You shouldn't be worrying about plastic every single day. That's a sad way to live life and it's genuinely bad for you to be in such a cortisol-spiked state 24/7. Instead, make simple (but effective) swaps and introduce habits that make it easier to live a life with minimal plastic. Then, you stop worrying about the rest.
Swap Plastic Cutting Boards for Wood
This one is easy to make. Every time you cut on a plastic cutting board you’re unknowingly adding tiny pieces of plastic into your food as an unwanted ingredient. Treat yourself to a beautiful wooden cutting board, it’ll last you longer and it ages beautifully. For more details on exactly what to look out for, check this out:
Brew Loose Leaf Tea
Tea tastes better loose leaf and it’s also healthier for you. Tea bags are one of the silent culprits when it comes to microplastics. They’re so unassuming yet most of these bags are lined with plastic!! And if you’ve been here for a while you know the biggest thing we want to avoid with plastic is heat. Never combine the two.
Avoid Cooking Sous Vide
I know this one will upset a few people but when you think about it, why is this even normalized? Listen, I can maybe understand if you’re a chef at a restaurant needing to nail five different steaks at the same time all at different temperatures. But if you’re cooking just for yourself, why? Boiling your meat in a plastic bag is just about the worst way you can cook. Takes all the fun out of it and you’re adding microplastics as an unwanted ingredient.
Use Real Cooking Pans Over Plastic Non-Stick
Non-stick pans are coated with plastic. And again, we never want to combine heat with plastic. They scratch, and immediately start shedding bits of plastic into everything you’re cooking. Opt for a good stainless steel or cast iron. Heat the pan properly, add your fat, and you’ll be fine. The best pans are heirlooms you can pass down (you can never do that with cheap teflon!).
Always Store and Heat Your Food in Glass
Glass tupperwares > plastic. Especially if you’re heating it up. Glass containers also last forever and they are cleaner. Plastic (no matter how much you clean it) just becomes gross over time.
Boil Water in a Stainless Steel Kettle
A stainless steel kettle looks better, lasts longer and doesn’t add microplastics to your water. Enough said.
Avoid Cheap Pod Coffee
Similar principle as the tea bags! Hot water forced through plastic tubing at pressure, straight into your cup. With this you also get unwanted aluminum in your coffee, which is strongly linked with neurodegenerative disease. Make real coffee or visit a friendly barista near you who knows best :)
Drink Water That’s Microplastic-Free
Water is the thing you consume most of by volume, every single day. Either filter and remineralize your water the right way or get it from brands who do it the right way.
Only Chew Natural Gum
Almost all commercial chewing gum has a synthetic base, and that base is most of the time plastic. Opt for something like mastic gum from Greco Gum or natural chicle based gum that won’t shed microplastics into your digestive system. It’s always nice to walk around with fresh breath, just take note of exactly what you’re chewing.
Sleep on Wool Stuffed Pillows
We spend a third of our lives sleeping! On top of having a good mattress, not much is talked about knowing what your pillow is made of. Opt for natural wool pillows over polyester filled pillows that release microplastics into the air.
Rugs Made of Natural Materials
Wool, cotton, silk. Like pillows, synthetic rugs shed constantly into the air of the room you’re sitting in, and they never look as good. It’s also one factor why some people think they have allergies when in fact it’s just a poor choice of material!
Wear Natural Materials Over Polyester Clothing
Natural materials just feel better. And they’re better for you as well. Always check what your clothing is made from, like how you check for ingredients at a grocery store.
Cotton / Linen Towels Over Paper Towels
Most people don’t know this but those clean white paper towels leak BPA or BPS. A better alternative (that’s also a renewable alternative) is a stack of good cotton or linen cloths.
Beeswax Candles
Modern day paraffin candles are not something you want to burn in your home! If you enjoy the vibes of burning a candle, look for beeswax. It also smells better in my opinion!
Donate Blood
This one surprises people on a plastic list but it’s one of the only proven ways for you to “detox” from plastic! Donating blood helps with removing microplastics and PFAs “forever chemicals” from your system.
> also for those who say “Does this mean we’re donating blood with microplastics to others?”
The answer is those who NEED blood have far bigger things to worry about than some microplastics. In a modern hospital setting almost everything is touched by plastic anyways. Their focus is to simply LIVE and get to baseline, not thrive. They can worry about microplastics after they've healed. We're 10000% against plastic but we have to remember how robust the human body is. Does consuming too much plastic impair fertility / mess with your hormones in the long run? Yes. Does the benefit of getting blood to your system that absolutely needs it outweigh the negatives of microplastics? Yes.
Visit the Sauna
The sauna is lauded in so many cultures. I’m not going to make big claims about what does or doesn’t leave your body in there. What I will say is that sweating properly two or three times a week makes you feel incredible, clears toxins it’s excellent for your heart, and the Nordics have been right about this for a very long time. Learn the art of the sauna:
What else would you add?
The Sandwich Issue
The Sandwich Issue has arrived. Issue 42 is proudly powered by our friends Zimms Organics who are doing extra virgin olive oil the right way. Link to read the full issue in bio. No paywall. Enjoy the experience 🥂
Coffee Matrix
❋ A Healthy Gut Begins in our Mouth? by Ella Henry
“I find the microbiome systems in our bodies fascinating & the way that our bodies are so interconnected is amazing. No one thing in our body is a separate entity, they all work together as a system, communicating with one another, making up for each others imbalances, and that is why it’s so important we don’t neglect any part of ourselves. I hope this was helpful for you to understand a little bit more about the oral microbiome, at a glance.
