It’s the time of year when we gather around the table with family and close friends to enjoy a large, scrumptious meal and think about what we are grateful for in our lives. Yet, Thanksgiving can also get a bit out of control with all the decorations and trimmings.
Here are some tips to make your Thanksgiving holiday a bit more sustainable without having to sacrifice tradition.
Food
- Choose organic and locally grown foods when you can.
- Serve organic beverages like apple cider, juice, wine, and beer.
- Reduce waste by composting leftovers or creatively reusing the food to make soups, stews, salads, and sandwiches.
- Be mindful of which food items you purchase at the grocery store to avoid those wrapped in all of that excessive plastic, such as dips and pre-packaged fruit salads.
Storage
- Glass Containers: These are a great option for storing, heating up, and transporting all kinds of foods and liquids. Their secure lids keep liquids from leaking.
- Mason Jars and Leftover Glass Jars: You can purchase mason jars to store your food in or instead of just tossing glass jars from pickles, pasta sauce, and salsa into your recycle bin, wash them out and use them to store your leftovers.
- Insulated Stainless Steel Containers: These durable, long-lasting containers are double-walled and have a silicone seal for airtightness so they can keep food and liquids warm or cold.
- Reusable Non-Plastic Wraps: One of the most innovative ways to store food without using plastic wrap is to use reusable wraps. They are made from a blend of hemp and organic cotton cloth that contains beeswax, tree resin, and jojoba oil to create a self-adhesive to stick to itself so you can create sealed packages and pouches. They are water-resistant, easy to handle, pliable, and come in a variety of sizes.
- Fabric Bowl Covers: Use the bowls you already have and slap a fabric bowl cover on top.
Serving Dishes
- Bring out the good china, silverware, and eloquent tablecloths to reduce the usage of plastic plates and cups.
- If you do need to go disposable, choose paper (recycled is best), bamboo, or even those made from palm leaves.
- Use real wine glasses—not plastic ones—and don’t serve your drinks with plastic straws or stirrers
Decorations
- Go natural: Instead of running to the stores stocked with plastic decorations, consider decorating your home more naturally by using items like plants, berries, gourds, acorns, twigs and branches, cranberry garlands, and colorful flowers and leaves. You can go for a lovely hike outdoors a couple of days before the holiday to collect your special nature décor.
- Make your own: Make some of your own decorations out of non-plastic materials you have lying around the house.
- Shop second hand: Check out local thrift stores, online sites like freecycle.org, and garage sales for some treasures that can add a sparkle to your holiday look.
- Trade with friends and family: Another way to cut back on new decorations is to organize a decoration swap with friends and family. You can even ask your guests to bring their favorite Thanksgiving decoration to display during the meal and share why it is meaningful to them.
Give Thanks and Give Back
Are you looking for a place to donate food items this Thanksgiving? Please consider Al & Friends. This local group serves nutritious hot meals weekly to anyone who is hungry, no questions asked, every Sunday morning and holidays at Window On The Bay, located across from McDonalds in Monterey.
To donate, call (831) 402-0820 or email alvinsiekert@gmail.com. Find out more about the organization at www.alandfriends.org.