For some, planning for Thanksgiving dinner, a holiday centered around the feast, while trying to adopt a more climate-friendly way of living, can be challenging.
More than 46 million turkeys are eaten on Thanksgiving Day, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Here are some tips to make it a low-waste and enjoyable holiday from various sources, including Keep America Beautiful.
Costco Complete Gourmet Thanksgiving Turkey Dinner
Before Thanksgiving
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Use online tools to estimate portions to avoid over-preparing food.
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Make a shopping list and stick to it.
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Choose items with less packaging.
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Buy local or organic products to reduce transportation emissions and waste.
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Bring your own bags for grocery shopping to skip plastic bags.
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Use items like pumpkins, squash, leaves, or candles instead of plastic decorations.
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Encourage guests to bring their own reusable containers for leftovers to avoid using disposable foil or plastic wrap.
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Use up existing food before Thanksgiving to prevent waste.
Tips to consider on Thanksgiving
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Serve buffet-style, allowing guests to serve themselves and take only what they can eat, reducing plate waste.
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Consider adding more plant-based, meatless dishes to the menu.
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Consider using reusable dishes, cutlery, and napkins instead of single-use disposables.
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If you need disposables, choose compostable alternatives like wooden utensils.
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Tips to try the day after Thanksgiving
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Use reusable containers or have guests take leftovers home in their own containers.
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Repurpose food into new dishes like soups, stews, or sandwiches.
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Freeze what you can’t eat immediately, such as extra broth or meat from the turkey.
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Set up a composting station for food scraps like vegetable peels and meat bones.
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Donate unopened, non-perishable items to a local food bank.
The USDA estimates that, on average, American consumers waste about one-fifth of food that is available to them, equivalent to about $371 per person annually. That’s enough money to buy about 21 whole turkeys for each person in the country.
Here are some tips according to Green Business Benchmark:
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Buy local in-season produce.
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Rally family and friends for a trip to the farmer’s market.
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Consider adding more plant-based dishes to the menu.
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To minimize food waste, coordinate with dinner guests on who’s bringing what.
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Be mindful of portion sizes when loading your plate to avoid leftover scraps.
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If traveling for the holiday, lower the thermostat to cut down on unnecessary energy use.
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Set a timer for holiday lighting.
This reporting content is supported by a partnership with several funders and Journalism Funding Partners.
Erica Van Buren is the climate change reporter for The Augusta Chronicle, part of the USA TODAY Network. Connect with her at [email protected] or on X: @EricaVanBuren32.
This article originally appeared on Augusta Chronicle: Celebrating Thanksgiving dinner in a more sustainable way is easy
