Now that school’s almost out, parents everywhere are stocking their pantry for a summer of good, clean fun.
But with microplastics and forever chemicals lurking everywhere — how do you protect your little ones from these terrible toxins?
Pediatrician Dr. Manasa Mantravadi revealed the three things she’s banned from her kitchen for good, including a common category of products that become a bigger problem when it’s hot outside.
“Children are not just ‘small adults’ — they are more vulnerable to harmful exposures because of the way their bodies grow, function and behave,” she told The Post.
Because they consume more per pound of body weight than adults, toxic chemicals are bound to hit them harder.
“Kids’ brains, endocrine (hormone) systems, lungs, immune systems, and guts are all under construction,” she explained. “This makes them more sensitive to chemicals that disrupt cell signaling, hormone balance, and neurodevelopment.”
And the impact of these contaminants can last way past childhood.
“Early exposure sets the tone for a lifetime of cumulative risk. Toxins stored in fat or bone — like lead or certain plastics — linger in the body,” she said.
“Harmful exposures during ‘critical windows’ — like infancy and early childhood — can increase risk for chronic diseases later in life, including asthma, ADHD, metabolic issues, infertility and even some cancers.”
While microplastics may be a year-round issue, summer creates the “perfect storm” of exposure thanks to sizzling temperatures, stuffy cars and more outdoor events featuring sippy cups and ziploc bags, she explained.
That’s why Mantravadi full-out bans the following three things from her kitchen for the hottest season (and why she says you should too):
- Plastic baggies, utensils or cookware that leach microplastics into hot foods
- Harsh chemical cleaners — her go-to homemade version uses baking soda and vinegar
- Sugary, ultra-processed snacks disguised as “kid-friendly”
That’s also why she founded Ahimsa, a line of colorful, unbreakable dishware designed to teach kids healthy eating habits while eliminating toxins.
When the American Academy of Pediatrics released its 2018 policy statement warning against plastic use in children’s food environments, Mantravadi said the message hit her “not just as a doctor, but as a mom.”
The statement made it clear there were only two safe alternatives: glass and stainless steel.
“Both are inert, meaning they don’t transfer chemicals into food or drinks, and they’ve been studied for decades for safety,” she said.
“Stainless steel also happens to be better for the environment, especially when made from recycled steel, like we use at Ahimsa.”
She also wanted to make the products “durable, easy to clean, and unbreakable — something that could survive daily life with kids.”
Finally, she wanted to empower families, especially since the conditioning we receive as kids is so important, particularly when it comes to nutrition.
“Habits established in early childhood often persist into adulthood — particularly around food preference, meal structure and safety norms,” she said.
“Parents are their kids’ first nutrition and environmental health teachers — not through lectures, but through everyday modeling.”
As a nutritionist, she came across many parents who seemed “confused about what healthy eating really looks like,” she said, a phenomenon she blames on “outdated food pyramids, complicated labels and a food system wired for convenience have made it hard for families to teach balanced nutrition.”
As such, she designed the products to serve as “visual maps for balanced eating,” complete with compartments that make understanding portion size and variety fun and meltdown-free.
“We’re not just serving food — we’re reshaping food literacy in a way that’s practical, safe, and built to last,” she said.
“I believe in not just reducing risk today, but investing in their lifelong health.”
