As the holiday season approaches, it is common to gather around food. We may be tempted by the endless options for food and beverage pairings available online and our ability to find creative recipes. If our guests are like us, they might do the same.
Do we really need to serve multiple appetizers? What about a dessert that can rival your local bakery or a table with every protein available, as well as countless starches and countless carbohydrates? A 2022 article from the University of Minnesota states that American families waste 305 million pounds of Thanksgiving food. If you are the host of a holiday party or the guest, here are nine tips to help you plan, prepare, and celebrate in order to reduce food waste.
Planning
- Be aware of the number. When planning a shared meal or dish, the primary variable is the number in attendance. There will be more than 20 people, or only two?
- Think about the type of event you are planning and who will attend. Will it be a traditional dinner for Thanksgiving or a cocktail event? You should be aware of guests who have food allergies, such as nuts, dairy products, etc. When planning the menu, consider any food preferences or allergies, like gluten-free and low-sugar. If you have attended or hosted the event before and know that a certain dish will not be eaten (I’m talking to you, Waldorf Salad Jell-o Mold), you may want to keep it off this year’s menu.
- Use a calculator for your dinner party. The Guest-animator is our favourite, as it’s a free tool that calculates how much food to serve your guests in order to keep them satisfied. Enter the number of guests, indicate the number of leftovers you would like to have (if any), and then select the type of dinner party. Guest-animator creates menus for classic dinner parties, buffet-style and vegetarian-specific events. Then, you are asked to select the foods that will be included in your menu. You can even choose your food if you wish. It then calculates how many of each ingredient you need. Be sure to check if there are any allergies.
Preparing
- Communication with your guests is important. Share with your guests what you plan to serve and how many people will be there. Talk about your desire to reduce food wastage this year and encourage guests to bring only the number of servings listed on the invitation. Allow picky eaters and people with food restrictions to take a meal to themselves.
- Stick to your list. You can check your pantry for some ingredients and make a list of all the other items you need based on the menu. Avoid impulse purchases, especially bulk products that could spoil before being used. Buy fresh produce in season to extend the life of your food and reduce food miles.
- Save the scraps. You can use vegetable scraps to create homemade soup or broth, which you then freeze and enjoy later. Plan to use all parts of your turkey, including the bones and drippings, to make stock.
Partying
- Extras are a great way to get creative. You may have some extra cranberry or herbs. Mix it with sparkling water to make a festive mocktail or cocktail! It’s a festive drink to mix with sparkling water and citrus.
- Plan your dishware according to the amount of food that guests are likely to consume. Avoid stress by not leaving out extra large dinner plates, salad bowls, bread plates, or cutlery and glassware. Bonus! You will also reduce water waste since you won’t have to wash them.
- Encourage guests to take leftovers home. Set out reusable containers like mason jars and ask them to fill them up for themselves or a neighbour who is in need before they depart. Add recipe cards for leftover dishes like turkey chilli, casseroles, or pumpkin pie parfaits.
What happens if your plan fails?
Do not despair if things don’t work out as you planned. If you have more food than is safe to store, consider these options.
- Donate shelf-stable, unopened items to food banks and shelters in your area.
- Reduce methane emissions by composting what you can instead of sending it to landfills.
