One of the best ways to have a sustainable Thanksgiving is to reduce the amount of food that you let go to waste. Food waste is already a big enough problem in the US without the added strain on the environment that comes around the holidays. Every year, the average household of 4 wastes around $1,500 worth of food. At Thanksgiving, we see an increase of food waste up to 25 percent.

Why is food waste a problem?

As food lies in landfill, decomposing, it releases a huge amount of methane. Methane is a harmful greenhouse gas contributing to climate change. In addition to this, food waste takes up a lot of space, polluting our planet. It’s also important to remember that it’s not only the food that is going to waste when we throw scraps in the trash; the water and energy used to produce that food is also wasted.

For more information about the environmental impact of food waste, see our blog post here.

Tips for having a sustainable Thanksgiving feast

  1. Plan who’s bringing what

If you have guests or family members bringing dishes to Thanksgiving, make sure you know exactly who’s bringing what. This way, you can avoid having multiple of the same dishes and reduce the amount that goes to waste. It also means you can advise your guests on portion sizes so you don’t end up with too much food.

  1. Check your cupboards

Cleaning out your cupboards before going grocery shopping will help you have a much more sustainable Thanksgiving. Take stock of what ingredients you have so that you don’t end up buying items that are already hiding at the back of your cupboards.

  1. Make dishes from scratch

Once you’ve discovered which ingredients you have, it’s likely there are dishes on your list that can be made from scratch. Bread and desserts are great examples of items that a lot of people buy around the holidays that are easily made at home using what you have.

  1. Use eco-friendly food containers

Involve your guests in your pursuits of a sustainable Thanksgiving by encouraging them to bring dishes in reusable containers rather than disposable ones. You can even reuse them on the day by sending guests home with leftovers, so that you’re less likely to throw excess food away.

  1. Only make dishes that are always popular

We all have a dish or two that we make at Thanksgiving just for tradition, but that nobody really likes. Cut down on your food waste by taking that dish off the menu. If you’re still making this dish just because that one uncle likes it, try making a smaller portion just for him!

If you own a grocery store

Help your customers have a more sustainable Thanksgiving by stocking up with reusable grocery bags. You can even customize them in fall colors like oranges and reds to encourage shoppers to find a sustainable way of taking home their turkeys!