As the Thanksgiving season quickly approaches, I can sometimes find it too easy to get caught up in being the ‘perfect’ advocate for the environment. The holiday season is first and foremost about gratitude and being with the people you love. Although this list is geared towards the Thanksgiving table in New York, these ideas can be utilized by anyone, anywhere, no matter your tradition or how to choose to honor this time off. That being said, here are a few tips on how to have a more sustainable Thanksgiving.
Know Your Bird: If you and your loved ones partake in eating turkey, know where it comes from. There are over 20 farms within an hour of NYC that supply organic, hormone and antibiotic free, pasture raised birds. A few of these farms even let you come see the turkeys. Spending the extra time and money to ensure not only the overall best treatment of your turkey (think sunlight, grass, and their natural diet of fruits, seeds, and bugs), but also the best quality product in terms of health and taste. If, like me, you do not include turkey on your Thanksgiving table, consider sponsoring a turkey.
Make less, better quality food: As a natural hostess, this is the point I struggle with the most. In the anxiety of making food my guests will love, I end up with way too much food (I get this from my mom I’m sure.) The best and most sustainable way is to think quality over quantity. By making less and smaller dishes, you’re able to use higher quality ingredients that are sure to please. If you do end up with too many left-overs to manage, try making a Thanksgiving leftover casserole. It’s definitely my favorite way to clean out the fridge.
Shop local and in season: Food transportation accounts for 15% of the overall impact of food. Curb this by shopping for local and in season foods to fill your table. Things like brussel sprouts, winter squash, cranberries, pears, parsnips, leeks, kale, and mushrooms will make for the most delicious and in season Thanksgiving spread (I linked some recipes similar to ones that will be on my table.) If possible, get to know your local farmers at the farmers market. My favorite is the Union Square Greenmarket open Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday 9am-6pm.
Keep your decor reusable and biodegradable: Fall decor is all around us! Instead of buying table runners and plastic trinkets you’ll only use once, bring the beauty of nature inside to decorate. After dinner, your decorations can be thrown back outside where they will biodegrade back into the earth. For meal time, use dishes and cloth napkins instead of paper plates and paper napkins. Goodwill always has a large variety of plates, usually only a few dollars a set if you don’t have enough dishes to host. Not only is this better for the environment, but it also makes your Thanksgiving meal feel a little more special.
Be conscious of your holiday travel: The holidays are about being with people you love and sometimes that requires lots of travel. If you have to travel by plane, consider purchasing a carbon offset. If you have the choice, try taking a lower GHG emission form of transportation like a train or carpool.
Our food system is one of the most impactful things we as humans do to the earth. By becoming conscious of what and how we eat, we can all eat our way to a better food system. Eat less and higher quality meat. Shop local and in season. Eat a variety of food. These things will not only result in a more delicious and healthy way of eating, but help create a more resilient food system.