🌿 Starting Your Natural Living Journey — One Step at a Time

Wanna clean up your kitchen and start living more naturally, but don’t know where to begin? Let me help.

If you’re just starting this journey, I may be a little ahead of you — but I was once right where you are, staring at my home wondering, “Where do I even start?”

For me, I didn’t have an endless budget, so I began where I thought it mattered most: the kitchen. I figured what went into us was more important than what went on us when I needed to choose a starting point.

🥤 My First Step: Ditching Plastic

The first thing I tackled was plastic. The kids’ plastic cups and plates went straight into the trash (okay — a few stayed behind for art projects; they make great paint-brush rinse cups!).

We’d never been a bottled-water household — I’ve always been a reusable-cup person (lifelong green freak here 🙋‍♀️). I bring my water cup everywhere, even around the house. But we still had reusable plastic bottles, and those had to go too.

I discovered Hydro Flask long before I knew about the lead issue in some bottles. I originally switched because other cups kept popping open in my purse, leaving me with a soggy mess. There might have even been a school curriculum night where it leaked before I noticed — all over me — and I ended up walking the halls looking like I’d wet myself. Talk about major elementary-school-flashback vibes!

Hydro Flask’s twist-lid design fixed that, and now it’s my forever cup. If you know me personally, you know my water addiction — I love my ice water, and this thing keeps ice in it all day long.

My middle-schooler loves her Owala, which turned out to be lead-free as well — safe enough for mom and still cool enough for her.

She used to love Stanley, but once we learned about the lead concerns, that was the end of that. I haven’t dug deep into the research, but honestly, I’d rather just buy something safe and not have to wonder. There are only so many hours in a day, and I’d much rather spend mine elsewhere.

As for toddler cups? Still searching for the one. If you’ve found a good option, please let me know — that’s been the toughest category yet!

The best I’ve found so far is Brümate, but even that one’s flawed. I’m often wearing his water… he is too… and so are my couch and car seats. At almost two, locking his cup is not exactly his biggest priority — and it’s definitely not a leak-proof design.

So for now, we deal with a few puddles and keep testing new options. If you’ve discovered a truly leak-proof toddler cup that’s safe and durable, send it my way — I’d love to hear what’s working for other families!

🥣 Swapping Kitchen Basics

Next were my beloved plastic cutting boards — the classic $2 Ikea specials. I owned so many of them, because I’m totally that person who uses every dish in the kitchen when I cook! Once I learned about microplastics, though, those had to go too.

Have you heard about microplastics? If not, I really encourage you to look into it — it’s a serious issue. I knew a little about them before, mostly that they were floating around in the ocean and harming wildlife. (One of the reasons I haven’t used a plastic straw in probably 15 years!) I even make it a point to buy vacation purses made from recycled plastic bottles pulled from the ocean.

But what I didn’t realize was that my everyday cutting boards — the ones I used to chop veggies and prep dinner — were literally shedding plastic particles into my food. Once I read the research on what that can do to our health, it was a total wake-up call. Those cutting boards went straight into the trash!

I’ve also been slowly upgrading my cookware to stainless steel. Each holiday, I either ask for a new piece or get one as a gift. I’m down to just a few more to replace, and I’m hoping this Christmas will complete the set — fingers crossed!

Now for a confession: I’m still hanging on to my old egg pan. I just cannot, for the life of me, master eggs in stainless steel yet. There’s definitely a learning curve when switching to stainless. What’s worked best for me so far is heating the pan on medium, then lowering it to medium-low for a few minutes before adding oil. That’s made a big difference for most foods... but eggs? Still a work in progress. 🍳

I also ditched all my old plastic utensils — spatulas, ladles, you name it. Most things I’ve replaced with wood or stainless steel, but for the few tools that need flexibility (like scraping or folding), I use silicone instead. It’s technically still a plastic, but it’s heat-safe, doesn’t leach chemicals, and lasts much longer, so it felt like the best middle ground.

My measuring cups and spoons are all metal or glass now, and I swapped my mixing bowls for stainless steel — I actually found a great Viking set online from Sam’s Club. (Plastic mixing bowls, it turns out, are just as bad as cutting boards for microplastic shedding.)

And don’t forget about those plastic colanders! They’re another hidden source of microplastics since they often touch hot food. I replaced mine with a stainless steel one, and honestly, I’ll never go back.

And as for those untreated wooden spoons you’re supposed to hand-wash... I’m just going to admit it: I toss mine in the dishwasher and replace them when they start looking tired. I already hand-wash enough dishes making soap — I’m drawing the line somewhere! 😅

🍅 Food Choices That Feel Right

I won’t get into the organic vs. non-organic debate — you do you. What matters most is that you’re trying. Every small step counts, and progress is slow and steady, not a race.

We’ve always eaten very little processed food in our house. I grew up cooking young — my mom worked long hours, so if I wanted to eat, I had to learn. That experience shaped me. Cooking became a creative outlet and, over time, a passion.

So in our home, cooking from scratch is just normal. But if that’s not your thing, don’t stress about it. Add in more whole foods where you can. Don’t want to prep veggies? Buy pre-cut. Don’t want to chop at all? Frozen veggies are just fine.

Just a little tip — if you buy frozen veggies, try not to steam them in the plastic bag. It’s super convenient, I know, but there are easier (and safer) ways to heat them up that don’t involve extra plastic. Try microwaving them in a glass bowl with a few tablespoons of water, or toss them into a stainless steel pan for a quick sauté instead.

When I was younger, I used to add a splash of Italian dressing to frozen veggies before microwaving them. It was my first “recipe,” and honestly, not half bad! 😄 We don’t really use our microwave much these days, but as a kid, it was my first real cooking tool — and I was pretty proud of it.

Just remember — every small step is a step forward. You don’t have to change everything all at once (or even at all).

💧 A Few Final Upgrades

Eventually, we added a good water filter, and I love it. But maybe for you, the win is just swapping out plastic cutting boards or plates to reduce microplastics in your home.

I also switched up a few everyday cleaning habits. I ditched the bright-colored, chemical-dyed sponges for simple, eco-friendly ones — they work just as well without all the unnecessary stuff. And lately, I’ve been testing a hard dish soap I make myself (it might just make it into the Wispy Willow lineup soon 👀). It’s been a fun, practical swap that cuts down on plastic bottles and smells amazing.

Whatever it looks like, do what feels right for your family — and celebrate the wins, no matter how small.

✨ Remember: Progress isn’t about perfection. It’s about being mindful, making better choices one at a time, and building a home that feels healthy and happy for the people you love.

Want to learn more about how Wispy Willow got started? Read my story here ->