Go Green for the Holidays
This holiday season will be your most sustainable one yet with these tips and tricks to make celebrations greener than a Christmas tree!
Check out our top 5 ways to make your holidays a bit more eco-friendly and drop a comment below with any of your own zero-waste ideas!
Whip up waste-free dishes
Cooking for the holidays? Before you throw those food scraps in the trash, ask yourself, “What can I do with this?” Here’s a few delicious answers to that question:
Frittata: Cooking breakfast for your guests? Look no further than this fridge clear-out frittata from Tolerant Table. You can pack it with extra produce power by adding veggie peels (carrot, potato or squash are great options!), lunch meat, or any leftover roasted veggies from last night’s dinner.
Hummus: This dip is a great option for an appetizer. Put a waste-free twist on it by making this classic recipe from Zero-Waste Chef, then start adding in leftover items you think would pair well with it. We suggest amping it up with leftover avocado, beans (lima or cannellini are great!) or past their prime tomatoes.
Soup: Stale bread, leftover grains, and broken pasta pieces can transform a standard veggie soup into a hearty meal that’s perfect for cold, winter nights. Add ingredients like parmesan rinds and herb stems for a great boost of flavor. Ready to make your own? Start by checking out our friend and Harvest Hero Marybeth Wells’ recipe for veggie stock using produce scraps!
Skip gift wrap and give fabric a try
Wrapping gifts with fabric prevents things like paper, ribbons and tape from ending up in landfills. Traditional gift wrap usually contains non-recyclable components like glitter, metallics and cellophane, meaning they’d be on our naughty list for sure.
Instead, opt for a zero-waste method of using fabric found in your home (think tea towels, holiday shirts, or scarfs). Try it yourself by following Country Living’s quick and easy tutorial.
Freeze your food (and drinks).
You may have already known about freezing ingredients like oil, broth and produce, but did you know you can also freeze holiday leftovers like wine, certain cheeses, and even cake?
Wine: To freeze leftover wine, fill up ice cube trays and freeze overnight. Transfer them to an airtight container for up to 3-6 months. Add them to sauces and stews for easy dinner prep!
Hard Cheese: Grate your cheese first (so you can take out handfuls as you need them), then store in an airtight container for 6 months.
Cake: Unfrosted or frosted cakes (except for meringues) can be stored in your freezer for up to 6 months. For tips on wrapping and freezing cake, check out this guide from Spruce Eats.
DIY it.
Citrus peels piling up after all that baking? Don’t toss ‘em! Make a DIY cleaner instead. It just requires a spray bottle filled halfway with orange peels, enough vinegar to top it off (make sure the peels are completely covered to prevent mold) and a little bit of patience (store for two weeks in a cool dark space before using). Voila! An eco-friendly cleaner that smells as good as it looks!
When in doubt, compost.
Composting is a great option for times when you can’t reuse or repurpose your scraps. It’s not only a nutrient-rich fertilizer, it also enhances existing soil and acts as a natural pesticide. Not sure where to start? You can find our list of the best items to compost over on our Instagram!