Thanksgiving is one of the most important holidays for many. Thanksgiving is a great time to get together with friends and family, celebrate what’s important to us, and eat. Lots. Unfortunately, this also means that a lot of food is wasted. Americans waste 40% of their food. But it gets worse during the holidays.
The statistics on Thanksgiving food waste are alarming, but we, as consumers, can do a lot. With the right buying approach, we can also push corporations to do even more.
Statistics on Thanksgiving food waste today
Holidays bring about a lot more waste. Americans actually throw out 25% more garbage during the Thanksgiving-New Year holiday period. This is about 25 million tonnes of waste. A lot of it is food. This doesn’t include the pumpkins that we throw away after Halloween.
Experts estimate that we will waste 200 million pounds of Turkey on Thanksgiving alone. According to the US Chamber of Commerce Foundation, this is in addition to 40 million pounds of mashed potato and 30 million pounds of dressing. This amounts to $293 million worth of food waste.
This is enough food to feed millions of people. Instead, it is thrown away. What can we do?
Purchase strategies
Your shopping list is the first place you can start to make an impact. Making smart decisions about what to buy and how much you put in your shopping cart can help you reduce waste.
First, check your pantry.
Remember the year you only used one of three cranberry cans? Remember the bag of frozen popcorn that you use as an ice pack? You may already have many of the things you need to prepare for Thanksgiving. Double-check your list before you go shopping. Avoiding food waste is as simple as not buying extra.
Support brands that reduce waste
Consider buying from brands with robust programs for resale and recycling. It may take some research, but the results are worth it. To make your choice easier, look into the programs offered by different brands. It is the best way to influence food producers to reduce their food waste. You can influence corporate waste management programs by using your voice as a customer.
How to buy the right amount of food
Buying the right amount of food is not as easy as it sounds. It can be not easy to shop for large gatherings. The USDA recommends that you buy one pound of turkey per person. It’s easy for you to go overboard with the desserts, sides and appetizers.
Consider how many guests will be attending. You don’t have to buy all the vegetables or side dishes if you are having a small gathering. Just stick with what you know your guests will like. Even though it’s painful to admit, three flavours of pie might not be necessary.
Estimating is not a good idea for a large crowd. Instead, you should get an accurate count before the event. Organise potlucks in advance to avoid duplicate dishes.
Waste minimization strategies
There are several ways to ensure that your food doesn’t end up in the trash. You can use every part of the turkey or get creative with leftovers.
All parts are needed.
Many foods never make it to the table. Imagine all the food scraps that aren’t usually cooked or served. The majority of them are delicious and healthy.
Boil the bones and carcass of the turkey to make broth. You can use the broth to make soups or stews within a couple of days or freeze it for later use in winter. You can add vegetable scraps like carrot or broccoli ends to broths to enhance flavour or make separate vegetable broths. Throw in turkey skins, tendons and bones, as well as vegetable peelings, to add more flavour.
You can also save extra onions for future recipes or turn potato peels into crisps to enjoy throughout the week.
Small portions are best.
Please encourage your friends and family to begin with smaller portions before going back for more (or even thirds…or fourths…we’re not here judging). Serving plates make it much easier to pack leftovers and to-go containers than individual plates. This is because the gravy will get all over your food if you use separate plates. This means that more food is stored instead of being thrown away.
Store leftovers properly
Most Thanksgiving foods can be frozen. Label and date all food so it is easy to use and identify later. To reduce freezer burn, store food in the smallest and most airtight container you can.
Please note that you should remove the turkey meat from its bone and separate them. This will increase the longevity of your food and make it easier to reheat.
Reusing leftovers in creative ways
We all eventually get tired of leftover sandwiches. Think outside the box instead! You can use leftover food in many creative ways. Here are some quick and easy ideas:
- Croutons can be made from bread rolls
- Use turkey meat as a chilli ingredient
- Frying up breakfast fritters with leftover potatoes
- Stir fry leftover vegetables such as corn, beans or carrots
- Use turkey meat to make tacos, quesadillas, or enchiladas.
- Breakfast: Frittata with baked stuffing
- Add cranberry sauce to waffles, muffins, or pancakes
- Add pumpkin to anything: milkshakes for dogs, muffins, pancakes, and more.
- Corn kernels can be added to homemade salsa
- Add cranberry to baked brie
Get creative! These are only a few examples.
Reduce the impact of your waste.
You’re always going to have leftovers, no matter how careful you are. For example, table scraps are difficult to reuse, and estimating how much food to buy can be a challenge. Make the most out of food that you won’t be eating.
Donate food that is no longer needed.
Consider donating unopened products, such as instant mashed potatoes or canned vegetables. Thanksgiving is the perfect time to organize food drives. Look in your pantry for healthy canned and dried goods that are still shelf-stable. Think of cranberry, gravy jars, or canned pumpkin filling. Donate them instead if you know they will sit on the shelf until next Christmas so they can be given to people who are in need and will not expire.
Compost the remainder
Composting is a great way to recycle food scraps. Use the USDA’s resources on composting to find a compost centre nearby. Or, start home composting with the EPA’s introduction to composting. Organic wastes in landfills produce methane, a dangerous greenhouse gas. Composting properly can reduce the production of methane.
Avoid adding gravy or other foods like meat, bones, fats, or oils to your compost bin. Vegetables, grains, and bread are acceptable. Even paper towels and coffee grounds that you use to clean up or for your post-dinner caffeine fix can be composted.
Compost is extremely beneficial to the environment, not only because it reduces greenhouse gasses but also because compost itself is beneficial. Compost is a great way to restore soils that have been damaged by chemicals and contaminants or are barren because of poor farming practices. Compost improves soil water retention, reducing flooding and allowing plants to thrive, thereby reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Getting started
Don’t worry about getting everything right. Every little bit counts, so try to eat as much turkey as possible this Thanksgiving.
Download our infographic for more information about Thanksgiving food waste statistics.
