Thanksgiving is a time to celebrate the traditions of the harvest season set forth by our ancestors. The Pilgrims and Native Americans came together for the first Thanksgiving to commemorate the hardships they had overcome and delight in the bountiful produce the earth had provided. Little did they know they were participating in the ultimate “green” Thanksgiving. Our modern holiday season has become all about consumption with the average family increasing their waste by 25% during the holiday season. It is also estimated that Americans waste 28 billion pounds of food each year and half of the paper expended in this country is used to wrap consumer products. You can read more statistics about holiday waste here. So how about a return to the true traditions of Thanksgiving and plan some green holiday gatherings with an eco-conscious mind. You may also be interested in our Green Holiday Gift Guide.

The Food

Thanksgiving meal choices are not limited by the frozen Butterball in your grocer’s freezer. Local food from organic farms is not only healthier, but is also more flavorful. Many grocery stores across the country support local family farms so ask the manager who their suppliers are. If you strike out there, then you can go to your community farmer’s market or even go directly to the farm itself. Even if they don’t farm turkeys, this is where you can get your produce and some other goodies for your Thanksgiving table. Local Harvest.org is a great user-friendly site to find sustainable farms near you. Or if you don’t want to go on a wild turkey chase you can always order a Heritage turkey on-line or an organic turkey from Lobels and have it delivered right to your door. Whole Foods Market is an excellent resource for organic and all-natural products. They are committed to being green and supporting community growers. They don’t do online ordering, but to find out if there’s one near you click here. For a vegetarian Thanksgiving or if you’re expecting vegetarian guests, check out these vegetarian Thanksgiving recipes. Here are some other choices to add to your organic green Thanksgiving that will also help take the stress out of preparation:

Boxed Greens

Boxed Greens

Boxed Greens is an online certified organic food company based out of Arizona. By taking advantage of the long growing season in Arizona and supporting local farms smaller than 500 acres, they are able to guarantee fresh, seasonal produce delivered to your door. Boxed Greens is more reasonably priced than a lot of the other online organic food suppliers, with their seasonal items being below market price. However you will pay a premium price for the overnight delivery. They also offer dried foods, organic dairy products, cleaning and paper goods and gift boxes which contain a variety of seasonal fruits and vegetables.

You can check out Boxed Greens here.

Happle Gourmet Foods

Happle Gourmet Foods

The Happle Gourmet from Iowa makes handmade pies with certified organic ingredients that are 100% vegan. They can be shipped overnight to your home. A family-owned business, they use organic spelt flour to make their pies which is lower in fat than whole grains and can be tolerated by those with wheat allergies. All their pies are trans-fat-free and dairy-free. They offer apple, pumpkin, cherry, blueberry, and cranberry apple.

You can order your Happle pie for Thanksgiving here.

The Table

Once you have the menu planned, what are you going to use to serve the food? If you have a set of china, this can be the obvious green choice, so use it- don’t let it collect dust in a closet. Just keep in mind that most china is not dishwasher safe and hand-washing all those dishes could potentially waste a lot of water. But for smaller family gatherings, using the china is festive and the kids will think it’s special. If this isn’t an option at your home, then here are a couple more green suggestions:

Stalkmarket 9-Inch Heavy Duty Plate

Stalkmarket 9-Inch Heavy Duty Plate

If you’re having a large crowd or just really hate the idea of spending even more time in the kitchen after the meal washing dishes, then an efficient substitute can be paper plates. Stalkmartket products are made from a sugarcane fiber-based paperboard which makes it 100% biodegradable and recyclable or toss it in your home compost. These green heavy duty plates are cut resistant and can be used in the microwave or freezer. Don’t fret about the etiquette of using paper plates. It’s more important to spend time with your guests. And you can always dress up the table with fancy wine glasses and nice silverware.

You can get these plates in a pack of 12 of 25 plates each on Amazon.

Pacific Merchants Acaciaware

Pacific Merchants Acaciaware

If the idea of using paper plates still isn’t for you, then investing in a set of wooden plates is a green alternative. These plates from Pacific Merchants are each made from one solid piece of Acacia hardwood harvested from renewable, regulated forests. Wood plates need to be hand washed and air dried and may occasionally need to be treated with mineral oil, but will last forever, won’t shatter if  dropped, and are resistant to stains and odors. The Pacific Merchants Acacia dinner plates measure 10 x 10.

