In theory, shopping for vintage ceramic plates, cups and bowls at antique stores, thrift shops and flea markets is an eco-friendly way to set your table, but you could be exposing yourself to unhealthy levels of lead. In the 1980s, ceramics manufactured in countries like Mexico, Spain, Italy and China were found to have high levels of lead, and many of those items are marketed as "vintage" or "antique" to unsuspecting shoppers. If you love antique hunting, invest in an instant lead detection kit. Just rub the swab on the item, and if it turns red, it's got lead.

Many of us avoid store-bought microwave popcorn because of chemicals that are often used, like nonstick coating inside the bag and artificial butter flavoring. But making your own microwave popcorn using regular brown paper sandwich bags isn't any better. There are adhesives used in the making of the bag that can melt and seep into your warm popcorn. Instead, make popcorn the old fashioned way -- on a stovetop -- or invest in an air popper, which uses just heat and hot air to pop kernels.

There are many certified organic hand sanitizers available in the marketplace for people who want to keep their hands germ-free without the use of harsh chemicals. One of the benefits of looking for organic sanitizers is that it can do double-duty. When you can't rinse a piece of fruit, a certified organic sanitizer can be applied directly to the fruit, since organic means food-grade. Just spray, wipe away and enjoy your bacteria- and germ-free piece of deliciousness.