The holidays are the most magical time of year - there's family, celebration, and lots of tasty food! But, these special holidays often lead to a lot of food waste - which is absolutely terrible for the planet! Follow these tips to reduce your food w...
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6
1. Create a meal plan
2. Shop smart
3. Cook wisely
4. Serve sensibly
5. Get creative with leftovers
6. Last resort - compost!
1. Create a meal plan
Before you grocery shop, know exactly how many people you will be hosting and plan portions accordingly. Take stock of what you already have in the pantry/fridge so that you use it up first!
I find it helpful to plan out my meals for the week each Sunday so that I know exactly what I will be making
Meal Planner and Grocery List Magnetic Notepad
Follow these tips for effective meal planning :)
The BEST Tips for Meal Planning to Avoid Food Waste!
Take stock of what you have and then make your list!
Grocery List Magnet Pad
2. Shop smart
Make a precise list and stick to it! Avoid impulse buys at all costs.
Use reusable bags (including produce bags!) when you are grocery shopping
Reusable Mesh Produce Bags
Keep your reusable bags in the car so that you never find yourself at the store without them!
Canvas Grocery Shopping Bags
These don't have any holes in them which makes them great for things in the bulk bins (like spices, grains, etc.)
Reusable Cloth Bags
3. Cook wisely
Cook only what you need for the holiday and adapt as you cook (ex. if you have too much of an ingredient use it in other recipes, etc.)
My favorite plant based turkey alternatives!
Meatless Turkey Alternatives for Thanksgiving 🦃
It is totally possible to reduce your waste as you cook!
How to Reduce Food Waste When Holiday Cooking
A perfect thing to bring to the Thanksgiving feast!
Cranberry Sauce (Canning Recipe)
4. Serve sensibly
Let people serve themselves so they get exactly what they will eat! Try to use smaller plates to have the first helpings be smaller (as you can always go back for more!).
Staub has some awesome plates!
Staub Ceramic Dinnerware Appetizer Plate Set
An adorable (and affordable) napkin option!
4pk Cotton Gingham Napkins
A perfect fabric tablecloth for your Thanksgiving feast!
Autumnal Harvest Tablecloth
5. Get creative with leftovers
Store leftovers properly so that they last a long time… And get creative with how you eat them up!
I like storing my food in glass as plastics can leach toxins into your leftovers…
Pyrex Simply Store 12-Pack Glass Storage
Another good food storage set - but you can use mason jars, reused jars, etc!
Rubbermaid 10pc Brilliance Glass Food Storage Set
A great recipe to make with your leftovers!
Thanksgiving Sliders Recipe
6. Last resort - compost!
For food scraps during cooking or any leftovers that go uneaten by their expiration date, make sure you compost them!
Expiration dates are often misleading - check out this guide to understand them better.
Everything to Know About Expiration Dates
This is the compost bin I have in my backyard and it is AMAZING - 100% recommend!
