Reusable Silicone Food Savers (Set of 5) Plastic wrap is especially hard to fit around odds and ends in the fridge like half of an onion or that last bit of lemon you have leftover from dinner. These food savers are a better way to keep your food fresh and create a seal around your produce. Buy it: $13, amazon.com
Amazon2Bee’s Wrap (Set of 3) Another increasingly popular alternative to plastic wrap is Bee’s Wrap paper, which is made from organic cotton (infused with beeswax, jojoba oil, and tree resin) and can be cleaned and reused again and again. You can use these wraps for food prep or store leftovers since they cool to form a seal around the tops of food containers. Buy it: $18, amazon.com
Food 523Dot and Army Linen and Cotton Bowl Covers (Set of 6)Another hassle of wrapping leftovers in plastic wrap is that it has no structure, so it can be hard to create an airtight seal with it. These stretchy, elasticized linen covers can help. They come in various sizes between 6 and 14 inches, so you can actually stretch them over bowls (and even sliced fruit) to keep food fresh for longer. Just pop them in the washing machine when they get dirty. Buy it: $64, food52.com
Stasher Bags 100% Silicone Reusable Food BagStasher bags are the silicone-based alternative to any variety of plastic bags you might be using to store food or even Ziplocs that you carry snacks in. They come in snack sizes, sandwich sizes, a half-gallon size (like the one pictured), and even a lunch-bag size that stands upright on a countertop. Buy it: From $10, amazon.com
Amazon5Reusable Storage Bags (Set of 10)Here’s another option that’s slightly thinner than the Stashers but still reusable, washable, and, most importantly, resealable. Buy it: $17, amazon.com
Amazon6Simple Ecology Reusable Produce and Shopping Bags (Set of 8)And if you want to reduce the number of produce bags you take home from the grocery store, you can bring your own set of cloth bags to pack up fruit and veggies. This set offers a range of breathable mesh bags for larger products to smaller items, plus one muslin bag. Buy it: $17, amazon.com
Amazon7Kitzini Silicone Baking Mats (Set of 3)Most parchment paper isn’t recyclable or compostable, which is where a silicone baking mat comes in. Instead of tearing roll after roll of tin foil or parchment paper when you bake or cook a sheet pan dinner, you can use just one washable mat to prevent your food from sticking. Buy it: $14, amazon.com
Amazon8Silicone Cupcake Muffin Baking Cups Liners (Pack of 36)Any baker who loves a loaf or cupcake might want to look into swapping out their paper baking cups for these colorful silicone guys. Buy it: $16, amazon.com
Food 529de Buyer Reusable Pastry Bags (Pack of 3)And did you know that reusable pipette bags exist too? These ones are made from a durable nylon material that can handle hot and cold food. You can also mix and match different tips and nozzles with them, depending on if you’re icing a cake or squeezing out the warm dough. Buy it: From $30, food52.com
Amazon10Yeosen Reusable No. 2 Cone Coffee FilterAnyone who loves drip coffee probably runs through multiple paper filters a week, but if you use a No. 2 style filter in your coffee maker, you can buy this food-grade stainless-steel option that will save you the trouble. This one is suitable for making four to six cups of coffee. Buy it: $12, amazon.com
Amazon11E-Prance Stainless Steel Pour-Over Coffee DripperOr, if you want a pour-over with a built-in filter, here’s an all-in-one system with a double-layer mesh sieve. Buy it: $19, amazon.com
Most Popular
Amazon12Swiffer-Compatible Microfiber Mop Pads (Pack of 2)Swiffer pads add up over time, which is where reusable microfiber pads come in handy. They attach securely to Swiffer mops and can be used dry or wet: If you want to use it as a mop, you can buy a cleaning solution like this one separately. And if you’re using it dry, microfiber pads are especially good at picking up dirt and dust. Editor’s note:These are available for preorder and will ship out on April 26.Buy it: $15, amazon.com
Amazon13Mr. Siga Microfiber Cleaning Cloths (Pack of 12)Speaking of microfiber cloths, here’s a whole set of them that are great for dusting or cleaning up surfaces (dirt tends to cling to microfiber materials), without having to reach for a paper towel. Buy it: $12, amazon.com
Amazon14Rael Organic Reusable Cloth Pads (Pack of 3)Pads are maybe a less obvious choice for a household item, but they are significantly less eco-friendly than tampons because the materials used in them are not biodegradable. If you still prefer pads, brands like Rael make organic cloth versions that you can rewear every month after washing them out. This one uses five layers of organic cotton for absorption and has an hourglass shape to help prevent any leakage from the sides. Buy it: $34, amazon.com
