Ditch Teflon, refuse receipts, and other simple changes to help reduce waste and dangerous chemicals in your kitchen

Fifteen years ago, when Angela Flotken was expecting her first child, she began to take a deeper interest in her health and wanted to know more about the items that she was consuming. She began researching ingredients, the biodegradability of packaging, toxins in manufactured items, and just about any other item that she was using in her daily life. Since then, Flotken’s taken her research one step further by launching The Better Have, a wellness blog on which she writes about clean, healthy living. You can also find her on Instagram @thebetterhave. By researching and personally testing products, she’s helping others leapfrog these time-consuming tasks. 

“Small changes add up,” says Flotken. “Educating people about changes they can make over time eventually makes a big difference.” 

Here, she shares smart, simple methods for making better choices in and around the kitchen.

1. Think Local

Fruits and vegetables from conventional farms, even after washing, may contain a surface residue of pesticides and chemicals such as glyphosate. Flotken suggests looking for the USDA Organic label or buying from a local farmer who doesn’t use pesticides. “The Tower Grove Farmers’ Market is great for this,” she says. Another option is to join a community-supported agriculture network, which provides seasonal local produce in weekly drop-offs. Flotken loves Winslow’s Farm. 

2. Choose an Alternative

Many nonstick pots and pans are made with PTFE (the chemical abbreviation for Teflon), a toxic chemical that the EPA has found to be persistent in the environment and the human body. “When nonstick pots and pans reach a high heat, chemicals leach into the food cooked in them, so avoid using all nonstick surfaces,” Flotken says, citing cast iron, stainless steel, ceramic, glass, and lined copper as safe alternatives. She likes All-Clad stainless-steel cookware. 

3. Buy Organic Butter

If you buy butter, make sure it’s organic or grass-fed butter, Flotken says. “Conventional butter is one of the most chemical-laden foods you can purchase, because non-organically raised cows feed on pesticide-treated crops and are given growth hormones to trigger or prolong milk production,” says Flotken. “These harmful toxins and hormones accumulate in your system.”

4. Filter Your Water

Water filtration is an investment—but an important one. The Pure Effect ULTRA-UC-DISINFECT filters a wide range of contaminants. You can learn more on the Environmental Working Group website. 

5. Choose to Diffuse

Organic essential oils in an evaporative, ultrasonic, or nebulizing diffuser are a natural alternative for scenting the air inside a home. Flotken fills a diffuser by Vitruvi with water and a few drops of essential oils to create a lightly scented mist in her kitchen. “For a wide selection of essential oils, visit Cheryl’s Herbs in Maplewood,” she suggests.

6. Consider Cloth

Flotken is dismayed by how much paper waste is created in the kitchen, so she opts for cloth dish towels when she’s cleaning and cloth napkins when eating. “A traditional napkin is made white by chlorine, so look for napkins that are chlorine-free or made of recycled material. For heavy-duty spills, I still use paper towels, but the recycled kind,” she says. Instead of disposable paper and plastic, Flotken sets out dishes and extra cutlery.

7. Remove Your Shoes 

“We tend to track in feces, pesticides, dirt, and dust on the soles of our shoes. Some of it breaks down naturally in the sunshine outside, but it’s not going to do that in your house,” Flotken says. “Keep a shoe rack or basket near the door and encourage family and visitors to remove their shoes when they come indoors.” She notes that cleaner floors are especially important if there are young children at home who like to spread out on the floor and play.

8. DIY Cleaners

When it comes to cleaning products, Flotken says less is more: “Make your own all-purpose cleaner, using half a teaspoon of nontoxic dish soap, 1 cup of vinegar, and a few drops of essential oils if you want scent, then fill the rest of the bottle with water.” If DIY isn’t your thing, Flotken suggests Branch Basics, a biodegradable cleaning concentrate that is mixed with water. For dish soap and dishwashing detergent, Flotken likes unscented Better Life, ECOS Dishmate Free & Clear, and Seventh Generation Free & Clear soaps. For handwashing, stick to plain soap and water. “There’s no evidence that antibacterial soaps do a better job,” she says.

9. Replace Kitchen Containers

To minimize plastic waste, switch to reusable lunch containers and snack bags in clean materials. “Dalcini food containers and S’well water bottles are both stainless steel, durable, and kid-friendly,” Flotken says. “Avoid using single-use plastic bags; opt for washable silicone Stasher bags for wet snacks like apple slices and carrots or dishwasher-safe fabric LunchSkins bags for dry snacks like popcorn and pretzels.”  Don’t forget about reusable lunchboxes and bags. Flotken is partial to a machine-washable, phthalate-free linen option from So Young.

10. Rethink Straws 

“Americans use approximately 500 million plastic straws every day. Switch to reusable glass or steel, or just forgo them altogether,” Flotken says. If a straw is a must, try the stainless steel variety by U-Konserve.

11. Don’t Show Me the Receipts

“Cash register receipts and deli and bakery labels are printed on thermal paper, which is coated with BPA and other chemicals. A 2017 PLOS One study found that BPA is readily absorbed through the skin and is a known endocrine disruptor,” Flotken says. To reduce exposure, she recommends transferring food, such as deli meats, to lead-free glass containers with silicone tops. “Whenever possible, don’t accept receipts,” she says. “Instead, request a paperless receipt via email or text.”

This story was updated on August 1, 2022.