Low(er) Tox Living

I’ll show you how to navigate ingredients, swaps, and everyday decisions without fear, overwhelm, or “all-or-nothing” thinking.

We make hundreds of choices a day for our families — what our kids eat, what we clean with, what we put on our skin. It’s a lot. And most of us were never taught to look at the ingredient labels we trust every day.

So many of the products on grocery store shelves are filled with additives, chemicals, and toxins that don’t belong in (or on) our families’ bodies. From artificial dyes that affect behavior to seed oils that disrupt hormones, these “everyday” ingredients quietly add up over time.

This isn’t about fear mongering or perfection. It’s about being informed. Because when you understand what’s actually in your food, your skincare, your cleaning supplies, and your home environment, you can make better decisions — one swap at a time — that support your family’s long-term health.

When you start paying attention to ingredients, everything shifts.

You realize:

  • You can reduce your kids’ exposure to toxins without spending a fortune.

  • You can support your family’s immune system, energy, and mood by choosing whole, real foods.

  • You can protect your home environment by swapping out just a few key products.

It’s not about doing it all. It’s about small, sustainable changes that add up. Choosing a safer sunscreen. Swapping your laundry soap. Saying yes to whole foods and no to artificial flavors. Every choice matters — and those choices create the ripple effect of a healthier, happier home.

Ingredients & Products to Avoid (or Minimize)

I’ve pulled together a list of common ingredients and products to avoid (or minimize) — and safer alternatives you can swap in when you’re ready. Think of this as your “Grocery Shopping 101” list, a starting point you can come back to again and again.

Food & Additives

  • Artificial Flavors

  • Artificial Food Dyes & Colors (Blue #1, #2; Citrus Red #2; FD&C Lakes; Green #3; Orange B; Red #40, #3; Yellow #5, #6, Tartrazine)

  • Artificial/Refined Sweeteners (Aspartame, Saccharin, Sucralose, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Corn Syrup Solids, Dextrose from GMO corn)

  • BHA/BHT

  • Carrageenan

  • Enriched Wheat (choose whole wheat instead)

  • Hydrogenated or Partially Hydrogenated Oils

  • MSG

  • Natural Flavors (use caution unless you know the source)

  • Soy Protein Isolate

  • Xanthan or Guar Gum

Packaged & Processed Foods

  • Canned Foods with BPA/BPS linings (choose glass when possible)

  • Commercial Salt (opt for unrefined sea salt or Himalayan salt)

  • Processed Meats (avoid nitrites/nitrates)

  • Factory-Farmed Meat, Dairy, Eggs, and Fish

  • Ultra-Pasteurized, Fortified, or Reduced-Fat Dairy (choose raw, low-pasteurized, or organic grass-fed when possible)

Medications & Supplements

  • Aluminum-Containing Products (like some antacids — try Genexa as a clean alternative)

  • Commercial Baking Powder (choose aluminum-free)

  • Sodium Benzoate (especially when paired with ascorbic acid)

  • TBHQ

  • Calcium or Sodium Caseinate

Household Products

  • Aluminum Foil (swap for unbleached parchment paper)

  • Teflon/Non-Stick Cookware (opt for stainless steel or quality cast iron/ceramic)

  • Plastic Food Containers & Utensils (choose glass or stainless steel, avoid heating food in plastic)

  • Industrial Seed Oils (canola, corn, cottonseed, grapeseed, refined palm, safflower, soybean, sunflower)

Everyday Exposures

  • Tap or Fluoridated Water (many bottled brands are just rebottled tap — look for filtration systems)

Friendly Reminder

This isn’t about scaring you or making you feel like you need to clean out your pantry today. It’s about awareness. When you know better, you can choose better. Each swap you make — whether it’s your cooking oil, your kids’ snacks, or your water filter — is a step toward protecting your family’s health.

The power of low-tox living isn’t found in perfection. It’s found in being intentional, one decision at a time.

RESOURCES

for Moms

This list is just the beginning. If you’re ready to go deeper, I’ve created guides and resources to help you:

  • The Low-Tox Baby & Momma Guide — 30 pages of safer swaps, pregnancy/postpartum tips, and direct links to my favorite products (plus budget-friendly alternatives).

  • Courses Coming Soon — step-by-step education to help you transform your home without overwhelm.

GRACE IN THE GREY

GRACE IN THE GREY