You can purchase them on Amazon.

The Entertainment

After the meal is over resist the temptation to melt into the couch. Save energy by giving the TV a rest and expend some energy of your own by gathering everyone outside for a traditional game of football. Or if the weather isn’t cooperating then an indoor board game always brings people together. And yes, there are green choices for both.

Fair Trade Sports Eco-Football

Fair Trade Sports Eco-Football

This football by Fair Trade is made of eco-certified rubber and 100% vegan. Fair Trade Sports is an American sporting goods company who are committed to sustaining the planet with green practices and providing employees with fair wages. Their all-weather football is official weight and size. It is shipped deflated to save on shipping cost and materials. Profits from the Fair Trade Sports Eco-Football are donated to children’s charities.

You can get this football on Amazon.

Ruk-Shuk

Ruk-Shuk

Ruk-Shuk is an award winning game where players race against the clock to build the rock formations that are displayed on the cards. Points are scored based on how well you complete the task on the card. If the formation falls they have to start all over before the time runs out. This green board game is made in Canada of all natural materials- no plastic or harmful paints or chemicals. Featured in Better Homes & Gardens as “too much fun to stop”. For 1-5 players, ages 8 and up.

Ruk-Shuk is sold on Amazon.

The Left-overs

Thanksgiving can turn all of us into an Italian grandmother and we end up making way too much food. To control food waste, try not to go overboard in the first place. Of course many agree that the best part of Thanksgiving is the left-overs. If you know you have more than your household will finish off, be sure to send your guests home with a sampling of left-overs. Forget the plastic wrap and plastic baggies. Think green by re-purposing any containers you’ve used, such as the Cool-Whip or butter bowls.

Fresh Snack Pack Sandwich and Snack Bags

Fresh Snack Pack Sandwich and Snack Bags

Send your guests home with left-overs placed in these reusable Fresh Snack Pack Sandwich and Snack Bags. They are made of phthalate-free non-toxic plastic and double as an eating surface. With each package containing an 8 sandwich bags and 6 snack bags, they are economical as well.

The Fresh Snack Pack Sandwich and Snack Bags are sold on Amazon for $9.99.

LunchBots Duo Stainless Steel Lunch Box/Food Container

LunchBots Duo Stainless Steel Lunch Box/Food Container

When it’s time to head back to work these food containers from LunchBots are stainless steel, which is healthier for both you and the environment than plastic containers. And they last longer. They come in a variety of colored lids which feature a non-toxic finish. Reviewers on Amazon have raved about these. The LunchBots Duo features a divider or they also make the LunchBots Uno without the divider.

The LunchBots Duo Food Container is sold on Amazon. Or you can get the Lunchbots Uno here.

Best Chef Knives

Good chef knives are the workhorses of any kitchen – they will slice, chop and crush as well as a whole drawer of kitchen gadgets. A quality blade will last virtually forever, avoiding the hassle and expense of replacement, and a well-built knife will make preparing ingredients much more efficient.

Chef knives have blades around 8 inches long, although this may vary according to personal preference. The most popular chef’s knife style is the “German” type, which has a curved edge for cutting with a rocking motion. All of the following knives feature a full-tang design, meaning the steel from the blade continues down through the handle for balance and durability.

Shun Ken Onion Chef Knife

Shun Ken Onion Chef Knives

The Shun Ken Onion Chef Knife is a fusion of top-quality materials and innovative design. The 8-inch blade is forged from VG-10 stainless steel, and the ergonomic and moisture-resistant Pakkawood handle provides a comfortable grip with great leverage for cutting. The distinctive layered-steel blade is sharpened to a razor-sharp 16-degree edge – which is terrific for slicing, just be sure to adjust your sharpening technique accordingly. The Shun Ken Onion also comes with the pictured holder, so you can admire the design even when you’re not cooking.

