Let’s face it, it’s easy to get sucked into the gluttony of the holidays. As Christmas approaches, we are surrounded by tempting seasonal specials, indulgent treats, and mouth-watering scents (yes, grandma’s cookies, we’re talking about you). But, over indulgence in the kitchen and at the dining table can lead to a lot of waste.
In a season often marked by over consumption and excessive waste, we’ve curated simple ways to mindfully indulge by minimizing waste in your kitchen and at your dining table this holiday season and beyond:
Make a list and stick to it: Planning ahead for your menu can save you time, money, and potential waste.
Know your numbers: Keep in mind how many guests you'll have and buy accordingly, reducing the amount of food wasted.
Swap animal-based dishes for plant-based: Raising animals for consumption takes a lot of energy and natural resources, consider incorporating more plant-based recipes into your menu. The Minimalist Baker and Mama Eats Plants have an abundance of festive plant-based recipes.
Purchase in bulk: Get veggies, baking ingredients, meats, and cheeses in bulk using your own containers. Check out our Shop Local directory for local businesses offering BYOC programs.
Deliver in glass: When attending a dinner, bring your contributions in a container that can be washed and reused, not thrown out. Thrift shops have a huge selection of unique serving dishes, check out our preloved page for locations, consider leaving the dish as a host gift.
Donate unwanted food: If you’ve overdone it (or even if you haven’t) donate unperishable food items to your local foodbank. Helping to complete someone else’s Christmas.
Utilize leftovers: Pack leftovers in reusable jars or containers to enjoy later. Utilize your freezer to keep leftovers longer.
Sometimes you bite off more than you can chew (literally) and are left with more food than you know what to do with. Here are a few tried and true recipes to help you revamp those leftovers, a festive form of upcycling!
Happy (mindful) indulging from all of us at GO!