Amazon15Lena Menstrual CupThough if you’re looking to veer away from tampons and pads completely, you can’t get more sustainable than a menstrual cup. This small reusable silicone option from Lena is catered to people who are new to using menstrual cups, so it’s a good starting point. Buy it: $25, amazon.com
Most Popular
Amazon16Greenzla Reusable Makeup Remover Pads (Pack of 20)Cotton makeup remover pads are super convenient to use with micellar water when you’re too tired for a full face wash. They’re unfortunately a single-use situation, though, and could be swapped out for a set of reusable makeup removers like these. These Greenzla pads are made from a soft bamboo material that may even be more comfortable than the cotton ones you’re used to. Buy it: $13, amazon.com
Amazon17Handy Laundry Wool Dryer Balls (Pack of 6) Wool dryer balls are a handy alternative to dryer sheets and fabric softener, and can actually cut down your drying time, so they’re a lifesaver for giant loads. As an added bonus, people also like that these dryer balls tend to de-wrinkle your clothes while they’re bopping around in there. Buy it: $9, amazon.com
Package Free Shop18Reusable Swedish Dish ClothAnd if you’re still using paper napkins at the dinner table, consider swapping out for something like these Swedish dish cloths that come in a variety of pretty patterns. Buy it: $7, amazon.com
Amazon19Scrub-It Polyester SpongesSponges can get fusty and moldy with use, which is why it’s healthier to toss them than to keep ’em. But if you’re washing a lot of dishes, consider switching to these polyester scrubbing sponges that are machine-washable so you can reuse them. They’re not ones you’ll have forever: You still have to wring them out and will eventually have to toss them if the outer material starts to develop a stink (but they’re designed to last a lot longer than the average sponge, so you’ll be able to cut down on your consumption over time). Buy it: $11, amazon.com
Most Popular
Food 5220Dot and Army Reusable Pot Scrubbers (Set of 5) Instead of hassling with a bunch of rusty steel wool for pots that need a deep clean, you can invest in some reusable pot scrubbers that can be tossed in the washing machine after each use. These ones are made with durable nylon to help you scrub out all the grease stains and food gunk out of your favorite cookware. Buy it: $32, food52.com
Lori Keong is a writer and editor who joined SELF in June 2019 and heads up all shopping content here. Previously, she’s worked for The Strategist, Marie Claire, and The Cut, reporting on fashion, beauty, and wellness.
So much fun it was to do the “garden thing” with Blue’s grandmother. She always looked forward to going out into the garden and picking fresh vegetables to bring into the house and eat later, as her grandmother would prepare and cook them. Her grandmother always made the simplest things taste so very good. One of the best parts of spending time with her grandmother was eating her delicious food. Her favorite was her grandmother’s spaghetti and homemade French fries. Although, when it came to vegetables from the garden, her grandmother could make a great cucumber, with onions, salad, sometimes adding fresh “tommie toe” tomatoes.
It was always funny to Blue to watch her grandmother get dressed to go into the garden. First she would put on long stretchy pants, which were to protect her legs from thorns, critters, and snakes. Then her grandmother insured that nothing could crawl up her pants by wearing long stockings, that had been cut to only extend to her knees, and that was to be tied up on her legs, so it would not slip off of her pants leg. She would also rub herself with this cream that she swore kept mosquitos from biting her. Blue tried to emulate her behaviors with my own clothing, and Blue really didn’t care about mosquitos back in that day, although she should of, since they left big itchy whelps on her.
She learned that clothing and preparation was everything, to her grandmother, who could make going into the garden, like entering a fairyland of surprises and adventure. To Blue, it felt like she was leaving the world she lived in for a tad and walking into another one. Seeing the tallest corn stalks beaming with corn, and feeling the tips of plants hit her as she walked along inside the garden, made for a real creative imaginative time. Often times she found she had wandered too far from her grandmother, and she would have to call out to her grandmother so she could find her. Blue knew that her grandmother would be aggravated with that, interrupting her garden work, but she seemed to always find herself needing the help of some sort. She lost her concentration of the necessary things to do, a lot of the time,but she could not help it. Her imagination always got the better of her.
