New Water Bottle For Back To School

We take hydration very seriously here in Texas in the summertime, so my boys always carry an extra drink.

My boys are back at school, now, and brought with them new water bottles.

They love their new water bottles. They're from Klean Kanteen, hold 27 ounces and they're carrying them in these Built bright red neoprene insulated totes. I just pack the drink with ice in the morning and it stays cold for a few hours.

 

On the back of each carrier, I wrote a son's name with a black Sharpie so there's no confusion about which bottle belongs to which son.

I like knowing I'm keeping my boys safe and healthy, and they like how cool the bottles look.

The Thing About TOP CHEF That Drives Me Nuts, Not That I'll Stop Watching

I admit it.  I love TOP CHEF.  I love to cook and I love a good competition, so it's a nice combination for me.

Those who watch it know that Glad is a longtime sponsor of the show.  The contestants always pack up their ingredients in glad containers when they hit the road, and use Glad wrap, storage bags, trash bags.

The good news is that Glad states the following on its website:

"Glad food containers, wraps, and storage bags and other food contact products are not made of Polycarbonate nor is Bisphenol A (BPA) used as a raw material in their production."

The bad news is that on practically every episode, I see the chefs placing boiling or piping-hot soups, etc, into the containers for transport.

Even Glad's answers to its FAQ will suggest this is ill-advised. 

Is it okay to wash GladWare® Containers in the dishwasher?

GladWare® Containers are top-rack dishwasher safe.

Is it safe to place a GladWare® Container in boiling water?

No. We do not recommend using GladWare® Containers in this manner.

Look, if it's not safe to put them in the bottom of the dishwasher and it's not safe to place them in boiling water, why would anyone think it's safe to put boiling things into them, much less food items that will then go into someone's body?

Drives me nuts.

nuts

Folks, pay attention: plastics leach chemicals into food and beverages.  Don't watch TOP CHEF and think that putting boiling hot food into plastic containers is okay.

Ok, lecture over.

Why Go PVC-Free And How To Do It

It's back-to-school time and I'm shopping for a backpack from my kindergartener.  Though he is dying to have a Ben 10 backpack, I've ruled it out because of the PVC.

PVC, or polyvinyl chloride, first gained popularity as a building material - in its hard form it is a cheaper alternative to wood, concrete and clay.  About 50% of the PVC produced in the world is used in construction.

But it can be made quite flexible with the addition of plasticizers, the most widely used being phthalates. In this form, it is used in clothing and upholstery.  Ever smelled that new shower curtain smell?  Smell that same smell on your child's Spider Man backpack, lunch bag or shiny rain coat? Ever seen bottles with #3 printed inside the recycling symbol? PVC.

What is so bad about PVC?  It's toxic.  Pollution created by its production is spread into the air, land and water.   The additives mixed with PVC resins (such as the aforementioned phthalates, as well as stabilizers) can leach out of a PVC product during its useful life posing health hazards, including the development of reproductive problems in children. At the end of PVC's useful life, it then leaches toxins into landfills.   So, it's a problem from the moment it's created until, well, no one knows.

You don't want it on your child's backpack, food or drink, shower curtain, t-shirt (you know those big iron-on pictures?), rain coat, lunch bag or teething ring.

Below are a few guidelines for healthier choices. You can visit my store for more ideas.

Backpacks: choose hemp, organic cotton, or recycled materials
Lunch bags: choose BPA-free and PVC-free
Lunch containers, cups, bottles and reusable utensils: choose stainless steel, bamboo utensils, stainless steel straws, cotton napkins, BPA-free and PVC-free
Shower/Bath: choose cotton shower curtains and eco-friendly non-slip bath mats
Rainwear: go PVC-free

Other tips to reduce or eliminate toxins in the kitchen:

• Boot plastic and Teflon from your kitchen - use Pyrex or stainless steel for storage, glass pitchers for juice, stainless steel cooking utensils and cast iron cookware.  
• Don't use plastic in the microwave - ever.
• Don't put hot things in your plastic food mill or blender.

For more on eliminating toxins, visit my left sidebar.