.png)
Every time I sit down to plan out the next batch of podcasts and blogs, I try hard to not repeat myself but sometimes things are worth repeating so here it goes. November …. The season of giving thanks. We all love the idea of cooking up a frenzy, decorating every inch of our home and office, and planning all of our travels through the holiday season.
Though these are probably long-running traditions and hard to break, there are many small ways to make a big impact on our planet and still preserve family traditions. So let’s start where all the family gathers the most – in the kitchen.
Cooking is a fun way to catch up with all the family members and fun to prepare delicious, yummy food! However, there are a few easy changes you can make in your kitchen to help your energy bill, your carbon footprint, and your planet.
1. Plan your meals accordingly so that you don’t have waste. We do cook a little extra for a quick lunch or if we get a surprise visitor but overall, we plan our meals accordingly.
2. Save your scraps and compost! But you can also use scraps for the making of other meals. For example: kale stems, carrot tops, onion peels, and other scraps are great for stocks and soups. Apple cores and peels can be used to make vinegar; stale bread can be turned into croutons and you can candy those citrus rinds.
3. If you meal-prep, then you know about the big freeze. But if you don’t, then not only can you freeze ready-to-heat and eat meals, freezing also reduces food waste. Fresh herbs can be frozen like in ice cubes and when you’re ready to cook with them, just drop the cube directly into the skillet! Freeze overripe bananas for banana bread and frozen beets are great for pickling.
4. Even after using all that you can of the food and proper storage, you. Will still be faced with scraps and now you can compost! Apple cores, veggie peels, tea leaves, coffee grinds, etc. Some people don’t like the idea of having food scraps out in sight in your backyard and you don’t have to – they make great compact compost containers ideal for apartments and small spaces.
5. Try growing your own herbs or veggies for future family meals and make cooking that much more personal.
Thanksgiving is a time to gather but when so many people gather we have to take a moment to consider the amount of waste.
1. I know it’s easier to use single-use plastics but that’s terribly bad for the planet so have everyone help out with washing the dishes. Also, use cloth napkins and real silverware instead of plastic utensils. The same goes for drink glasses. I know, I know. It’s more work but hey, if you have more people in your home then you have more help cleaning up!
2. That brings me back to extra food – ask everyone to bring a reusable dish so that you can pack everyone a to-go plate to cut down on food waste.
3. Let’s also think about the drink options. Instead of the 2L bottles of soda, try canned soft drinks since aluminum cans are the most recycled and easily recycled. And opt for glass bottles when it comes to adult beverages.
A few quick tips for grocery shopping for the festive feast is to skip the plastic produce bags and stick to your list – which means to double check which ingredients you already have in stock. Shop locally and skip plastic-packaged foods, which is just silly! Consider going meatless but if skipping a turkey isn’t an option, look into getting a smaller bird for smaller gatherings or connecting with a local farmer.
I hope you have a wonderful holiday season full of family, feasts, fun, and memories. From Superhero’s and Adventures to everyone listening, we wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving! And if you aren’t from the states, then we hope you share with us more of your festive family gatherings so we can learn more about different cultures AND we hope that you practice these tips at your next event!