Green Up Thanksgiving This Year
Thanksgiving, as with other holidays, does not bring the “green” out in most people. We go crazy over shopping deals and stuff ourselves excessively with food. Try to make this Thanksgiving a little different by following these eco-friendly tips.
Green Up Black Friday
Black Friday is a notorious day in which everybody goes nuts just to save a little extra cash. There are ways that you can still Save on Black Friday, without having to be so harmful to the environment. Instead of driving your car all over town, try shopping online or only go to the stores closest to your house. You can also prevent your car from idling like so many people tend to do while waiting in line. It’s also worth considering just buying less stuff or following the international campaign called Buy Nothing Day in which you skip this heavily marketed day and as the name says, buy nothing. Both can not only help lesson our environmental impact, but save us cash since we are spending less of it on stuff we may not need.
Eat Less
Such an easy way to go a little more green and something that we all seem to forget is to simply eat less. It can be difficult to eat less food if you make way too much food to begin with. Unless you plan on making future meals, keep this meal modest as with every meal. Not only is it healthier, but less food=less money.
Go Local
Thanksgiving is just like any other day and we treat it as such. It’s beginning to get late in the season, but you can still find great produce and meats at some of our local farms. Try making as much of your Thanksgiving meal from things that are still available locally like corn, sweet potatoes, green beans, apples and many more great items. If you are in the market for a fresh turkey or ham, don’t settle for the meats shipped across the country. I wrote previously about getting a local turkey on Thanksgiving. It’s a great way to get fresh meat at comparable prices to what you would find in grocery stores.
Buy Organic
Another great option is to buy organic foods for your thanksgiving meal. It may not always be cheaper to have an Organic Thanksgiving, but you can ensure that you are eating more naturally. The best option would be to buy organic produce or meats that are as local as possible.
No Meat
Who ever said that you have to have a turkey or ham during the holidays? A great way to not only eat a healthier meal, but also be much more environmentally friendly is to go meatless. There are many great alternatives including tofu turkeys and simply just having all the sides you would normally eat, but just cut out the meat. Another great option may be to cut back on meat. If your family is really small, do you really need a 20 lb. turkey? Instead of getting a massive turkey or ham, why not get a portion that is more appropriate.
Share Your Ideas
Please share any great ideas you have to make this Thanksgiving a much more green one.
Comments
Great suggestions. I’m planning to go on a hike with friends & family on Friday, rather than shopping… I think it will end up being more fun.
Another way to go green is if you are going black friday shopping, carpool with your friends and families! I mean the parking situation is already hectic on its own so why not save time and money by carpooling together.
This is a good idea to start a living with green matters. I think green food is more healthy and can make longer life. We can try this way for a better future.
These are indeed top suggestions for a thanksgiving. No meat is particularly a good idea. Buying locally is also a good one. Actually, everything you have said here makes sense. Great post. Keep it up.
My mother has forced our family not to eat meat together for years. Now I have come use to meatless thanksgivings. Not going to say it’s not tough.
While these are great tips, I couldn’t imagine having a meatless thanksgiving. Thanksgiving and turkey just go together. Without the turkey, it’s just like any other meal.
Meatless Thanksgiving….hmmm is that even allowed?!?
I love vegetables and all the organic food. I think that all plants that grew without pesticides, or other not very healthy substances are more tasty and (that is obvious) more healthy.