Why Stainless Steel & EcoMom Giveaway

Do you ever start researching something and wish you hadn't because you want to stay oblivious to the truth because the facts are scary? That is how I have been feeling as I have been learning more about plastics this week. On the other hand, I am SO glad that I am finding out these issues now and I can slowly get rid of the bad and accumulate the good in my home.

Today I want to focus on why you should use stainless steel over plastic containers. When I began to "go green" many years ago, I bought reusable plastic water bottles for all of us to take with us whenever we left the house.  I also grabbed some cheap Wonder Bread sandwich boxes for my kid's lunches. I thought I was saving the planet! What I didn't know was I was potentially harming our health.

Studies have indicated that food and drinks stored in such containers, like the ones I was using, can contain trace amounts of Bisphenol A (BPA), a synthetic chemical that interferes with the body’s natural hormonal messaging system. Plastic contains chemical additives. Some of these chemicals can leach out through tiny cracks and crevices that develop from normal wear and tear like being bumped and dropped, or even just from being washed on a regular basis. Into your food/drink they go. Even sunlight or heat in general softens the plastic and easily allows unwanted substances to come through.

There have been reports that this leaching may increase the risk of birth defects, some hormone related illnesses, such as prostate and breast cancers and may cause developmental delays. Yes developmental delays! Most baby bottles and sippy cups are made with plastics containing BPA.

Why is stainless steel so good?

It is very durable! It won't chip or crack easier and does not soften when exposed to heat.

It is not made with BPA or any other harmful chemical. In fact it's made with 60% recycled materials!

It has an excellent life expectancy with proper care and it is totally 100% recyclable!

And best of all? It makes your food & water TASTE better!

Now I want to talk about a great company that specializes in eco-friendly baby products - EcoMom!

I got to try out the Kid Basix Safe Sippy. Its features include :

•Body made of durable, lightweight food grade 304 stainless steel

•Spout made of BPA and phthalate free plastic

•Handles for easy grip, removable and made with BPA and phthalate free plastic

•Waist tapered for more easy grip solutions

•Sleeve made of Thermo Plastic Rubber (TPR), provides protection when dropped and insulation for hot and cold liquids

And best of all ~ a straw adaptor that instantly converts from a sippy cup to a straw bottle!

Unfortunately I cannot get my nine month old to use it or any other sippy cup! But I give it to him to all the time and one of these days he'll surprise me and want to drink from it. Right?! Here he is with is new sippy.

As a mom I like the look at feel of it. It also comes in pink! And a stainless steel bottle for the older kids. Perfect for lunchboxes!

These stainless containers are wonderful for snacks and is the first thing on my want list! EcoMom doesn't carry steel baby bottles yet but look...they have glass ones!

A couple more items I enjoyed looking at that are made with stainless steel. You don't even need to be a mom to want one of these!

This pizza cutter will be the best gift for Hubby for Christmas! (Hope he isn't reading this post! :)

Would you like to get a few holiday gifts too? Use this Discount Code - SBBL591 - and receive 15% off your entire first order for ANYTHING on EcoMom.com. How cool is that? They have TONS of eco-friendly products including toys, clothes, food, anything you need!

One more thing I want to tell you about while we're talking about discounts. EcoMom has a new program called EcoPass. For a $99 annual membership fee, you will receive a 15% discount on EVERY order as well as FREE shipping. We love our discounts!

How would you like to WIN a stainless steel product from EcoMom? Or any product of your choice? EcoMom is nice enough to give you $15 to spend any way you like! Wahoo!

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Enter another Plastics Week giveaway

EcoMom sent me a sippy cup for this review but I was not compensated in any way for the post and all opinions are my own. This giveaway will end on Nov. 30, 2010 at 10:00pm EST. Winner will be drawn via random.org. Once a winner is drawn I will contact them and they will have 48 hours to reply before I draw a new winner. Giveaway is open to anyone in the US & Canada and you must be 18 years of age or older.