Ernst & Haas Management Co Blog

[caption id="attachment_709" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Green up your grub by purchasing a free range turkey this Thanksgiving as a healthy alternative!"][/caption] It's an understatement when we say Thanksgiving is one of our favorite holidays. Really, who can pass up grazing on turkey and trimmings throughout the day while watching "A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving" and football? But as the day approaches, we're looking to alter our Thanksgiving by making it a little more planet-friendly. Although we all may not  be able to make drastic changes to our holiday plans, it's the little changes that can make a big difference in the long run. Here are some tips to help you go green this Thanksgiving: 1. Green Up Your Grub Sure, turkey is the favorite at Thanksgiving, but who says an organic one isn't as good? Organic free-range turkeys are turkeys that aren't in cages and are allowed to move about the yard and although expensive, is a healthy alternative. If not in your budget, purchase a regular turkey and compliment it with organic sides to create a healthy balance. And as you shop for your food essentials, be mindful of farmers' markets, family farms, and community-supported agriculture options in your area to purchase fresh produce, dairy and grass-fed meats. Click here for organic coupons to help cut the cost of your meal. 2. Crowd Control Statistics show that at least 28 billion pounds of edible food is wasted each year - equating to more than 100 pounds per person! And according to Recycle Works, the average household waste increases 25 percent between Thanksgiving and New Years Day! That's a lot of unnecessary waste! Fortunately, Use Less Stuff created a list of the appropriate portions that should be dished out per person: -Turkey: 1 pound -Stuffing: 1/4 pound -Sweet Potato Casserole: 1/4 pound -Green Beans: 1/4 pound -Cranberry Sauce: 3 Tablespoons -Pumpkin Pie: 1/8 of a 9-inch pie Granted, not all trimmings - and appetites - are represented, but monitoring the amount of food you cook and serve is a good idea! 3. Table Talk The idea of setting out your finest china and cloth napkins may be daunting, so if you're not interested in washing dishes and doing laundry after a long day in the kitchen, opt for biodegradable and compostable utensils, napkins, and plates. Basically, NO STYROFOAM! And if you want a more relaxed, intimate atmosphere, ask your guests to bring their own plates, cups and silverware. Ask them to bring a side dish too while you're at it! Oh, and if you do decide to go the china route, be sure to fill your dishwasher to the fullest capacity, as a typical dishwasher uses 7 to 15 gallons of water per cycle. 4. Decoration Do's Homemade decorations are not only fun, but can get the whole family involved and has the potential to cut down cost. Most materials can be found in your craft cupboard or in the backyard. Here are some ideas: -Acorn napkin ties -Dried leaf place cards -Corn or leaf print place mats -Pinecone turkeys -Painted gourds -Festive fall arrangements of pumpkins or corn cobs Buying decorations is an option too - just remember to buy products you can reuse the following year and to get eco-friendly decorations, such as plants, bamboo place mats, and beeswax candles. 5. Get Some Fresh Air As family members and friends start to pile up in your home, open your windows and offer guests a place in the patio or porch as an option to keep things cool instead of blasting the AC. You can also host a Thanksgiving picnic at a local park, where football can actually be played instead of watched. 6. Lose the Leftovers No matter how much you try to cut back, there are bound to be leftovers. Some options include donating the leftovers to a local food bank or homeless shelter, and of course, sending some home with family. If you decide to send food home, do so in plastic containers rather than Saran wrap and aluminum foil. And if there's still leftover food, get creative and come up with some new recipes to incorporate the remaining goods. 7. Recycle! Encourage your guests to recycle by clearly marking a bin for recycled items such as food and beverage containers. Recycling will not only reduce the number of times you have to take out the trash, but also the amount of trash you send to the landfill. We hope that by putting some of these ideas into action, you and your family, as well as our environment, will have a happy and healthy Thanksgiving!