Thanksgiving is a time for family, friends, food, and fellowship. Unfortunately, the time for giving thanks has also become one of the holidays where overdoing it may lead to waste, high costs, and negative environmental impacts.
There is no need to stop celebrating a favorite holiday. Instead, follow a few simple tips to enjoy a more sustainable Thanksgiving this November.
1. Eliminate the Waste
While Thanksgiving is a holiday associated with excess, it doesn’t have to be wasteful. There are many ways to lower waste this holiday season. That includes waste that may affect the environment and may affect your budget.
Avoid paper and plastic plates, napkins and silverware. These are not ideal for a Thanksgiving dinner and fill your trash with high-cost throwaways. You may also want to consider reducing the portions of food. If you had tons of leftovers you didn’t eat in years past, this year, cut back on the prepared food. A ten-pound turkey looks and tastes just as delicious as a 20-pound one, and the smaller bird may save you a lot.2
2. Buy from Local Organic Farms
No Thanksgiving is complete without the amazing sides to accompany the turkey. When picking the produce for your side dishes, buy from your local farmers’ market. You might enjoy some fantastic organic, fresh produce and increase your support for the local farm community.1
3. Go Meatless or Serve Less Meat
If you’re not a big fan of turkey, there’s no need to prepare one for Thanksgiving. Consider meat alternatives, such as tofu. You may also find a fantastic vegetarian dish to serve as the main event.
Few consumers are aware that the meat industry is a significant source of methane gas, and reducing the amount of meat eaten helps lower the amount of methane gas in the environment. If you cannot imagine a Thanksgiving without a turkey, consider purchasing a smaller one.1
4. Limit the Side Dishes
Thanksgiving is costly to host, not only for the turkey but for the many side dishes that normally accompany the main course. There may be too many dishes at a Thanksgiving dinner. This excess may create an abundance of food that does get consumed. Instead of overdoing the spread and wasting a lot of food and money, create a menu for your guests that everyone enjoys and finishes during the meal.2
5. Travel Smart
Consider your travel choices if you plan to travel for the Thanksgiving holiday. If other family members close to you are attending the same event, consider carpooling. If you must drive for a long time, travel during off-peak times. Sitting in traffic will lead to excessive use of expensive gasoline and higher emissions. Schedule your trip for the most effective route when traffic should be at its lowest.
Important Disclosures:
The opinions voiced in this material are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual.
All information is believed to be from reliable sources; however LPL Financial makes no representation as to its completeness or accuracy.
This article was prepared by WriterAccess.
LPL Tracking #1-05325555.
Footnotes:
1 Tips for a Green Thanksgiving, Harvard University, https://green.harvard.edu/tools-resources/green-tip/tips-green-thanksgiving
2 How to Win at Retirement Savings, Smithsonian Magazine, https://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/how-have-most-sustainable-thanksgiving-ever-180957007/