Hosting Thanksgiving

Whether you’ve been planning a month or it snuck up on you, Thanksgiving is upon us next week, and it can be a little stressful. That’s why this Waste Not Wednesday, we have some low-waste tips to help your dinner sail as smoothly as a gravy boat!

Planning ahead is probably our biggest tip. Food waste happens most when people overestimate or buy extra ingredients “in case,” but if you actually plan for only what you need plus a reasonable margin of error for leftovers, you can avoid an entire refrigerator full of mashed potatoes the day after. If you plan ahead, you can also have more control over where you purchase your items and how, like purchasing from farmers markets and local butchers or bakeries using your own bags instead of scrambling to the farthest grocery store to buy whatever’s left wrapped in plastic (we’ve all been there though).

We also recommend saving reusable containers for leftovers like jars and take out trays as you go through the year or shortly before the holiday, rather than trashing or recycling the items after first use. Reusing gives items another life and one more day out of the waste stream, and it’s cheaper than buying expensive reusable containers that your relatives may never return anyway. Jars are also a spill-proof way to divvy up soups, gravy, and other liquid items.

Finally, fall is the perfect time for using natural and sustainable decor. Real leaves, pumpkins, and your fancy reusable linens and dishes can turn a boring table into a beautiful harvest display. Though it may mean a few more dishes or a bit of laundry, swapping out disposables for reusable serving dishes, flatware, and napkins, etc. is an easy thing and can add some elegance to the occasion, plus it’s only once a year.

At Sankoty Sustainables, we are grateful for all of you, and we thank you for being on this low-waste journey with us!