This weekend’s going to be a busy one for those who are getting ready for Turkey Day. Yeah, I am sure that you are very much aware that Thanksgiving is less than a week away and that you are up to your neck in preparation tasks. Let me ask you though, is the environment part of your Thanksgiving plans?
Perhaps you may be too caught up in all the other “regular” aspects of this holiday: making sure there is (more than) enough food for everyone, buying presents (if you do this), buying drinks, decorating the house, planning entertainment, and so on. Why don’t you take a look at a few simple reminders that can help you with your planning? At the same time, these tips will go a long way towards helping the environment.
Let’s start with portion control. I have a feeling that some may have problems with this suggestion, but hear me out. Year in and year out, TONS of food go to waste after Thanksgiving. That’s because no one wants to get caught with “not enough” food. If you think about it, though, you don’t have to go overboard. Why not estimate how much each person eats and prepare just enough? Call it portion control if you wish.
Now on to setting the table…what decorations and utensils do you use? Instead of using paper napkins, consider cloth napkins. If you have a huge crowd coming over, why not consider going potluck where the guests have to bring their own utensils and napkins – just so you can avoid using plastic, Styrofoam, and similar products? On the other hand, you can opt for disposable plates and utensils – this will help reduce water and detergent use for cleaning up. However, make sure that you buy earth-friendly products.