5 Easy Low-Tox Kitchen Swaps Jade Swears By
When I first started looking at low-tox living, the kitchen was one of the easiest places for my family to make practical changes.
So much of what we eat and drink comes into contact with plastic, coatings, and other toxic materials every day. For me, it wasn’t about throwing everything out and starting again – the swaps happened gradually and with education.
But over time, those little swaps have add up! Here are five of the easiest changes I’ve made in our kitchen, why I made them, and what I use instead. Let me know yours!
01. Chopping boards
What I swapped: Plastic chopping boards
Why I made the change: Every time a plastic board is cut and scratched, tiny plastic particles can be released from its surface and make their way into food. The more worn the board becomes, the more visible those grooves and damage can be.
What I use now: Wooden chopping boards. I prefer them to glass or metal boards as I find them easy to cut on, they don’t dull my knives, and are easy to disinfect. Add a beautiful artisan wood chopping board to your next bday/xmas wishlist!
02. Cookware
What I swapped: Non-stick pans, baking trays and plastic utensils
Why I made the change: Traditional non-stick cookware relies on coatings to create that slippery surface, and those coatings can deteriorate when scratched, overheated or just used over time. Teflon coating in my family’s dinner? No thanks.
What I use now: Stainless steel pans, baking trays and utensils. They’re so durable, uncoated, and (once you learn how to cook with them properly) surprisingly easy to use!
03. Water
What I swapped: Drinking straight from the tap
Why I made the change: While tap water is treated to make it drink-safe, depending on where you live it can still contain trace chemicals, heavy metals, microplastics, and PFAS. Plus, I don’t enjoy the taste!
What I use now: Simple refill water filters for everyday drinking and cooking. It's become one of those changes we barely think about anymore. If you live in an area with hard water, a screw-on shower filter can help protect your skin and hair health too!
04. Drink Bottles
What I swapped: Plastic drink bottles
Why I made the change: I wanted to reduce how often our drinking water was sitting in plastic, particularly reusable plastic bottles that can become scratched and worn with repeated use. Not only can it affect our health, single use plastic is terrible for the environment!
What I use now: Stainless steel or glass bottles. They’re durable, reusable and an incredibly easy swap to make.
05. Food storage
What I swapped: Plastic food storage
Why I made the change: Plastic containers can become scratched, stained and degraded over time causing them to leech into your food, particularly when used for reheating meals.
What I use now: Glass containers. They’re easy to clean, don’t hold onto stains or smells, and can go from fridge to reheating without food needing to sit in plastic, and you can find them everywhere!
And remember: You don’t need to change everything at once
My approach has always been progress over perfection. Use what you have, do your own research, and when something eventually needs replacing, consider whether there’s an alternative that feels better for you and your family.
Five small swaps might not feel revolutionary, but over years of everyday use, I think the little choices matter!
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