Crunchy Home Basics

Must haves for those who care about real food and low-tox living

We all know Prime Day is upon us (October 8-9), and we all know that our favorite big-box stores copy everything Amazon does, so both Walmart and Target are also having two days of “Deals” this week. And while I don’t want to encourage consumerism, I do know that converting to a crunchy lifestyle can mean a lot of replacing.

Replacing kitchen gadgets, pantry staples, cleaning supplies, and so much more. The more you learn more about a low-tox lifestyle, the more you notice how much in your home has room for improvement. It’s overwhelming, even for me.

That’s why I always encourage people—and remind myself—that it’s not only okay to take baby steps, but it’s the only way. Switching out one item at a time is the best way to not overwhelm yourself or your budget.

If you’ve been thinking about making some upgrades this month, here are some items to keep on your radar while you shop these crazy deal days. I have no idea if they’ll actually be on sale, but it’s worth checking day of!

Basics Worth Shopping for During Deal Days

Air purifiers

I bought this Levoit air purifier for every bedroom in our home when our newest baby was born a few weeks ago. The very first night we used them, I noticed the congestion I had every night when I got into bed, completely went away. No more mouth breathing at night thanks to cleaner air!

This matters because concentrations of some pollutants are often 2 to 5 times higher than outdoor concentrations.¹ So make sure you’re opening your windows frequently, keeping dust at bay with regular vacuuming, and using an air purifier to catch the rest.

Water purifier

Clean water, clean air, you can’t get anymore basic (and crucial) than that. I love my Berkey water filter to clean out fluoride, chlorine, arsenic, and other toxins from our city water. Check out the Environmental Working Group’s Tap Water Database to learn more about the quality of your local water source. Their website is a great resource to learn more about filtration options, too (let’s just say, a Brita won’t do).

Non-toxic cookware

I’ve been thinking about upgrading my slow cooker to one with a stainless steel insert for a while now, and I’m hoping one like this one goes on sale! It’s really hard to find a slow cooker (that isn’t $600) with a stainless steel insert, so despite not having the most ideal star rating, I might give it a try. Or you can grab an Instant Pot, which also has a slow cooking option.

If you’re still using non-stick, Teflon cookware, this might be a great time to upgrade to stainless steel and cast iron. I love my All-Clad 10-inch skillet. It’s super versatile—from making scrambled eggs to pancakes to chili, this trusty pan can do it all (just take a few minutes to learn the proper way to preheat stainless steel so that food doesn’t stick). There are great sets you can buy—like this one—or you can do what I’ve done and just buy one at a time and you might just realize that you don’t need that many pots and pans. You can also find other brands that are less expensive but work just as great!

Another great low-tox cookware option is cast iron like Le Creuset if you’re feeling fancy or Lodge for a more affordable option.

Other Kitchen Tools

Here’s a quick rundown of other swaps you can think about making if these items go on sale:

• Wooden cutting board (please stop cutting on plastic!)

• Wooden or stainless steel cooking utensils

• Stainless steel colanders and strainers

• Glass storage containers and mason jars of every size for storing Kefir, sauerkraut, and everything else

• Sourdough bread making kit. I bought this one a while back and even bought one for my brother as a gift. You don’t need any of these things to make sourdough, but they can be helpful.

• A french press or Chemex for a plastic-free way of brewing your coffee everyday

• Stainless steel bowls, plates, cups, and water bottles for your kids.

  • We’ve been using these kid plates for years and love them.

• I’ll probably grab this fermentation kit for making sauerkraut

Books

Finally, because I’m big reader, I can’t not include a few books to look for:

• The Dental Diet by Steven Lin

• Eat Dirt by Dr. Josh Axe (love his supplement brand!)

• Young Forever by Dr. Gabrielle Lyon

• Good Energy by Dr. Casey Means

• The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt

• Ultra-Processed People by Chris van Tullekan

• Medicinal Herbs by Rosemary Gladstar

Before I leave you, let me just remind you one last time: There’s no need to go crazy buying a million things at once and spending more than you have. Choose one thing every month or every few months to swap and upgrade. I promise, you will be okay.

Is there anything else you’re looking for this Prime Day? Comment below and I”ll help you find a good option if I know of one!

1. EPA.gov