, rather than liquid hand soap in a plastic container.
14. Slow Down
Much of the plastic in our lives comes from the always on the go lifestyle most people think is necessary to a successful life. This simply isn’t true. Cutting back on plastic will help you slow down a little at the same time. Take an extra 15 minutes in the morning and cook your own breakfast, rather than grabbing a bagel and coffee at the local coffee joint.
Eat at a real restaurant for lunch, or pack your own homemade lunch and take the time to eat it, rather than eat in the car. You will avoid a lot of plastic, and you will probably be eating healthier at the same time.
SEE ALSO: 10 Deadly Toxic Products You Can Live Without
15. Food Storage
There is no problem if you want to keep using your plastic food storage items. Using them until they can’t be used anymore is a better alternative than throwing it out. But you can start saving all your glass bottles and jars for storing items now so that you won’t feel the need to buy more plastic items when the ones you have now finally break. You can always store food in glass or ceramic bowls with a plate on top, rather than use plastic wrap.
Bowels with saucers or plates on them are really great for keeping in the fridge, also. You can also freeze foods or liquids in glass bottles, as long as you leave some space so the food has room to expand. Always allow the frozen bottles to defrost at room temperature or in cold water to avoid breaking them. There are also stainless steel containers for sale online. Read more about food storage ideas without toxic plastics.
Don’t worry if you end up using or buying some plastic. It’s hard to become accustomed to living without it. Over time, you will find many creative ways to do without and one day you will find yourself wondering why you ever thought you needed so much plastic.
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