Sustainable Shopping: Add Stainless Steel Dishware to Your List
|
|
Time to Read: 9 min
Labor Day sales pop up everywhere this time of year — clothes, patio sets, power tools. But for a lot of families, the checklist looks a little different. Instead of chasing markdowns on things that wear out fast, they’re looking for reusable basics that hold up year after year. Ditching single-use plastics for better alternatives has moved from a nice-to-have to a must.
Sustainable shopping now means thinking about what your family actually uses every day — food containers, snack bowls, dinner plates. For parents of young kids, this shift shows up most at the kitchen table. Reusable lunch gear, non-toxic materials, and sturdy dishware are becoming the new back-to-school staples.
Stainless steel is one of the easiest upgrades to make. No leaching, no cracking, no hidden toxins. It lasts forever. It’s dishwasher-safe. It’s strong enough for toddlers and timeless enough to grow with them.
About Ahimsa
Founded by a pediatrician and mom of three
Stainless steel is the only kid-friendly material recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics
We are guided by a Scientific Advisory Council comprised of environmental and medical experts, guiding us in creating the safest products, following the latest science and promoting policy to protect human health and our planet
Want to know more? Check out our story and our products.
Stainless Steel Dishware Checks Every Box for Health & Sustainability
Plastic gets all the attention and it’s mostly for the wrong reasons. It bends, stains, cracks, and starts to smell after a while. And then there’s the bigger concern: plastic leaches harmful chemicals, especially when it’s heated. Those sippy cups, plates, and snack containers can release BPA, phthalates, or other hormone-disrupting chemicals directly into your child’s food.
Some families try bamboo, silicone, or melamine thinking they’ve made a safer swap. But most bamboo dishes are held together with glue or melamine resin, which breaks down over time. Melamine itself can release formaldehyde under high heat. Silicone can hold up better, but it's hard to know which formulations are truly safe — and which ones leave behind a greasy residue or soapy taste, or trap bacteria in tiny scratches.
Stainless steel skips all that drama. Our stainless steel dishes are made from 304-grade food-safe stainless steel — the same kind used in hospitals and commercial kitchens. It’s non-toxic, non-leaching, and fully recyclable. You can wash it in the dishwasher. You can hand it down through siblings, cousins, even grandkids. You don’t have to worry about coatings peeling or colors flaking. It holds up without holding on to anything it shouldn’t.
Mealtime Essentials
Make the Switch Once, Then Pass It Down
One of the best parts about stainless steel is that it grows with your child. The same spoon that scoops baby’s first bites works alongside a plate that can handle a teenager’s full meal. You don’t need to keep replacing sets as kids move from toddler stage to school years.
Our dinnerware is dishwasher-safe and practically indestructible. Drop it, toss it in a backpack, run it through daily wash cycles — it still holds up. Every piece comes backed with a lifetime warranty because we know it lasts that long.
Montessori principles remind us that children value real, durable tools. They respect a plate that feels solid in their hands and learn to treat it with care. Our designs also support healthy eating by keeping portions age-appropriate. A plate that guides balanced meals at age three continues to help form better habits at age eight.
Color Without Compromise
Kids love color at the table, and so do we. Our rainbow finishes bring a spark of joy to mealtimes, but they aren’t created with paint or harmful chemical coatings. Instead, the color on our stainless steel comes from a safe Physical Vapor Deposition (PVD) process that uses titanium nitride—a metal, not a paint, lacquer, or powder coating. Like stainless steel, this non-toxic, biocompatible metal is stable and widely used in medical implants and food-contact materials. The process physically changes the color of titanium, and then a thin, durable metal layer is added to our stainless steel products. The core remains 100% stainless steel, chosen specifically to protect children’s health.
It’s the same safe technology trusted in surgical implants. That means no peeling, no flaking, no hidden toxins slipping into your child’s food. The finish holds strong through daily use, dishwashing, and the rough handling that’s inevitable with little ones. Bright hues meet the durability of stainless steel, so kids get dishes that feel fun while parents get peace of mind.
Every piece of our dishware is Made Safe® certified and tested against thousands of known toxins. We source only high-grade stainless steel and color with titanium through PVD, never harmful chemicals. That means no hidden additives, no surprises, and no compromise. Our Safety Promise guarantees that when your child eats from Ahimsa dishes, you can trust what’s on the plate is as safe as what you put on it.
Montessori + Sustainability = Win for Families
Montessori values center on giving children real tools. Stainless steel fits perfectly into that approach because it’s natural, durable, and built for everyday use. Kids quickly learn the difference when they eat from a plate that feels solid in their hands.
Our dishes are light enough for toddlers to carry to the table yet weighted so they don’t slide around with every scoop. That balance supports independence and helps meals feel calmer. Parents notice fewer spills, less breakage, and a smoother rhythm at the table. The same qualities that make stainless steel sustainable also make it a practical Montessori choice, setting the stage for healthy routines that stick.
Why Ahimsa
We never compromise on materials. Every dish is made from medical-grade stainless steel, the same grade trusted in hospitals and professional kitchens. For color, we use Physical Vapor Deposition, or PVD. This process vaporizes titanium nitride and deposits it directly onto the steel. The finish is safe, durable, and stable even under harsh conditions. Titanium nitride is biocompatible and chemically inert, which is why it’s used in medical implants as well as food-contact surfaces.
