I have a confession - I still have a plastic cutting board in my kitchen. And after doing the research for this episode, I’m replacing it this week.

It turns out your cutting board is one of the biggest sources of microplastic exposure in your kitchen. Every time a knife meets a plastic surface it shaves off tiny particles that go directly into your food. The research is still evolving but what we know is worth paying attention to.

The good news? The swap is easy, affordable, and your kitchen will actually look better for it.

In this episode, I’m walking you through every cutting board option out there - ranked from best to worst - plus exactly what to look for when you’re standing in the aisle at Home Goods or TJ Maxx.

What you’ll learn:
•Why plastic cutting boards are a microplastic source in your kitchen
•The full cutting board ranking — wood, bamboo, composite and stainless steel
•Which wood is best, walnut, maple or acacia, and why it matters
•Exactly what to look for on the label when buying a wood board
•How to care for a wood board so it lasts decades

Shop the episode — cutting boards on Amazon (aff links):
Wood Picks
Budget pick — Acacia: https://amzn.to/41UkGyX
Mid range pick — Acacia End Grain: https://amzn.to/4tEuysS
Investment pick — Walnut: https://amzn.to/42wiwFP

Bamboo pick — Keechee Carbonized Bamboo: https://amzn.to/3QvnDna

Since recording this episode: I also discovered the Epicurean paper composite board - made in the USA from recycled paper fibers, no microplastics, NSF certified and dishwasher safe with no oiling required. A really impressive low maintenance alternative to wood worth checking out.

Epicurean Kitchen Series: https://amzn.to/4d8KwWc

Grab my free Real Life Mom’s Guide to Green Kitchen Habits:
https://greenily.co/20-sustainable-kitchen-habits-lp/

Subscribe so you never miss an episode: https://greenlivingforreallife.buzzsprout.com

Follow along on Instagram: @pam.p.mercer

If we’re meeting for the first time - hi! This episode is the perfect place to start.

This episode is a little different. Instead of tips and swaps I wanted to take a few minutes to share a little about me, why green living matters so much to me, and what actually motivates me to make choices that are safer for my family and the planet.

I spent over ten years working in conservation education at a large zoo — yes, I walked past cheetahs on my way to work every morning. When I became a stay at home mom of three I tried to overhaul everything at once. It did not go well.

What actually worked was simpler. And it’s the whole philosophy behind everything I share here.

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by green living, frustrated that nothing sticks, or like you just don’t have time for a complete lifestyle overhaul — this one is for you.

Resources mentioned:

Free Real Life Mom’s Guide to Green Kitchen Habits: https://greenily.co/20-sustainable-kitchen-habits-lp/

Follow along on Instagram: @pam.p.mercer

Standing in the produce aisle holding conventional strawberries in one hand and organic in the other - not sure if the extra two dollars matters? This episode is for you.

The answer isn’t “buy everything organic” and it isn’t “don’t bother.” It’s more specific than that. And once you know it, grocery shopping gets a whole lot easier.

In this episode I’m walking you through exactly when buying organic matters — for your family AND for the planet — using the 2026 Dirty Dozen and Clean Fifteen lists that just dropped from the Environmental Working Group.

Plus there’s a brand new finding from this year’s report that every mom needs to know about.

What you’ll learn:
•Why washing your produce doesn’t fully solve the pesticide problem
•The 12 fruits and vegetables worth buying organic when you can
•The 15 where conventional is fine - and saves you money
•How conventional farming affects the environment beyond your plate
•How I actually use this in real life with a real family

Resources mentioned:
2026 Dirty Dozen list: ewg.org/foodnews/dirty-dozen.php

2026 Clean Fifteen list: ewg.org/foodnews/clean-fifteen.php

EWG Healthy Living app: ewg.org/apps

Free Real Life Mom’s Guide to Green Kitchen Habits: https://greenily.co/20-sustainable-kitchen-habits-lp/

Follow along on Instagram: @pam.p.mercer