Tips for a greener thanksgiving

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​Hello friends! As the holidays come creeping in, and this being my first Thanksgiving really focusing on sustainability, I wanted to share some ideas to create a more sustainable Thanksgiving! I know personally that I will be traveling to have Thanksgiving with my boyfriend’s family and I will not be cooking for myself, like many others, but there are still many tips that can be applied to those traveling and those staying home and cooking for their selves.
Bring Your Own To-Go Container
This one is very easy for everyone whether you are traveling or not. There is always left overs, because let’s be real Thanksgiving leftovers are seriously the greatest, but instead of taking home a paper plate covered in aluminum foil or another paper plate, just bring your own reusable container. If you have reusable tuber ware or reusable metal containers, bring them to bring home extras in. That way you do not have to use unnecessary paper or plastic products to save the leftovers in.  Below is an affiliate link to some metal food containers if you are looking for some to snag before Thanksgiving.

Eat Less Meat
Eating less meat is a good sustainable practice for this time of year. This doesn’t mean you have to go vegetarian for Thanksgiving, but maybe instead of turkey and a ham, maybe just one. Or instead of buy two turkeys, maybe buy one and just do extra side dishes. If you are brave enough to take the vegetarian leap, try a tofu turkey or just enjoy the amazing side dishes that come along with Thanksgiving. Honestly, I love the side dishes we make! I could live off them if I had to.
I took some time to google some recipes for tofu turkey and they look really good. This could be a really good alternative for those looking to go meatless for the Holiday season.

​Don’t Use Throw Away Dishes
Now, I know this can be a pain, especially with large families, but you can stop so much waste by using regular plates, bowls and cups instead of plastic or paper. Even though it is super convenient and leads to an easier clean up, sometimes we just have to make those sacrifices to help reduce waste. Especially during this time of year when there is a lot of gatherings going on that involve tons of people and tons of food.
Purchase Local
This should be something we practice year round. Purchasing local is not only a good environmental practice, but it is a good economic practice. And everyone knows, in the US we need all the economic help we can get. Take the time to get your vegetable from your local farmers market or even from a local farmer if you happen to know one. 

 
Every little step we take to live a more sustainable life makes a difference. By even doing just one of these things, you are making your contribution to making the world a better and healthier place. It is definitely not easy to just live a zero waste life, but the goal is to provide tips and ideas to make small differences in your life that can help reduce waste.
I hope this helps you on your journey. I enjoyed looking up different ideas to help me accomplish a more sustainable Thanksgiving. This will definitely be a new challenge for me, but I am up for it! Let me know in the comments the different ways you make your holidays more sustainable.
Love Always,
Mikala