10 Expert Tips for Less Thanksgiving Food Waste, Includes Free Online Calculator Guest-imator

There are ways to make sure that Thanksgiving at home will yield less food waste. The free online calculator Guest-imator is only one of the fool-proof solutions from Treehugger's list of 10 expert tips.

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is a national holiday that happens on November 24 in the US and on various dates in other countries. It is a festive day based on the 1621 harvest meal prepared by the colonial Pilgrims.

It emphasizes appreciation for the plentiful food on the tables and the people gathered around it. However, after the biggest dinner of the year, turkey meat to the tune of 200 million pounds is wasted annually.

As per the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), the leftover Thanksgiving meat has a carbon footprint equivalent to 800,000 cars driving from Florida to Los Angeles and enough water supply for 100 days in New York City.

This is a regrettable and unappealing fact that shows how desperately our society needs a new approach to food.

This is why Treehugger shared a list of strategies for all the smart Thanksgiving hosts.

10 Expert Tips

Guest-imator. The Guest-imator, a tool created by the NRDC, assists hosts in estimating the quantity of food required for the event. Hosts will be able to plan portion sizes thanks to this free online calculator.
Delegate. According to Treehugger, hosts could request that each guest bring a dish to the meal. This lessens the host's workload and their worry that there might not be enough food. The tendency for hosts to overcook will diminish when they are aware that others are helping out.
Vegetarian / Organic. It is the perfect time to try something new like going vegetarian. A stunning stuffed pumpkin or squash can make a striking centerpiece, and Thanksgiving is, as they say, all about the sides. The best way to lessen one's climate footprint is to eat less meat. Another option is to buy free-range and organic poultry.
Salad Plates. Instead of using large dinner plates, use salad plates to encourage guests to take fewer servings. Parents should give their kids the serving size that they can actually consume. Another strategy, in this case, is to suggest starting with a small serving and taking a second serving if necessary.
Vegetable Skins. Zero Waste Home's Bea Johnson claimed that she had lost the reflex to peel vegetables that did not require peeling. As a result, food preparation is completed much more quickly, she produces significantly less compost, and they gain access to the vitamins contained in vegetable skins. In addition, it presents well on a Thanksgiving table and is rustic.
Pickled Vegetables. Serving home-pickled vegetables like onions, cucumbers, carrots, and cauliflower is a smart suggestion from NRDC. These can be made from extra vegetables and, if not eaten all at once, will last for a very long time after Thanksgiving dinner. Thanks to their acidity, they also effectively cut through the richness of the flavorful Thanksgiving dinner.
Updated Menus. Thanksgiving is more about the act of coming together to eat than it is about the food, so hosts are encouraged to prepare the food they will enjoy. If no one likes pumpkin pie, there is no need to make it; apple pies or lemon bars can take its place.
Stock Up on Stock. Katherine Martinko, a senior editor from Treehugger, recommends getting the stock pot going after every Thanksgiving dinner. It will be filled with all of the leftover turkey carcass pieces and vegetable scraps, and a savory, steamy aroma fills the house. The stock can be frozen for later use or used to make soup in the coming days. It is a lot better than stock from a store, according to Martinko.
Dish Out. When hosting a potluck, it is best to remind guests to bring reusable containers so they can take the leftovers of their dish or another guest's dish home. One way to avoid leaving the host with too much food that is impossible to consume is to do this.
No Leftover Left. Make new dishes with the leftovers. Soups, pot pies, and shepherd's pies are obvious dishes to prepare in the days after Thanksgiving. The NRDC adds that mashed potatoes can be made into donuts, waffles, dinner rolls, or breakfast patties, and that pasta and frittatas are delicious ways to include cooked vegetables in a meal.