In lieu of the upcoming Thanksgiving festivities, I thought that it would be a great time to discuss how we can all take part in participating in a less environmentally burdensome tradition with some fairly simple, and pain-less practices. I began thinking about an assignment I had for an environmental class that had us assess the food mileage that was attached to our traditional feast. I remember that after the entire assignment, I was astonished as to how many miles were attached to a simple dish like pumpkin pie, or mashed potatoes. I am a firm believer in the “local-vore” movement. I know that there are some issues with these practices being inefficient, but in the grand scheme I know that when I participate in my local Farmer’s Market, or dig up my own sweet potatoes and make completely home-grown salsa, there is a serene and nurturing aspect to this natural relationship that is incomparable to walking through the produce section. So here are some simple suggestions that I feel would add to your wonderful Thanksgiving celebration no matter how you choose to celebrate it.
1.) Eat Local – Become aware of your local Farmer’s Markets, or “eco-conscious” markets that offer some local produce, maybe even a local, humanely raised turkey.
2.) If Not Local, Limit Food Miles – If there is one traditional aspect of Thanksgiving, it is that the very first feast was complexly free of imports. If the local foods are not available this late in the growing season, read labels and buy American made products if possible. It will be a lot harder than you expect sadly.
3.) Bring Out The Good China – Dishes are always a nuisance after the crowd has finally left, but to reduce your Thanksgiving footprint, avoid the paper and especially the plastic utensils and plates. A feast always looks better on some china anyway.
4.) Travel Less, Meet Your Neighbors – Choose to stay home for the holidays, celebrate with your nuclear family, or have one large gathering to limit the traveling back and forth between in-laws. Maybe even meet that crazy hermit that lives next door, it is Thanksgiving.
5.) Get Creative With Nature – When thinking of your centerpiece for the table, go out in the backyard and gather up the beautiful aspects of nature’s autumn. Some pine cones, pine needles, and bright, turned leaves will make a wonderful centerpiece.
6.) Prepare and Eat Less – Mark Twain said, “Civilization is a limitless multiplication of unnecessary necessities.” Make all the traditional dishes, but make sure the food is enough to feed your guests, and not ten additional people. If an excess amount of food is left, make sure to save it, and eat it at a later time (maybe even in just a few hours).
7.) Make Your Food – Avoid all the pre-packaged, processed food that can riddle what should be one of the best homemade meals of the year. The holiday is already calorie-laden, it won’t hurt to pass on all the pre-measured, or pre-cooked items.
8.) Eat Endangered Dishes – Remember that dish your older relatives used to make? Well resurrect these dishes, and help save a dying recipe. Usually, these traditional dishes will be made from only the best local produce that was once supplied from within the surrounding region.
9.) Get Up and Move – To impress everyone at your meal, make sure to tell everyone that the turkey is lined with a somewhat natural sedative, tryptophan, and all those carbs. To avoid sleeping away your Thanksgiving, get up and move around after dinner, it will do everyone a little good.
10.) Tell Someone Else – Nothing better than passing on the good news. Make sure to share the wealth.
Have a good Thanksgiving!
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