While in the garden, she helped pick the ears of corn, remove dead leaves or leaves that were discolored. She also helped her grandmother carry a bucket with which to collect the harvest or vegetables. This was the hardest part. Often times she felt that the bucket was too hard to carry and would have to set it down for a while. Often, losing sight of her grandmother, once again. Blue really loved it though, despite some of its not so easy tasks. Blue felt as if she was helping and that really mattered to her. It mattered a lot. Her grandmother never fussed at her, and seemed to enjoy her company. Blue was just grateful for the time she spent with her grandmother and she made precious memories that would last forever.
Seize, the opportunities you have been given. Cherish, the relationships you hold dear, as you go through life. It is from those relationships, you grow wiser and love better.
When you eat or drink things that have carbohydrate, your body breaks those carbs down into glucose (a type of sugar), which then raises the level of glucose in your blood. Your body uses that glucose, or sugar, for fuel to keep you going throughout the day.
Knowing what kind and how many carbs to eat is important for managing diabetes. Eating too many carbs can raise your blood glucose too high. This can cause trouble if you do not have enough insulin in your body to help deliver the glucose to the cells in your body. Eating too little carbohydrate can also be harmful because your blood glucose may drop too low, especially if you take medicines to help manage your blood sugar. Balance is key!
There are three main types of carbohydrates in food—starches, sugar and fiber. As you’ll see on the nutrition labels for the food you buy, the term “total carbohydrate” refers to all three of these types. And as you begin counting carbohydrates, you’ll want to stay away from food that has high carbs and instead choose a more balanced nutrient mix of carbs, protein, and fat.
The goal is to choose carbs that are nutrient-dense, which means they are rich in fiber, vitamins, and minerals, and low in added sugars, sodium, and unhealthy fats.
When choosing carbohydrate…
Eat the most of these: whole, unprocessed non-starchy vegetables.
Non-starchy vegetables like lettuce, cucumbers, broccoli, tomatoes, and green beans have a lot of fiber and very little carbohydrate, which means little impact on your blood sugar.
Eat more of these: whole, minimally processed carbohydrate foods.
Fruits like apples, blueberries, strawberries, and cantaloupe
Whole intact grains like brown rice, whole wheat bread, whole grain pasta, and oatmeal
Starchy vegetables like corn, green peas, sweet potatoes, pumpkin, and plantain
Beans and lentils like black beans, kidney beans, chickpeas, and green lentils
Eat less of these: refined, highly processed carbohydrate foods and those with added sugar.
Sugary drinks like soda, sweet tea, and juice drinks
Refined grains like white bread, white rice, and sugary cereal
Sweets and snack foods like cake, cookies, candy, and chips
Foods high in starch include:
Starchy vegetables like peas, corn, lima beans and potatoes
Dried beans, lentils and peas such as pinto beans, kidney beans, black-eyed peas and split peas
Grains like oats, barley and rice (The majority of grain products in the US are made from wheat flour. These include pasta, bread and crackers, but the variety is expanding to include other grains as well.)
As for sugar, there are two main types:
Naturally occurring sugars such as those in milk or fruit
Added sugars such as those added during processing such as fruit canned in heavy syrup or sugar added in to a cookie
On the nutrition facts label, the number of sugar grams includes both added and natural sugars.
And as for fiber …
Remember that it comes from plant-based foods, so there’s no fiber in milk, eggs, meat, poultry, and fish. Healthy adults need between 25 and 30 grams of fiber a day.
Good sources of dietary fiber include:
Beans and legumes like black beans, kidney beans, pintos, chick peas, white beans, and lentils
Fruits and vegetables, especially those with edible skin (like apples and beans) and those with edible seeds (like berries)
Nuts—try different kinds. Peanuts, walnuts, and almonds are a good source of fiber and healthy fat, but watch portion sizes, because they also contain a lot of calories in a small amount.
Whole grains such as:
Whole wheat pasta
Whole grain cereals, specifically those with three grams of dietary fiber or more per serving, including those made from whole wheat, wheat bran, and oats
.JPG)
Mws R Writings 