The holidays are a time of bounty at the table. But they are also the time for the highest amount of wasted food for us, already wasteful Americans. Studies show that food waste has reached 40%1. Unfortunately, this happens at every level of the supply chain. Therefore, we must mitigate it at every level possible. There are many simple ways to help reduce food waste during the holiday season, like these ten simple steps.
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1. Know Your Guest List
If you have a lot of pumpkin pie-lovers attending, by all means, make two pumpkin pies. But, if you have several vegans in attendance, don’t go for that third turkey or a gallon of eggnog. Know what your guests are likely to eat and pay attention to pound-per-person estimates for your large items like ham and turkey.
Pare down your menu and go for quality over quantity. Bring back the family favorites that you know everyone enjoys, but limit the new dishes. Not only is a new dish stressful on a holiday, but it can also lead to more food waste if it’s not a success.
2. Avoid Impulse Buys
Don’t pick up food on impulse. Have a plan and stick to it. If you know what you’re making and how much, you’ll be less likely to forget it in the back of your refrigerator or pantry.
3. Make Space in the Freezer
Don’t just think about how to feed your guests on the holiday, but also think about how to use the leftovers later. If you only have one turkey sandwich lover in the family, wrap and freeze the majority of the leftover turkey and fixings after the big feast, so you won’t forget to do it later. Turkey only lasts, safely, in the refrigerator for about four days.
4. Shop Farmers Markets
In addition to reducing travel and middleman costs, you’ll also have the opportunity to buy ugly produce. Yes, your grocer tosses out anything deemed unattractive to the consumer. Support ugly produce and buy it directly from farmers to reduce food waste at the production level.
5. Save the Scraps
You’ll be chopping and peeling a lot of vegetables for the big feast. Don’t compost the scraps right away; turn them into vegetable stock. After the stock, compost the remaining items. You’ve upcycled those scraps into something else you’ll need for the feast. Any food scraps that you plan to throw away, consider composting instead.
6. Portion Control
While you can’t always portion out everything for your guests in a holiday feast, you can portion out some items to reduce waste. Try mini pies instead of full-size and rolls instead of loaves of bread. Giving your guests options to just pick up one piece instead of controlling with a scoop can help reduce what’s leftover on the plate.
As for those scoopables, try smaller spoons. Give your guests smaller plates and bowls as well to limit the amount of food they can glop on their plate at one time and give the illusion of larger portions. Don’t worry, they can always go back for seconds. This also helps if you want to reuse what’s in the serving dishes.
7. Leftover Meals
Be creative when planning to eat your leftovers. Instead of just sandwiches, try Thanksgiving salad, turkey pizza, or a casserole. Make quesadillas or fried rice filled with leftovers. And, if you just know you can’t get through it all in four to seven days, package it well and freeze it for later. While you may be absolutely sick of turkey the week after Thanksgiving, it will make a lovely and cozy noodle soup in December.
8. Donate Extras
If you bought too many canned and boxed items for your holiday feast, consider donating to a local food pantry. Or contact your children’s schools. Schools often hold food drives, which are an excellent way to encourage kids to help their community.
9. Seek Out Food Recovery Programs
Food recovery programs collect excess food from consumers and businesses. They then donate the excess food to other consumers. One such group in New York City collects enough food to provide groceries and meals for more than 300,000 people2.
10. Gift Non-Perishables
While Christmas cookies and other treats are common gifts, consider gifts that are at least less perishable, if not non-perishable, during the holidays. Instead of cookies, try canned jam or pie filling.
Read More on Organic Authority
Waste Not: 8 Ways to Reduce Thanksgiving Day Waste
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