You can find the Shun Ken Onion Chef’s Knife at Amazon for $199.95

Wüsthof Gourmet 10-Inch Cook’s Knife

Wüsthof Gourmet 10-Inch Cook's Knife

The Wüsthof Gourmet 10-Inch Cook’s Knife is a great all-around option that won’t break the bank, and provides a little extra blade length. The blade is stamped instead of forged, so it may require more frequent sharpening, but the metal is laser-cut, quality high-carbon steel with good stain resistance. The polypropylene handle offers a comfortable grip, and it’s triple-riveted for durability. Some chefs prefer the feel of a knife with a bolster (a flared metal edge where the handle meets the blade), but Amazon reviewers like the Gourmet’s lack of bulk and sleeker feel.

You can find the Wüsthof Gourmet 10-Inch Cook’s Knife at Amazon for $67.95.

Kyocera Revolution Series 7-Inch Ceramic Chef’s Knife

Kyocera Revolution Series 7-Inch Ceramic Chef's Knife

The Kyocera Revolution 7-Inch Professional Chef’s Knife is unique, since it features a ceramic blade instead of traditional steel construction. It’s worth noting that ceramic blades hold their edge for a very long time, but users generally can’t sharpen the knives themselves. Ceramic blades can also crack if dropped, or used for tasks like prying. An advantage of ceramic blades besides their sharpness is that they won’t react with certain foods the way metal blades can, so food may stay fresher longer once sliced. The Kyocera Revolution features a molded resin handle, so while overall this knife is lighter than comparable steel models, it still offers good balance while cutting.

The Kyocera Revolution Series 7-Inch Ceramic Chef’s Knife is available from Amazon for $82.17

J.A. Henckels Four Star 8-Inch Chef’s Knife

J.A. Henckels Four Star 8-Inch Chef's Knife

J.A. Henckels produces a huge variety of cutlery, and the Four Star line is some of its best. The Four Star 8-Inch Chef’s Knife is forged from high-carbon steel, and its “Sintermetal Component Technology” fuses different grades of steel (for the blade, bolster, and tang) together into a single piece. The hefty blade is also subjected to Henckels’ proprietary ice-hardening process, which according to the manufacturer increases corrosion resistance and edge durability. The bonded polypropylene handle is comfortable in the hand, and extremely durable.

You can find the J.A. Henckels Four Star 8-Inch Chef’s Knife at Amazon for $94.99.

Epicurean Wood Composite Cutting Boards

Epicurean Wood Composite Cutting Boards

Once you’ve made the investment in quality chef knives, make sure you’re using it with an appropriate cutting board. Hard surfaces like glass are sanitary, but they’re tough on knives. And some softer surfaces can harbor bacteria from the food that’s prepared on them.

An innovative solution is a composite board like those from Epicurean Cutting Surfaces. Epicurean cutting boards are made from a composite material of sustainably harvested wood fiber. The boards are dishwasher safe, and the manufacturer states that while they are soft enough to protect knife blades, they are also non-porous, so they won’t absorb bacteria from foods. The boards are National Safety Foundation approved, and they’re also heat-resistant: they can be withstand temperatures up to 350 degrees, so they can be used as trivets for hot pots or pans.

Epicurean composite cutting boards are available in a variety of sizes and styles. Two of the most popular are the full-size 15” x 11” board ($23.38 at Amazon), and the compact 8” x 6” bar board ($9.56 at Amazon).

Here’s an interesting alternative to those regular old vinyl lunchboxes which have a tendency to leach phlatates and lead into your food. It’s a stainless steel lunchbox that will probably garner attention from your co-workers, fellow students or curious passers-by. Based on the idea of the Japanese Bento Box, the lightweight “To Go Ware” has two stainless bowls that sit on top of each other with a stainless plate separating them. The plate keeps the compartments sealed from each other, and hold the individual components of your meal. The To-Go Ware can be warmed on a stovetop or cooled in a fridge. It’s available from Amazon for around $24. See also this steel “lunchjar” from Amazon.

Sigg is a Swiss company with a reputation for producing quality, non-toxic containers. They makes these lightweight, durable boxes out of anodized aluminium. They have snap lock to keep the lid securely in place, and a rubber seal provides a leakproof closure.

They are available from Amazon.

Orikaso, a design firm in the U.K., has released these foldable polypropylene cups, bowls and plates for backpacking or travel. They can actually hold liquids without leaking.

We like to avoid all plastics, but at least these products are made from recyclable materials, and any material cut off during manufacture is recycled. Polypropylene is a less toxic alternative to PVC. Here is a list of retailers in the US.

Via: Yanko Design