Shannon Harrison

I know that there has been a lot of focus on how we, as individual consumers, can reduce our carbon footprints and start moving away from the usage & waste of plastics. There's been a very specific focus--and hot debate!--surrounding single-use straws. I know that there are many of us who, for different reasons, need to use straws in order to safely & comfortably consume drinks/smoothies/etc. I just want to share that I made a switch to reusable metal straws, purchased from Pampered Chef, last year. Each straw comes with a protective carrying pouch & its own special scrub brush. I have both the straight & bent metal straws. The scrub brushes are great for cleaning out your straws, especially if you're using them for thicker drinks like smoothies, but most brands are dishwasher safe (my family & I usually stand ours up in our utensil caddy). The obvious downside is that the straws aren't pliable, but the bent straw is at a decent angle for anyone who needs/prefers that to a straight straw. I know more companies are starting to offer them at different price points, so they're becoming a much more accessible alternative to single-use straws. It might cost a small chunk of change to get multiple straws for yourself & your family, but in my opinion (for whatever it's worth!) the benefit outweighs the initial investment. Just a little something to think about! :)