5 Easy Ways to Have a Low-Waste Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is just around for corner for Canadians and it’s a special time to reconnect with friends and family, but with overflowing dishes, excited kids, and full bellies, sustainability often slips into the back burner.

This year, let’s drop the pressure of doing it all perfectly and talk about easy and realistic ways to host a low-waste gathering. Whether you’re dealing with a huge family or limited time, you can still make environmentally friendly choices regardless of your guest list and level of chaos.

1) Use What You Have The best thing about hosting any gathering is bringing your vision to life, and sometimes that means going to the store for supplies and decor, but this year I challenge you to use what you have.

We all have a stash of mismatched napkins, plates, or leftover party supplies somewhere, and it’s about time we use them. Not only are you cutting down on the clutter, but you’re saving time, money, and creating less waste.

2) Bring Your Own Container(s) Whether you’re hosting Thanksgiving dinner or attending as a guest, remind yourself and others to bring reusable containers if they want leftovers.

It’s a simple way to cut down on waste because you’re not reaching for plastic containers, cling wrap, or foil as a last minute resort, or lending out Tupperware in hopes that they will be returned.

3) Create a Realistic Food Plan It’s easy to go overboard when it comes to Thanksgiving dinner. I understand the excitement that comes with wanting to try new dishes, but that often leads to food waste.

Take a few minutes to go through your guest list and ask everyone what their top 2 dishes are. Less food on the table may feel weird at first, but it’s about enjoying what’s there.

Tip! Instead of serving canned sodas or bottled water, set out pitchers of water, lemonade, 2 litre sodas, or batch cocktails. This reduces packaging waste.

4) Label Your Bins Label your bins and put them in plain sight so that your guests know where things go. Add simple labels such as “food scraps only” or “cans and bottles” to keep things clear. When it’s easy and obvious, people are more likely to follow through.

This may seem like a small detail, but it will make a big difference by the end of the night. Fewer things end up in the trash by mistake, you won’t be picking up cans around the kitchen, or stuck sorting through a mountain of mixed garbage.

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5) Stretch the Feast Instead of tossing away peels, stems, and bones, simmer them into a hearty broth for soups or stews. And if you end up with more food than people want to take home at the end of the night, you can freeze them in portions. You’ll be extra thankful when you don’t have to cook for a few days!

Small choices make a big impact, especially when it’s a group effort. These simple steps not only reduce waste, but also help us slow down and appreciate the true spirit of the holiday, which is sharing, gratitude, and taking care of each other and the planet. What is one low-waste habit you’re bringing to the table this Thanksgiving? I’d love to know.

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