Each Ahimsa product carries the Made Safe® certification. That means independent labs test against more than 15,000 substances linked to human or environmental harm. We are proud to be the only stainless steel dinnerware company in the world with this certification. It’s not a marketing perk. It’s the foundation of what we do. Kids deserve safe, lasting dishes that protect their health meal after meal.
Back-to-School, Back-to-Basics
Labor Day brings the shift from summer’s looseness to steady routines around the kitchen table. It’s also the perfect time to retire cracked plastic cups and flimsy containers.
Add Ahimsa to your shopping list and choose one swap that truly lasts. Our stainless steel plate makes after-school snacks and everyday meals easy. Stainless steel holds up to daily life while cutting down on waste.
Sustainable shopping means buying better, once, and enjoying the peace of mind that comes with knowing your kids’ dishes are safe.
Dr. Manasa Mantravadi is a board-certified pediatrician whose dedication to children’s health drove her to launch Ahimsa, the world's first colorful stainless steel dishes for kids. She was motivated by the American Academy of Pediatrics’ findings on harmful chemicals in plastic affecting children's well-being. Ahimsa has gained widespread recognition and been featured in media outlets such as Parents Magazine, the Today Show, The Oprah Magazine, and more.
Dr. Mantravadi received the esteemed “Physician Mentor of the Year” award at Indiana University School of Medicine in 2019. She was also named a Forbes Next 1000 Entrepreneur in 2021, with her inspiring story showcased on Good Morning America. She serves on the Council for Environmental Health and Climate Change and the Council for School Health at The American Academy of Pediatrics. She represents Ahimsa as a U.S. industry stakeholder on the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) for the Global Plastics Treaty, led by the United Nations Environment Program. Dr. Mantravadi leads Ahimsa's social impact program, The Conscious Cafeteria Project, to reduce carbon emissions and safeguard student health as part of a national pilot of the Clinton Global Initiative.
She is dedicated to educating and empowering people to make healthier, more environmentally friendly choices at mealtime. Her mission remains to advocate for the health of all children and the one planet we will leave behind for them through real policy change within our food system.
Dr. Manasa Mantravadi
Dr. Manasa Mantravadi is a board-certified pediatrician whose dedication to children’s health drove her to launch Ahimsa, the world's first colorful stainless steel dishes for kids. She was motivated by the American Academy of Pediatrics’ findings on harmful chemicals in plastic affecting children's well-being. Ahimsa has gained widespread recognition and been featured in media outlets such as Parents Magazine, the Today Show, The Oprah Magazine, and more.
Dr. Mantravadi received the esteemed “Physician Mentor of the Year” award at Indiana University School of Medicine in 2019. She was also named a Forbes Next 1000 Entrepreneur in 2021, with her inspiring story showcased on Good Morning America. She serves on the Council for Environmental Health and Climate Change and the Council for School Health at The American Academy of Pediatrics. She represents Ahimsa as a U.S. industry stakeholder on the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) for the Global Plastics Treaty, led by the United Nations Environment Program. Dr. Mantravadi leads Ahimsa's social impact program, The Conscious Cafeteria Project, to reduce carbon emissions and safeguard student health as part of a national pilot of the Clinton Global Initiative.
She is dedicated to educating and empowering people to make healthier, more environmentally friendly choices at mealtime. Her mission remains to advocate for the health of all children and the one planet we will leave behind for them through real policy change within our food system.
More Mealtime Essentials
Frequently Asked Questions
Why should I use stainless steel instead of plastic? Is stainless steel better for health?
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) released a report in July 2018 suggesting ways that families can limit exposure to certain chemicals at mealtime, including “the use of alternatives to plastic, such as glass or stainless steel, when possible.” The report explained that “…some additives are put directly in foods, while “indirect” additives may include chemicals from plastic, glues, dyes, paper, cardboard”. Further, “Children are more sensitive to chemical exposures because they eat and drink more, relative to body weight, than adults do, and are still growing and developing.” While stainless steel items meet the recommendation to avoid plastic products in children, Ahimsa® products have the obvious advantage of not breaking like glass.
Is stainless steel better for the environment than plastic?
According to the Steel Recycling Institute, steel can be recycled over and over and over again without losing its integrity and requires less energy to recycle than to make anew. Most plastic unfortunately ends up in landfills and it is estimated to take 700 years to decompose. Our special coloring process that allows Ahimsa® products to be fully metal is environmentally friendly, so it does not produce toxic run-off into the ecosystem.
Will Ahimsa products break or peel?
No. Our steel is durable, so it won’t break or shatter with everyday use, like glass. And it won’t peel, like other colored stainless steel products you’ve seen. We use a special process that allows the colors to naturally occur in the metal.
Which Ahimsa products are best for my little one(s)?
Our products are meant to last, you can use Ahimsa at ages 1, 8 and 18! We thoughtfully design our products to be safe for little ones and our planet while reducing consumption. Once your child outgrows the Starting Solids Set and can use regular cups and utensils, the training cup is the perfect size rinse cup in the bathroom, the infant spoon doubles as a tea stirrer and the bowl is great for snacks or as an additional compartment to our modular divided plate. Our plates are great for any age as they encourage choosing a variety of healthy foods at each meal and help visualize portion sizes easily. It’s the lasting beauty of stainless steel - grows with your child and reduces waste.
