Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Have a Happy "Non-toxic" Thanksgiving!

This fall has just flown by for us and I can hardly believe that Thanksgiving is right around the corner! Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holiday meals but it took some investigation to find safer choices for those traditional holiday dishes, that allowed me some convenience rather than making everything from scratch. Here are some of my favorite tips:

-Where possible, try to buy fresh fruits and vegetables, and organic if possible. If that's not possible, use frozen bagged veggies (look for #2, #4, or #5 on the bag). Canned products, and even some frozen cardboard packaging, are lined with BPA.

- If you are like me and cannot make gravy to save your life, buy gravy in a jar or tetra-pak container. Our favorite is Imagine Organic Turkey Gravy in the tetra-pak.

- If you usually buy canned cranberry sauce, try R.W. Knudsen's Cranberry Sauce in a jar. Jar lids are usually lined with BPA so look for jars that have a noticeable void between the food and the lid and always store them right-side up to minimize contact between the food and lid.

-For those of you who love Green Bean Casserole and need some condensed soup, try Pacific Natural Foods Organic Cream of Mushroom Soup in a BPA-free Tetra-Pak.

If you like a little "bubbly" but without the alcohol, try R.W. Knudsen's Sparkling Organic Apple (even little kids like the bubbles!).

-And last but not least, pumpkin pie... skip the canned pumpkin (and the BPA) and opt for Arrowhead Mills Pour'n Bake Pumpkin Pie Filling in a Tetra-Pak.

And while you're taking those steps to avoid BPA in the food, think about what you are cooking, serving, and storing your food in, too! Use glass, stainless steel, or BPA-free plastic for meal prep, dishes, and for storing leftovers. Disposable plastics, polystyrene, and Styrofoam are common sources of toxic chemicals and best to avoid, especially with hot, fatty foods.

As always, ask if you need more safer choices and have a Happy BPA-free Thanksgiving!

No comments:

Post a Comment