Are you someone who enjoys hosting friends and family over on holidays? Or perhaps, someone who enjoys attending gatherings hosted by your family and friends?
If so, I am sure you are familiar with the frustrations of leftovers and food waste that such gatherings often leave you with. Today we want to provide you with a few ideas to reduce food waste during the holiday season and going forward.
Most of us know about our green (food waste and other organic materials) and blue (recycling) bins system; however, oftentimes that is as far as our general knowledge about managing waste goes. This is why, at Green Schools Green Future, we want to emphasize promoting eco-awareness so that children are educated on and immersed in sustainable practices from a young age.
It is crucial for us to acknowledge the staggering food insecurity that persists in our communities, so that we can be mindful in our choices. For now, let’s jump right into the game plan for how you are going to manage food better this holiday season and beyond!
Planning
There are a few things that can be done beforehand to prepare for a less wasteful gathering. The first is to gather all your RSVP data and approximately calculate the quantity of food and ingredients needed before hand, so that you do not overdo it and get carried away during preparation. If your event is a potluck, you can provide this information to your guests as well so they, too, can prepare accordingly.
Pro tip: Use a pre-built application to help you make your estimates if you are unsure how to do it yourself. This ‘guest-imator’ is a great option to get you started.
Research suggests that having smaller plate and utensil sizes encourages people to get food in intervals based on their appetite, which helps cut down plate waste.
Additionally, you can buy biodegradable take-home containers for your guests so that they can take leftovers of their choice home, making the wrap-up process easier.
Be sure to keep a container for compost waste as you prepare your food! [More information on this further down.]
Post-Event Actions
One great way to store leftovers is to do so in portion sizes you can consume, so it is manageable and actually gets eaten. If the food freezes well (a quick Google search should tell you), that is also an option. Disclaimer though, only freeze things you would actually want to eat in the future or else it will be a waste of space and ultimately get chucked out.
A lot of people also use this as an opportunity to get creative and make new meals using their leftovers, and you may want to try that too! Apparently, you can make soups, casseroles, pies and pizzas out of anything.
If you have unused ingredients left over that you do not want to use, find a nearby food bank and donate them as soon as possible! As mentioned earlier, food insecurity rises each day, and helping in any capacity is a great idea.
Composting
Finally, let’s get into the fun and experimental process of composting your food scraps. Organic materials such as food waste generally make up the largest percentage of household garbage, so why not use them to create something that is beneficial for both yourself and the environment?
Composting is a great idea, especially through these winter months since it gives the waste time to breakdown and be ready for when spring gardening rolls around. By choosing to compost, you are not only mitigating climate change and improving soil health on your scale but also giving yourself the motivation and a head start on gardening and consuming more organic fruits and vegetables.
Let’s start with a list of things that DO NOT belong in the compost pile:
- Meats, bones, dairy and materials like aluminum cans and plastic containers
- Avoid adding too much oil, citrus peels (too acidic) and onions and garlic (they repel earthworms, which are needed in healthy compost)
Now that those things are out of the way, here is a list of the many wastes you CAN compost:
- Fruit and vegetable peels and scraps
- Crushed eggshells
- Paper plates, napkins and other packaging (rip them up for easier composting)
- Coffee grounds
Sustainable Food Practices with GSGF
I hope you have found this breakdown helpful and that you use it as a starting point for your composting journey! Be sure to make a conscious effort to use as many of these tips as possible so you can reduce food waste during the holiday season.
Working towards food security is a big goal for us at GSGF and we truly believe that each individual CAN make a difference. With green education as our focus, we want to keep sustainable practices and eco-awareness at the forefront of our priorities.
In order to grow our project, we need your help! Please consider donating to GSGF Foundation today and committing to a reoccurring donation amount of your choice. Any and all efforts are a great help to us.
Our Charity Registration Number: 783450919RR0001
Rest assured; your gift of green education will go a long way! 💚
Sources:
- Texas A&M University AgriLife Extension:https://dinnertonight.tamu.edu/composting-holiday-season/
- Fox 5 San Diego – Sustainable San Diego: https://fox5sandiego.com/sustainable-san-diego/thanksgiving-leftovers-what-to-do-with-food-waste/
- Lily Nichols: https://lilynicholsrdn.com/end-food-waste-holidays/
