A Low Waste Canadian Thanksgiving
Hello Fall and Hello Beautiful People,
It has been a bit since I have written a blog post (sorry everyone), but now I am jumping back into posting and I am super excited to help you stay sustainable throughout the holidays.
So let’s dive into Thanksgiving!!
Here are some tips to help you stay eco-friendly the week leading up to Thanksgiving weekend –
Go to a Pumpkin Patch Outside the City
Yes, we all need our fall pumpkin and gourd display in the house or on the front porch, but stop purchasing from city grocery stores! Not only are the pumpkins and gourds overpriced, but they are often coming from another country.
For example, if you are purchasing a pumpkin from Loblaws in Ontario, the place of origin is stated as follows, “Due to the nature of this product, the country of origin can vary in order to maintain availability. Your product will be sourced from one of the following countries: Canada, Costa Rica, Cuba, Mexico or United States”….
Purchasing a pumpkin from another country is so silly, especially when we have great farms less than an hour away from us. Take an afternoon drive to a farm and have fun picking from a fantastic selection of locally grown pumpkins!
Pumpkin Farms Just Outside Vancouver
Pumpkin Farms Just Outside Toronto
Linton’s Farm Market (my personal favourite place that specializes in growing weird pumpkins)
Make your Own Pie or Order From A Local Bakery (request no box)
Pumpkin pies are literally the easiest pie to make! If you make the dough ahead of time and freeze it, the process is super quick day of. Here is my favourite dough recipe and I truthfully just follow the recipe on the back on the pumpkin puree can (guilty as charged). If you have lots of time, go one step further and make your own pumpkin puree.
Dough Recipe (make ahead of time to save time on Thanksgiving Day).
Don’t Buy Fake Fall Decor
Instead, try making your own wreaths with materials scavenged from around your neighbourhood.
Here is a great article about how to make your own wreaths!
Invest In Cloth Napkins
Paper napkins are so last year; this is the year to purchase a nice cloth napkin set to put on your dinner table.
Here are some super cute sets that are made with sustainable fabrics –
26 Lentils makes super cute patterned cloth napkins
If you are looking for simpler linen napkins I would recommend Lilicity
Know How Much Food to Serve
This years Thanksgiving dinner table might look a little different due to social gathering restrictions. If your guest count is smaller this year, make sure you also make less food (so nothing gets wasted). Don’t forget to account for a good leftover turkey sandwich though!
Here is a great portion size guide for you –
LAST, BUT NOT LEAST…
Enjoy your dinner with loved ones, use reusable glass containers with lids to store leftovers (no plastic wrap allowed), and practice gratitude.
I am so thankful to have such amazing clients, customers and industry professionals in my life. Thank you so much for reading this blog right now!
Let me know what you’re thankful for in the comments section below!
