Izzy Shirah, Zero Waste Humboldt Intern
It’s that time of year again! The weather is cooling down, the trees are changing color, and everyone is gearing up for the start of the holiday season. Debatably, Thanksgiving is the messiest of all holidays and the most excessive. According to the US Department of Agriculture, Americans on average, waste 305 million pounds of food every Thanksgiving. With that being said, there are a few steps you can take this year to reduce your food waste during the upcoming holiday season.
While cooking, we often create scraps of food from veggies, meat, or unused food that we deem unnecessary. Instead of trashing these scraps, you can use them for future meals! You can create bone broth from chicken and turkey bones and store it for a rainy day. You could even toss some of the veggie scraps in the broth. You could also compost any unusable scraps. Here in Arcata, we have the Local Worm Guy and Full Cycle Compost who provide pickup services for any compost you may have. Do some research and see if your town has anything similar, and prevent your food waste from ending up in a landfill.
Another way to reduce food waste is by donating the leftover food. So many people struggle to provide food for themselves and their families; any donation could make someone’s day. Take your unopened canned goods to the nearest homeless shelter or prepackaged leftovers. Always call ahead to understand what criteria the donations must meet before taking them to the shelter. You can also take them to your local food bank.
The most popular way to reduce food waste around Thanksgiving is to get creative with the leftovers. My family always used the leftovers to make turkey and cranberry sandwiches or cornbread and veggie soup. If you plan your meals beforehand, you can also brainstorm secondary recipes for the day after Thanksgiving. Doing this not only reduces your food waste but saves money as well.
In conclusion, as we approach the holiday season and prepare for Thanksgiving, we must reflect on the staggering amount of food waste generated during this time. With an average of 305 million pounds of food going to waste on Thanksgiving alone, it’s clear that we can make a significant difference by taking some simple steps like the ones listed above. Search our website for more Zero Waste food resources at zerowastehumboldt.org.