A Roadmap to Sustainable Living: The Kitchen Audit

Where to start Sustainable & Healthy Living? from the kitchen,  the heart of Your Home.

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You might not notice them at first. They’ve been a part of your daily routine for so long that they feel…normal. The cereal you grab for the kids’ breakfast. The plastic containers stacked in the pantry. That ready-to-use cleaner under the sink. These things are just there—helping you keep your home running. But what if they’re doing more harm than good?

A friend of mine once said, “Once you see it, you can’t unsee it.” That’s how I felt when I started really paying attention to the products I was using in my kitchen. I used to think of my kitchen as a safe haven—the place where I made meals, where my family gathered, where the heart of our home beat. But I started noticing things I’d never questioned before. That “clean” scent from my favorite spray left me with a headache. The crackers I gave my kids didn’t just have ingredients I couldn’t pronounce—they had sugar listed as the second ingredient. And those plastic containers I relied on? I wondered what they might be leaching into our food.

It wasn’t about guilt or shame. It was about awareness. Once I started seeing these things for what they were, I realized I had a choice. I could keep letting these items run my kitchen, or I could take control. I could turn my kitchen into a place that felt good, safe, and truly healthy for my family.

What I Noticed
First, I took a look around. I asked myself simple questions:

• What’s actually in this cleaner?
• Where does this plastic container end up when I’m done with it?
• Why does this snack leave my kids bouncing off the walls?

I didn’t have all the answers at first, but just asking those questions started to change things. I started seeing the connection between what was in my home and how it affected my family’s health. My kitchen wasn’t just a room; it was a reflection of what I was choosing to bring into my life. And once I recognized that, it was easier to make different choices.

How I Made the Shift
I didn’t throw everything out all at once—honestly, that would’ve been too overwhelming. Instead, I picked one or two items and asked myself, Can I find a better alternative? When I ran out of my usual cleaner, I replaced it with a non-toxic one. When it was time to restock snacks, I tried ones with simpler ingredients. Over time, I noticed changes.

• My kids had more steady energy.
• The air felt fresher after cleaning.
• Meals just tasted better without the aftertaste of processed ingredients.

Each small swap gave me a little more confidence to keep going.

Building New Habits, Step by Step

It didn’t happen overnight. But little by little, my family’s routine started to shift. Instead of relying on the quick-fix solutions that didn’t actually serve us, we found ourselves drawn to better choices. Instead of grabbing what was easy, we started choosing what was right for us. And it turned out to be just as easy, once we made it a habit.

Here’s what worked for us:

1. Start small. Pick one area—maybe it’s the snacks, or the cleaners, or the food storage—and focus on that.
2.  List Your Kitchen Villains: Take stock of the plastics, processed foods, and chemical cleaners lurking in your home.
3. Identify the Guides: Find safer, more sustainable replacements—reusable glass containers, non-toxic cleaning solutions, whole foods with simple ingredients.
4. Mark Your Progress: Use a checklist to keep track of what you’ve swapped out and what still needs attention.
5. Celebrate Small Wins: Each change is a step toward a healthier, more sustainable lifestyle.
6. Share the Journey: Tell your family what you’re doing and why. Involve them in the process so that these changes become part of your home’s new normal.

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What’s Next for You?

If you’re ready to take that first step, you don’t have to do it alone. I’ve been there, and I know how overwhelming it can feel. That’s why I’ve created a free Kitchen Audit Checklist. It’s designed to help you start small, identify those hidden “villains,” and make choices that leave you feeling proud and empowered. Over time, those little changes add up to something big. And before you know it, your kitchen isn’t just a place where you cook—it’s a place that truly nourishes your family.

Get Started Today
If you’re ready, click below to download the checklist. I promise, you’ll feel so good knowing you’re taking steps to protect your family and your home. Start small, keep going, and see how amazing it feels to create a kitchen—and a life—that you love.

Download the Kitchen Audit Checklist

You don’t have to do everything at once. Just start. One step at a time, you’ll see that making better choices isn’t about doing more—it’s about living better.

Jane Ho is the founder of Sustainable Living Life, who set her life goals to helping families create toxin-free, eco-conscious and healthier homes. Follow along for weekly tips and sustainable swaps that make green & healthy living effortless!

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