Hosting a sustainable Thanksgiving celebration is easier than you think! It doesn’t mean you have to let go of your favorite holiday traditions. You can seamlessly incorporate new ones that are kinder to the earth and tweak your most cherished traditions too.
Having a sustainable Thanksgiving means reducing our carbon footprint, supporting community members through our purchases, and truly focusing on all the things we have to be grateful for.
This post is all about the best sustainable Thanksgiving tips and sustainable practices.
How can we be eco-friendly for Thanksgiving?
1. Use reusable dishes and cutlery (no matter how many people are coming!)
It can be so tempting to use disposables for large gatherings. After all the cooking, the last thing you want to do is clean. But this is the most simple way to reduce the amount of waste that occurs on Thanksgiving (and even throughout the holiday season!).
To minimize clean-up time you can clean while you cook rather than wait until the end. Reusable cloth napkins can easily be thrown in the washer after dinner and desserts. Have everyone keep an eye on their cup for the night rather than people using multiple ones.
2. More plants, less meat! Consider vegan Thanksgiving recipes
I’m not saying you HAVE to ditch the turkey but you could! If you do choose to have a Thanksgiving turkey try to choose a free-range turkey and/or an organic turkeys. No matter what you choose, be sure to have lots of veggies on the menu.
I put together a simple vegan Thanksgiving menu to get you started. Also, more and more people these days are choosing to be vegetarian or vegan. I’m sure your friends and family that are vegan will really appreciate having a few dishes they can enjoy too! And if you really want to go the extra mile there are Vegan turkey alternatives available.
3. Vegan Thanksgiving menu ideas:
Before you head to the grocery store, take some time to plan out the perfect thanksgiving meal. Making a plan for your holiday meal can help to reduce food waste and ensure you are not over buying. Here is a super simple thanksgiving feast you can use as a starting place.
Vegan Thanksgiving Appetizer: Harvest salad and rolls
Vegan Thanksgiving Side Dishes: Vegan green bean casserole, roasted brussel sprouts, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, vegan stuffing, cranberry sauce
Vegan Thanksgiving Main: Vegan alternative turkey or veggie casserole
Vegan Thanksgiving Dessert: Vegan pumpkin pie or vegan pecan pie
4. Expand your Thanksgiving dinner table
Sustainability involves caring for not just the earth but community members too!
Try to extend your table this year to include a neighbor or work friend that may not have plans. Even if they aren’t able to make it, the offer can go a long way to show someone they are cared for!
5. Show gratitude through actions
Thanksgiving is a great opportunity to reflect on things in our life we are grateful for. It can be so easy to just focus on creating delicious Thanksgiving recipes and not on other aspects of the holiday. Take some time to think about the things that you cherish, then actively celebrate them on Thanksgiving!
Here are some examples to get you started:
- Nature= go on a hike and take in all the scenery
- Family= Play a board game together or do a sustainable Thanksgiving themed craft like a homemade wreath
- Community= Find a way to volunteer your time on Thanksgiving. Soup kitchens always need help or go out and pick up trash to beautify your community
- Your home= get creative with sustainable Thanksgiving home decor. Check our your local thrift store for holiday home decor or get creative with natural items to decorate your Thanksgiving table.
If you do decide to go on a hike to celebrate thanksgiving, check out this guide for important hiking tips.
6. Cook meals with ingredients from your local farmer’s market (Preferably organic options!)
Before the big day, make time to browse your local farmers market to see what organic food is available during this time of year. Incorporate it into family favorites or find new recipes!
We can cut down on carbon emissions by sourcing food that was grown in our community rather than food that was grown far away. It is fresher and tastes better too! Buying local produce also supports farmers and their livelihood. We would be nowhere without their hard work and the food they provide!
7. Reconsider Black Friday and shop local
It is pretty ironic that the day after a holiday spent focusing on being grateful, we have a nonofficial holiday that is focused on overconsumption! I will admit I have definitely participated in Black Friday (and Cyber Monday!) and even found some great deals.
But!
The unfortunate truth is that a lot of companies that have Black Friday deals are fast fashion companies. The products are produced with unethical labor and the clothes are not built to last. Instead, support a local artisan that puts love and care into the products they made. Some local businesses have Black Friday deals too if you are shopping on a budget!
8. Ask guests to bring their favorite reusable containers and send them home with leftovers
Instead of buying plastic containers or plastic bags to send your guests home with, make it a point to ask your friends and family to bring their own reusable containers.
An added bonus is that none of your containers will get lost or forget to be returned 😉
9. Be mindful of food waste
So much time and care went into your Thanksgiving dishes so why waste them? (especially if you paid extra for organic food!)
Find ways to use thanksgiving leftovers in new dishes later in the week or even freeze them. If you do forget about some food, be sure to compost it. Leftover nonperishable items can always be donated. Food should be respected from the time it’s grown to when it makes its way back to the earth. Food waste can be prevented! Don’t let food rot in a landfill!
If you are looking for places to compost near you, you can check out the directory here.
This list is just a starting point for hosting a more sustainable Thanksgiving. Even choosing one item from this list can make a big impact on the health of our planet and your community!
Do you have any other sustainable Thanksgiving ideas you will be using this year? I would love to hear them in the comments below!
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Stay well,
Maggie
This post was all about the best eco-friendly Thanksgiving ideas to reduce your environmental impact.
Other posts you may like:
- 5 Unique Sustainable Holiday Cards For Your Zero Waste Holidays
- Our Favorite 8 Zero Waste Gift Wrapping Ideas For Every Occasion
- Your Go-to Guide For The Best Low Waste Holiday Gifts (Inspired By The 5 Love Languages!)
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