Tips For Serving Up a Green Thanksgiving

For many people, November and December mark their favorite time of year. Spending time with family, good cheer and great food all combine to make the holidays something to look forward to. Keeping green is a snap, too. Just follow some of these tips to have a green Thanksgiving that is festive, fun and focused on being environmentally friendly.

The Turkey

It’s hard to think about Thanksgiving without thinking about the turkey. Whether you love turkey or are happy to find a new alternative, there is a way to serve an environmentally friendly centerpiece. The best option for serving turkey is to locate a seller who specializes in organic turkeys or to locate a heritage breed, according to Treehugger.com. Other ideas for a great main dish include serving a turkey alternative, including a vegetarian casserole, or serving another type of meat. Don’t forget to shop local for your feast. Local farmer’s markets and local organically grown items can provide your family with a delicious feast and buying local can help support your town’s economy during this busy shopping season.

The “Fixins”

A great Thanksgiving meal can be remembered for years to come. Serving locally grown, in-season produce is a tasty way to put together a great meal. Sometimes the best items come right out of your own garden. Did you harvest a great sweet potato crop this year? Have some canned items that would make great side dishes or desserts? Using great fall produce such as squash, pumpkin, apples, cauliflower or figs will create hearty delicious dishes to add to your menu. You can also spend a few extra minutes making homemade rolls or bread that can outshine anything bought in a store. If the adults at your table enjoy wine or beer with their meal, visit a local vineyard or brewery to pick up a great tasting organic wine or brew.

Decorating With Green In Mind

You can have a beautifully decorated home and table using recycled, reused or natural items. If you have kids who are eager to help prepare for the big feast, you can enlist them to create place mats, napkin holders, place cards or decorations using items already in your home. Paper plates, bags, paper and cardboard can be used to create great decorations along with natural items such as feathers, pine cones or greens. If you are looking for elegant decorating ideas, using natural candles of beeswax or soy and sparkling crystal pieces creates a beautiful look. If you love decorating with a wreath or bouquets of flowers or greens, locate organic sellers or bring in some of the items growing in your own backyard. This is also the time to bring out your best linens and serving pieces. Those great dishes and tablecloths are meant to be used and it’s much better for the environment than anything disposable!

Being Thankful

One of the best parts about the Thanksgiving holiday is the chance to reflect on all the things you are thankful for. It’s even better to hear what your family and friends are thankful for, and gathering together over a healthy, hearty meal is the perfect chance to give family and friends the opportunity to discuss the good things in their lives. You might provide a Thankful Jar that guests can place their written thoughts in. These thankful thoughts can be read at dinner and later turned into a keepsake. Another idea is to provide a book or place for guests to sign and write down their thankful ideas, and reuse the book each year as new guests arrive and new things to be thankful for are remembered.

Green Your Leftovers

After the meal and the football, there might be a little cleanup. Kids love to sort, so you might have them gather together all the empty bottles for recycling. If you compost, make sure to toss your food scraps into your compost bins. And as for those leftovers? You may want to send some home with your guests. Also, there are some great recipes available using Thanksgiving leftovers that turn out just as delicious as the original meal.

Going green at Thanksgiving makes this special holiday even better. Celebrate with healthy, local, organic food; great friends and family and the peace of mind that comes with knowing you can add a healthier planet to your list of things to be thankful for this year. Happy Thanksgiving!

Some green Thanksgiving ideas for this blog from: http://www.treehugger.com, http://ecofabulous.com, http://earthfirst.com/10-tips-for-a-green-thanksgiving/

Tags: decorating for Thanksgiving, eco-friendly Thanksgiving, green Thanksgiving, Thanksgiving, Thanksgiving ideas