5 ways to waste less food this Thanksgiving
Ideas for leftovers, cooking less and being kinder to EARTH
Oh, season of gluttony, we welcome you with elastic waists and lethargy!
How much food gets wasted every Thanksgiving, you ask? In 2021, approximately 305 million pounds of food — valued at $400 million — turned into trash, contributing to the warming (and destruction) of our dear planet. This is bad, in part, because:
Production of this food generates greenhouse gas emissions of more than 1,100,000 MTCO2e or the equivalent of driving 169,000 cars for one full year; and has a water footprint of 104,000,000,000 gallons, which is the same amount of water used by everyone in New York City for three and a half months. [ReFED]
What can you do as a single, solitary person to cut back on food waste this Thanksgiving? So glad you inquired. Let us count 5 ways to make a difference:
1. Reconsider the hors d'oeuvres*
Q: Who doesn’t love a cheese plate?
A: Your stomach and the earth when it’s Thanksgiving dinner.
I truly despise feeling full before a big meal. It is so kind and thoughtful to prep a little app for your guests while they wait for the main event, but it’s also a little silly. Can you consider putting out something lighter or something that doesn’t as easily go to waste? There is no need to go overboard here.
*No, I could not spell this word without the internet.
2. Stop trying to please everyone with everything all at once
As my family has grown, combined and extended, I’ve noticed that holiday menus expand, too. It makes sense: We all want to eat our favorites, which are often the recipes our parents made at holidays when we were kids.
But how many stuffings does one Thanksgiving need? Just because your brother-in-law loves sausage stuffing, your great aunt can’t imagine Thanksgiving without Stouffer’s and your cousin is vegan does not mean your holiday table needs three types of stuffing. It is such a sweet sentiment to want to make sure everyone gets their favorite, but it becomes excessive (and inevitably wasteful) fast.
What alternatives can you consider here? Could you rotate stuffings annually? Could you serve one person’s favorite stuffing version, and another person’s favorite green bean casserole? Could you make half portions? Could you use democracy and take a vote for no. 1 most-preferred stuffing? What if you made one stuffing for Thanksgiving and the other stuffing for Christmas/Hanukkah/your next gathering? Come up with a totally new tradition or another reason to gather with family.
All of this is to say, there are plenty of options that’ll help you waste less stuffing (and beyond… don’t be so literal OK?).
3. Carcass soup
Carcass soup!
I don’t know how to do this but my dad does, and he’s been doing it for years. Why research when he’s just an email away? Everyone who eats this soup loves it. It’s nice to have a brothy soup the day after Thanksgiving when your tummy is as bewildered as your brain, no? Even though I don’t eat this soup because I don’t eat turkey, I appreciate the craft, care and resourcefulness that goes into it. Maybe you’ll try it this year?
From Stan:
Turkey soup is, not surprisingly, made from the carcass of the turkey. It’s easy to make, freezes well, and is a happy reminder of a great meal with family and friends.
Ingredients:
Turkey carcass, with all fat, skin and any remaining herbs or spices discarded, but retaining any meat still attached
3 carrots, peeled and cut into 1-inch discs
4 celery stalks, trimmed and tied together with cooking twine
1 large peeled onion
1 bunch of Italian parsley, trimmed and tied with twine
Optional: 1 bunch of dill or 1 bunch of cilantro, trimmed and tied with twine
Optional: 1 quart of turkey stock (put it on your list when you shop for Thanksgiving)
Kosher salt, rubbed into carcass
1 tsp white pepper
Prep:
Salt carcass liberally. Place all ingredients in a large pot. Sprinkle in pepper. Add enough water to cover ingredients, plus an inch or two. Heat on High. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to Low and simmer for 2 1/2 to 3 hours, skimming any fat or other detritus (look it up if you have to) every half hour or so. Add salt and pepper to taste. Turn off the heat. Use a tongs to remove and discard compost the carcass, onion, celery, parsley, cilantro and dill. Skim again. Options: Retain the meat or discard it. Add egg noodles. Serve with crusty bread.
4. Put just as much love into your leftovers
An elaboration of the above.
Leftovers > the main event, and deserve to be treated as such. May I recommend prepping your Tupperware before the big day? Find the right tops for the containers that have been sloppily put away even before you start cooking and set them aside. This is guaranteed to limit frustration.
Also, let’s get a little creative in 2023. Do the fun things: Throw an egg on it. Put cranberry sauce in your oatmeal or yogurt. Make turkey nachos. Have pie for breakfast. You only live once but if we keep wasting food many will not get the chance to do so.
So you’re sick of mashed potatoes? Turn them into waffles and then talk to me.
Want something easier?
Fried mashed potatoes:
(omg imagine this with a runny egg and a little cranberry sauce — maybe a sprinkle of fresh dill or parsley?)
Fridge overflowing? Invite your neighbors over for a Black Friday Brunch.
If you feel weird about serving your yesterdays, just do some zhuzhing. All you need to do is plate things nicely or make a little buffet bar and everybody will be all smiles (with a little cranberry sauce in the corner of their mouths.)
Um, look at this gorgeous sandwich?
What am I missing?
5. Compost everything you don’t eat
Composting is so easy and makes your trash less smelly. Veggie peels! squeezed citrus! bones! egg shells! limp lettuces! food the dog tried to eat but you were able to rip from her mouth! food the baby begged for but then threw onto the floor and then the dog tried to eat it! cheeses from the appetizer plate you insisted on that you left out for too long to put back in the fridge!
I find it incredibly satisfying to be able to physically see and hold all the food/food parts you could’ve added to the landfill but instead chose to add back to the earth.
If you’re not able to go to a compost drop off right away, store your remnants all together in a bag in the freezer to avoid odors, critters, etc.
If you have to drive to get to a compost center, make it a family activity or something. Play Mariah Carey in the car. You can do this. And here:
Happy holidays, I am thankful for your readership and your existence.
I love this post, but feel free to include your mom's two very beloved recipes at any time.
A family affair! <3