Is Your Traditional Holiday Meal Toxic AF?
Food is on everyone’s minds this week, yet most people surprisingly don’t know exactly what is going into their bodies when they’re chowing down on their holiday meal. We’ll give you a hint: it’s far from good for you.
We don’t want to alarm you while you enjoy those post-Thanksgiving meal leftovers, but what better time to reflect on what we’re actually consuming? You know we don’t leave you without a non toxic solution! So don’t worry - we can give you lots of healthier alternatives that aren’t any less delicious than the harmful foods we’ve grown up eating.
Let’s get right to the meat of it: turkey is toxic AF!
Did you know, for instance, that most turkey meat contains arsenic?! In an effort to make turkey meat that familiar shade of pink and to fight off parasites and disease from living in cramped spaces, poultry companies feed the birds antibiotics - one of which is arsenic, which has been linked to cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and cognitive development disorders.
Just because you’re ditching turkey doesn’t mean that you have to neglect your taste buds at Thanksgiving dinner, though! Consider making a hearty nutloaf or shepherd's pie as the centerpiece to your meal - they’re not only nutritious but 100% free of chemicals. Even if you want to go the more traditional route, there are lots of recipes to guide you - including one that imitates crispy turkey skin!
Healthier Alternatives don’t have to be complicated and time-consuming.
No time to fuss with making something from scratch? We’ve got you covered there, too! There are a ton of companies producing their own version of the holiday turkey without the bird: from gluten and wheat to tofu and soy protein, there is no shortage of options to choose from.
Toxic Mash Potatoes?
Turkey isn’t the only toxic food typically found on the Holiday table. No holiday meal is complete without mashed potatoes, but unfortunately, the cow’s milk typically used to make them so creamy has been linked to various cancers including breast, lung, ovarian and prostate. Fortunately, you don’t have to give up fluffy mashed potatoes, either! Between the plethora of milk and butter alternatives, you don’t have to choose between increasing your risk of cancer and gobbling up your favorite side dish.
Canned Convenience: Is it worth it?
Another sneaky chemical that might appear in your meal is bisphenol A - more commonly known as its abbreviation BPA. Most commonly found in canned food linings, this hormonally active chemical has been linked to cancer and other illnesses. WTF! While it’s tempting to grab a pre-cut can of green beans or pre-shucked corn, consider giving yourself some extra prep time to avoid this dangerous synthetic.
Plants FTW!
While there is clearly no shortage of toxic-less alternatives to traditional Thanksgiving foods, consider changing up your spread with cancer-fighting foods, too! Kale, broccoli, and other cruciferous vegetables contain sulforaphane - which contains anti-cancer properties - and have even been found to suppress tumor growth. Instead of - or in addition to! - pumpkin pie, perhaps you can incorporate apples into your dessert plate, as they’ve been found to inhibit breast cancer tumors.
Fortunately not all Thanksgiving staples are toxic: cranberries have been proven to boost the immune system, fight free radicals, and inhibit cancer growth. So, be sure to generously drizzle some extra cranberry sauce on those leftovers today!
It can be overwhelming to discover how foods we’ve grown up with (and the packaging they come in) are poisonous to us, but making any of these changes - even one! - in your kitchen will have your body thanking you for this holiday.
kathleen kane
kathleen is a queer, vegan, witchy feminist who loves talking about the environment, raising awareness of the importance of self-care, and practicing positive and non-hierarchical forms of activism. Her work - both in the library and on the streets - centers marginalized folx, primarily focusing on food justice and prison abolitionism. As a proud literary nerd who studied English and French at UCLA, she enjoys reading everything from Oscar Wilde to Octavia Butler and Jack Halberstam to adrienne maree brown.