Tips for Throwing a Green Thanksgiving Party / Dinner

It's almost Thanksgiving, and a great many of us have so much to be thankful for. We share our thankfulness by planning Thanksgiving parties and dinners. Keeping in mind, 'reduce, reuse, recycle' as you plan your Thanksgiving Dinner / Party, you will have no problem an all, keeping your Thanksgiving Dinner / Party green. These tips will help.

Invitations

There is no need to purchase cards, envelopes and postage when you can send your invitations via e-mail. It can be a lot of fun; and if you want a designed invitation, try e-cards.com. They have a lot of different cards to choose from, and they are free. Just remember to add 'RSVP' when putting in your message.

Dishes and Cutlery

There is no need to use paper plates when you can use the dishes you have. If you need more, borrow them from a family member or a friend. If you don't want to be overwhelmed with dirty dishes after a party, you can purchase disposable dishes, cups and glasses that are recyclable. After your dinner/party, just rinse them off and put them in the recycle bin. At www.mygreensupply.com, you can purchase biodegradable plates, cups and cutlery. They can also be purchased at Walmart or Target.

Food Preparation

If your guests 'RSVP' as they should, you'll be able to prepare enough food without a lot of waste. A good 'rule of thumb' when planning your menu and shopping list, is to plan for the people that 'RSVP,' plus five. That allows for those who forget to 'RSVP' or if one of your guests would like to bring a guest. I found a website that is truly invaluable in helping a hostess in planning just the right amount of food, and that is www.evite.com/pages/party/prepare.jsp.

When buying your food, buy fresh and organic if possible. If your local area has farmers markets, that is the perfect place to get fresh produce; and the farmers market usually costs considerably less than the grocery stores. Plus, the produce is usually grown in the local area.

Decorations

Go natural with your decorations. If you use candles, use candles made from soy or beeswax. If you use flowers, use the ones that are in season, or used dried flowers.

For a Thanksgiving centerpiece, I use a basket-type cornucopia with imitation fruits and vegetables. I spent a little bit of extra money when I bought my imitation fruits and veggies, but I am really happy with them; they really do look real. And, all I have to do after Thanksgiving, is wipe them off, wrap in newspaper, and put them back into their box for the next year.

Keeping the Thanksgiving festivities eco-friendly and sending paperless invitations will reduce paper and waste. By using your owns dishes, or borrowing if you need more; you will be reusing what you already have. And lastly, if you do purchase disposable dishes and utensils; make sure they can be recycled. You'll be amazed at how easy it is to stay green, and enjoy your Thanksgiving party/dinner.

Resources:

http://www.mygreensupply.com

http://www.evite.com/pages/party/prepare.jsp