Save money while also saving the Earth by following these sustainable holiday tips.
Thanksgiving is all about abundance.
The once-a-year celebration is designed to commemorate a big feast, so it’s time to splurge, right?
Credit: Kim Cornelison
And that’s not the only problem.
So we teamed up with Nierenberg to assemble your guide to hosting a more sustainable Thanksgiving dinner.
Mother Natureand your budgetwill thank you.
Shop Your Refrigerator
All those supermarket sales and coupons can be misleading.
“What a steal!”
They can also cause you uncertainty.
“Wait, do I have poultry seasoning?
Better buy another, just in case.”
“Open your refrigerator first.
We all have cans hiding in the back corner we forgot about.
There’s no reason to buy more of what you already have.”
Trust Your Senses
Yes, you could still eat food past its expiration date.
“Some products may still be good long after their expiration date.
Trust your senses, not dates to know if food is still good to eat.”
Ourguide to expiration dateswill help you figure out what they really mean.
Food should look or taste poorly before it’s harmful, according to Consumer Reports.
Rather Than Guessing, Employ the Guestimator
“Planning menus in advance can limit waste,” Nierenberg says.
For the easiest-ever estimate of spot-on shopping list quantities, useSave The Food’s free “Guestimator” tool.
Utilize Items Youd Normally Toss
Instead of throwing away carrot tops, make pesto.Incorporate stale bread into stuffing.
Turn those giblets into a gravy.
That way, everyone can savor a second round ofpecan pie, mashed potatoes, andgreen bean casserole.
Learn to Love Leftovers
Once you’ve scored your share of leftovers, put ‘em to great use.
“Using leftovers in another recipe following a holiday dinner makes meals easy.
Cook once, eat twice,” Nierenberg says.
After all, sharing, giving, and giving back is what the holiday is all about.
