Meal prepping is handy, however storing your meals in plastic containers exposes you to microplastics, which may disrupt hormones and hurt your well being.
Meal prepping has turn out to be a way of life as a result of each health influencer and mommy blogger is preaching about how handy meal prepping is for saving time to do extra of the issues that they love. Like… extra meal prepping.
Sadly, they’re not warning you concerning the risks of microplastics once you retailer your meals in plastic containers.
You must admire their dedication when some individuals neglect to pack their leftovers within the fridge. Meal prepping can prevent time, cash, and washing up, however storing pre-prepared meals in plastic containers can do extra hurt than good.
Admittedly, consuming the identical meal for 5 consecutive days is an effective way to kill your urge for food, however not if the plastic packaging is a silent killer?
Microplastics in your meal
Storing your meals in any plastic exposes it to microplastics, that are linked to hormone disruption and most cancers danger. Your publicity to microplastics will increase when meals comes into contact with plastic with friction, warmth, fats, and acid, so your do-it-yourself Penne Arrabbiata is actually a well being hazard once you reheat it in plastic within the microwave.
Microplastics and warmth
Everyone loves the comfort of meal prepping, however heating plastic is dangerous as a result of chemical substances like BPA and phthalates can leach into your meals. These hormone-disrupting compounds have been linked to most cancers and metabolic points.
Neglect what you’ve seen on TV as a result of cling movie isn’t innocent both. Wrapping meals in plastic could protect freshness, nevertheless it does little to keep up longevity.
rule of thumb: storing meals in plastic is a danger, reheating in plastic is riskier.
Microplastic risks
That zesty salad dressing is likely to be selecting up chemical substances which can be worse than kilojoules. Acidic meals, equivalent to tomato sauce, citrus, or vinegar-based dressings, speed up the leaching of chemical substances from plastic containers. It defeats the aim of prepping wholesome meals solely to jeopardise them in plastic packaging.
Microplastic alternate options
Luckily, there’s a huge number of containers constructed from pure supplies for storing your meals, together with glass, ceramics, wooden, and metal. These containers not solely shield your well being, however they’re friendlier to the atmosphere and look higher on Pinterest.
Do you have to throw out all of your plastics?
It’s tempting to trash all your plastic in a single day, however you possibly can part it out progressively. Containers which can be used for storing scorching or acidic meals must be changed instantly, however containers that solely retailer dry meals can be utilized till you’re prepared to interchange them.
The best way to get rid of plastics safely
Sadly, recycling usually simply delays the inevitable and retains plastic in circulation longer, typically even rising your publicity. The most secure approach to get rid of plastic responsibly is within the trash to stop additional environmental air pollution. By no means burn plastic, as this releases hazardous fumes which can be poisonous to inhale.
You must also vow by no means to purchase something in plastic once more.
Know your plastic out of your plastic
It’s straightforward to get confused by the several types of plastic as a result of they usually have completely different names, however they’re all nonetheless plastic. Some are safer than others, however none are perfect for storing meals at excessive temperatures or for long-term meals storage.
Widespread Shopper Plastics
These are the plastics used for packaging and home goods, often marked with recycling numbers:
PET / PETE (Polyethylene Terephthalate)Beverage bottles, meals containers.
HDPE (Excessive-Density Polyethylene)Milk bottles, detergent bottles, harder containers.
PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride)Plumbing pipes, cling wrap, some toys. Additionally one of many extra poisonous plastics.
LDPE (Low-Density Polyethylene)Plastic luggage, squeeze bottles, and a few cling wraps.
PP (Polypropylene)Yoghurt tubs, takeaway containers, microwave-safe plastics (nonetheless plastic!).
PS (Polystyrene)Foam cups, takeaway trays, and disposable plates are a excessive microplastic danger.
Different / Combined Plastics (Class 7)Every part that doesn’t match above: polycarbonate, BPA plastics, bioplastics, layered plastics.
Acrylic / Plexiglass / PerspexThese are additionally plastics identified for being robust, clear, and glass-like, however nonetheless very a lot a plastic.
Smarter meal prep with out microplastics
Meal prepping isn’t the issue, however your plastic packaging is disrupting your hormones, your well being, and the planet. You can begin making smarter decisions just by selecting safer packaging to your meals.
