If you’ve ever gone down the “low tox living” rabbit hole… you know how overwhelming it can feel. I’ve recently watched a few shows on Netflix as well as now my social media feeds are on the #lowtox algorithms.

One minute you’re just trying to be a little more mindful, and the next it feels like you need to throw out everything in your kitchen and start over.

That’s not what we’re doing here.

I’m taking a slow, realistic approach to reducing microplastics in our home… starting with the kitchen, and focusing on simple swaps that actually feel doable.

You Don’t Have to Replace Everything Overnight

Let’s just say this first… you do not need to overhaul your entire home to start living a little more low tox.

This is something I’m doing gradually. As things wear out, as I naturally need new items, or when I find something affordable that makes sense to swap.

Think of this as a “one step at a time” kind of shift, not an all-or-nothing lifestyle change.

Start with the easiest wins first. Instead of trying to change everything all at once, I’ve been focusing on swaps that are easy to implement, affordable and honestly… make my kitchen look and feel better too. Here are a few of the first things I’ve switched:

3. Glass Food Storage (Tupperware Swap)

This is something I’ve actually been doing for a while now but it’s absolutely worth including because it’s one of those swaps that once you make it you genuinely never go back.

I use glass food storage containers instead of plastic and they have held up so well. They’re easy to clean, they don’t stain, they don’t hold onto smells, and I never have to think twice about reheating food in them. I actually grabbed mine from Sam’s Club on a mega deal at $15 a set and bought two sets right away. I’ve since found the same ones on Amazon so I linked them for you below.

I’m also looking at adding some stainless steel storage sets down the road because I love that they’re completely opaque and great for items you want to keep away from light. The one thing I’m still figuring out is a good solution for storing larger items like a cut watermelon but for everything else glass and stainless steel have completely replaced plastic in our kitchen.

I linked a mix of glass and stainless steel options below depending on what works best for your lifestyle. The airtight glass sets are perfect for meal prep and leftovers, the stainless steel lunch containers are great if you’re packing food on the go, and the glass jars with wooden lids are beautiful for storing things like overnight oats or prepped snacks in the fridge.

Getting plastic Tupperware out of your kitchen is such a worthwhile swap and honestly it’s one of the easiest ones too.

4. Switching to Wood + Silicone Utensils

This is one I’m still working on.

I’ve started slowly replacing plastic cooking utensils and cutting boards with wood or stainless steel and silicone options. It’s not something I rushed into, but as I need to replace things, I’m being more intentional about what I choose.

*I am still using silicone in my kitchen for occasional things like in my non-stick pans but trying to reduce it over time. I’m hoping to replace my pots and pans eventually as well but for now, baby steps is where we’re at.

5. Reusable Paper Towels

Another easy swap I’m easing into is replacing paper towels with reusable options! This one I’m really hoping works out for me.

Again, not all-or-nothing. I still have paper towels, but I’m trying to reach for reusable ones first. It’s a small habit shift that adds up over time. And from what I’ve read, this saves a TON of money as well! I have also found that you can buy bamboo or other non-toxic style of disposable paper towels as well for those who aren’t quite ready to drop those yet.

I’m going to grab a pack of fairly inexpensive ones that I’m good with replacing every year or two as needed. This is pretty easy for me as I already use kitchen rags and toss until I get enough to do a load, so these will work with my system I have.

6. Everyday Drinkware Swaps

This one was honestly the easiest swap for me because I already had favorites I loved using and just didn’t realize how much better they were than plastic.

I reach for my BrüMate pretty much every single day and I also have a glass traveler-style tumbler that I grab constantly. Once you have a few go-to pieces you love it stops feeling like a swap and just becomes your normal routine. You’re cutting back on plastic cups without even having to think about it.

The key is finding the things that actually fit your lifestyle. If you’re someone who makes smoothies or protein shakes every morning a stainless steel shaker bottle is a no brainer. If you’re more of an iced coffee or water person a good glass tumbler or insulated cup is going to be your best friend. And if you’re still using plastic straws swapping to stainless steel or glass straws is genuinely one of the smallest changes you can make with one of the biggest impacts.

I linked all my favorites below so you can find what works for your everyday routine. There are options at every price point and honestly once you find the ones you love you’ll wonder why you didn’t make the swap sooner.

Making Low Tox Living Affordable

One thing I want to emphasize… this doesn’t have to be expensive!

I’m not going out and replacing everything all at once. Some of the best pieces you can find are at thrift stores, on Facebook marketplace, or purchased slowly over time.

If you’re patient and intentional, you can build a kitchen that feels better without blowing your budget.

This Is Just the Beginning

This is just the start of what I’m swapping out in our home. I cannot wait to share my bath swaps, cleaning products, and other simple changes I’m making along the way!

If you’ve been curious about low tox living but felt overwhelmed, I hope this gives you permission to start small.

Because small changes still count.

Want to See What I’m Using?

I’ve been saving everything I’m using (and planning to try) in one place so it’s easy to find.

You can check out my full list here:
👉 [Insert your LTK / Amazon storefront link]

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Save this post for later! Pin any of the graphics below so you can find your favorite low tox swaps from Amazon.