How To Keep Your Thanksgiving Green This Year: Cooking with Consciousness

As Thanksgiving rolls around each year, we prepare for a holiday filled with friends, family, laughter, and of course food. But as it turns out, all that overeating still leaves copious amounts of food that goes to waste.

"Make meals, not waste this Thanksgiving." We Don't Waste, 18 Nov. 22, https://www.wedontwaste.org

Chew on this: it's estimated that around 312 million pounds of food waste get thrown out on Thanksgiving day in America. That's about $550 million of lost money clogging up landfills. Not to mention the staggering amount of CO2 emissions that result from transporting turkeys and other ingredients. An average Thanksgiving meal for 12 people generates 103 pounds of CO2 emissions, or enough for a car to drive 117 miles. So what can you do to keep your Thanksgiving green this year?

Help eliminate food waste:

• More than 90% of hosts intentionally prepare more than enough food for gatherings - know how many guests are coming and prepare around a quarter-pound of turkey and a half-cup of each side dish per person

• Distribute any leftovers among guests to bring home

• Save leftovers in the fridge (USDA recommends throwing out leftovers after 3-4 days; don't risk an upset stomach!)

• Save leftovers in the freezer (this food can be consumed for 3-4 months)

• Create new meals - you can even use turkey bones for high protein soup broth!

Help reduce CO2 emissions:

• Shop locally raised turkeys so your meal doesn't need to travel across the country

• Incorporate more vegetable-based dishes to reduce the carbon footprint of your meal

• Consider upgrading to more energy-efficient oven or stove units to reduce emissions over time

Spread the message to anyone you know to help broaden the impact of food consciousness. With combined effort, we can reduce emissions substantially and effectively reduce the rate of climate change! Follow The Conscious Planet for more tips on how to stay green to keep the planet clean.