I notice that when I prioritize my routine, I feel a huge positive difference in the overall freshness of my mouth, whiter teeth, pinker gums, healthier looking tongue, and healthier skin & digestion. So I naturally gravitate towards it because it feels good.” — Ella Henry
“Start by making the jam. Place your peaches in your food processor. Pulse the peaches lightly leaving some chunks. Then add your peaches to a medium sauce pan.
In a food processor add your sugar and most of your basil (reserve about 5-10 leaves). Blend on high until the leaves are completely gone. If there are any leaves left, remove them with your hands.
Place basil sugar mixture in your saucepan.
Simmer jam on medium low heat, stiring continuously until your mixture thickens. This can be anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour depending on how much liquid your peaches have in them. Do not stop stiring or it will burn.
Once your jam is the right consistency, remove from heat and let cool completely.
Finely dice up your remaining leaves. Mix it into your cooled jam.”
❋ Late Summer Biscuit Box by Sophie Bamford
“Summer generally isn’t considered prime biscuit season, we all know that Christmas holds that title, but I’m a firm believer that biscuit boxes can (and should) be made year round. If we ignore biscuits for 90% of the year we end up missing out on all of the wonderful flavours that summer brings and that would be a travesty.” — Sophie Bamford
❋ The Secrets of The Last Supper by The Culturist
“Few works of art have sparked as much intrigue and debate as Leonardo da Vinci’s Last Supper.
A cornerstone of Western art that has captivated viewers for centuries — not only for its artistry, but for the layers of symbols and messages concealed within.
What secrets lie in the shadow of Judas’s betrayal?
How does Christ’s calm demeanor hold firm against the storm of human emotion?
And is there any truth to Dan Brown’s Da Vinci Code?
Today, we break apart all of these questions to reveal what makes The Last Supper one of the most enigmatic and enduring masterpieces of all time…” — The Culturist
“Greek stuffed tomatoes or yemista/gemista are a healthy satisfying meal that screams of flavours of Greece! This makes a great family meal, or great for company too. Serve with some fresh crusty bread extra feta and some red or white wine and everyone will enjoy. It also makes for some fantastic leftovers! With the potatoes tucked between the stuffed vegetables and the tasty tomato sauce poured over the top, this is a balanced one pan meal. This is a very versatile recipe. You can add meat or lentils to the filling. You can use different vegetables like zucchini/courgette or eggplant and peppers. The filling is wonderful in all of them. You can add pine nuts and/or sultanas or raisins to the stuffing too. These are similar to my stuffed pepper recipe but this is a vegetarian version I love making with homegrown tomatoes or heirloom ones toward the end of the summer when the tomatoes are sweet and to die for.
Every family has their own Gemista recipe and every region has its own variation of this Greek dish. This is a classic and typical recipe for Gemista. Loaded with delicious fresh herbs and some briny add ins to the filling. This beautiful dish is one of those that tastes best the day after it has been made. It is usually eaten at room temperature (rather than steaming hot) and a glass of chilled white wine or some red if you prefer goes well with it. You can definitely serve it with Greek salad and some crust bread too. A classic Greek dish you will enjoy!”
❋ How much would you pay for the perfect peach? by Maddy
“I can’t exactly remember when, but at some point my summer Martha’s Vineyard visits became defined by the hunt for Gold Bud peaches. I think we first found them at Katama General Store, 6 or 7 years ago — a mix of bewilderment and curiosity at the price tag, which back then would run you about $8 per peach. But then again, these peaches seemed perfect: packaged in crates fitted with custom inserts to prevent bruising during transit, bigger than my fist and colored deep sunset reds and oranges, so taut they seemed to be bursting at the seams with juices, and strongly perfumed. You didn’t even need to hold one to your nose, just enter the general vicinity of the crate, to smell that distinct, perfect sweet, floral peachy scent.
That first summer we saw them we took the bait. We bought them. And we ate them. Almost daring the peach to be disappointing so we could gawk at what a scam it was and roll our eyes the next time we saw some group of suckers buy the expensive, beautiful peaches.” — Maddy
❋ The Art of the Morning Tray by Valerie Ribon
“I briefly wrote about this in my morning routine, but I firmly believe it deserves it’s own post.
The Art of The Morning Tray.
There is something about morning trays that are so elevated. Once I started doing it, I remembered the fabulous old ladies I’ve known who would start every day by having a breakfast tray brought to them in bed.
That is the vibe.
Truly, it’s such a little thing that romanticizes the entire morning. It sets the entire vibe. & it also is such a good habit hack (i’ll explain how)” — Valerie Ribon
Rebuild your IG Algorithm (more fun links):
❋ Things I’d change in every single new build
❋ Non Pinterest wedding references
❋ How to spread butter properly
❋ Le Goûter — chocolate baguette, cultured butter & dark chocolate
❋ The most artistic tiramisu I’ve ever seen
Hope you had a great weekend!
— Rocky
❋ All our digital issues are free to peruse. Explore our latest:
❋ Winter 25/26 Coffee Table Book (Print)
❋ Explore the full WARKITCHEN archive here.
❋ Join WARKITCHEN book club here.
❋ Got an article or recipe in mind? We’d love to hear more! Please send your pitch to rocky@warkitchen.net.
Fantastic read. I’d like to add ‘Raf Coffee’ to your chart under lowkey and delicious!
Can't believe I never thought about giving blood as a way to remove micro plastics. Guess I need to make that a regular habit.