A guest blog post by Beth Rush, the mindfulness editor at Body+Mind.
With the holidays approaching, there’s so much to think about. You must decorate the home, fit all your loved ones into a schedule, and wrap up the year with a bang. Hosting get-togethers also means cooking plenty of food and figuring out what to do with the leftovers afterward. It gets overwhelming quickly, so take these eco-friendly tips on managing your leftovers while managing your well-being.
Are the Holidays the Season of Leftovers?
Unfortunately, holidays are prime time for leftovers. Between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Eve, Americans throw away an extra 5 million tons of garbage, including food waste. Resources are growing scarce, and food production is becoming more difficult due to unpredictable weather. It
It’s prudent to value the prepared meals and what’s left on your plate.
Having a large amount of leftovers is overwhelming. However, it is possible to reuse what you can and properly dispose of the rest—all you need is a good game plan and grace for yourself.
How to Avoid Making Holiday Leftovers
The best solution for holiday leftovers is to minimize the amount from the get-go. Make sure to cook only what you and your party consume to minimize uneaten food. You can get a headcount and portion accurately.
If you have anxiety over the holidays, the good news is that you’re not alone. It’s easy to get a little all over the place during this jam-packed schedule at the end of the year. Consider sharing your thoughts and feelings with other people to ease the mental load. Maybe you can even seek help when cooking and serving.
What to Do With Holiday Leftovers
Some households may have more leftover holiday food than others, and it’s perfectly natural. It may even be a blessing in disguise. Here’s how to handle them:
1. Store and Heat When Needed
The easiest way to handle leftovers is to pack and store them away. The refrigerator is built to preserve food, after all. Freeze them so they last even longer. Over the next few days, you can heat them for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. This will save you time from having to plan your meals and cook.
2. Let Guests Bring Them Home
The main reason why you have leftovers is you cooked up plenty of food because you want your guests to feel satisfied. Connecting with loved ones through these gatherings helps you feel grounded and joyful in the long run. Show them gratitude for showing up by packing them food to take home.
3. Repurpose Into New Food
Are you tired of eating the same thing? Consider turning your leftovers into new meals. For instance, you can use your excess veggies in a delicious stir-fry by tossing in chicken, rice noodles, and seasonings in a pan. Fry extra mashed potatoes into hashbrowns for breakfast. Don’t be afraid to get creative.
4. Donate to an Organization
Large amounts of leftover holiday food can seem hard to get rid of, but there are people in need of these resources everywhere. Consider giving back to the community and fighting food insecurity in the long run. You’d be doing a good deed and ensuring no single drop goes to waste during the festive season.
What to Do With Extra Food Waste
After cooking and even dealing with the leftovers, you may find a few bones, seeds or fatty meat on the counter. Here are suggestions for the extra food waste:
1. Regrow Your Food
Some of the vegetable scraps that you’re thinking of throwing away may be viable for regrowth. For instance, you can use the end of the green onion to create new ones. Plant it on the bottom side down in potting soil. You should place it by a sunny window and give it as much water and care as possible to grow it back.
2. Compost the Scraps
Instead of throwing uneaten bits into the garbage can, consider adding them to your compost bin. Fruit peels, egg shells, and more contain many minerals that can benefit your scrap garden. All you have to do is put them into a heap and sprinkle water for moisture. The mixture will slowly decompose into fertilizer, and you can now feed your plants.
If making your own compost feels too difficult or icky, consider a professional service! Baltimore Compost Collective collects it in select neighborhoods then uses it in their community gardens.
If you want to use compost in your garden, Compost Crew is the way to go! They collect directly from your home and then give you a biannual compost delivery back.
3. Send Away for Animal Feed
Some animal feeding programs are glad to take the food waste off your hands, minimizing the energy and resources to produce food from scratch. You would also feel relieved to know that you’re helping out farmers and companies in your local area. Just keep in mind that certain states may prohibit meat or dairy products from donations
4. Create a Broth
Another underrated way to make the most of your turkey or chicken bones during the holidays is to create a flavorful broth. Fill a pot with water, veggies and the carcass while letting it simmer. Once it’s over, you can empty the remains and use the liquid gold for soup. Simply add a few aromatics and seasoning along with meat and veggies if you feel like it.
Be Eco-Friendly This Holiday Season
Whether edible or not, there’s always an eco-friendly way to handle what’s left on your plate. It can be a last-minute thought because of how busy the festivities get, but your commitment to do good matters and brings peace of mind at the end of it all.
About the Author: Beth Rush is the mindfulness editor at Body+Mind. She writes about mental health during pregnancy and beyond. She also shares tips for coping with c-PTSD, PCOS, and climate anxiety. Subscribe to the Body+Mind Newsletter for more posts by Beth.
Nurtured Well is a boutique women’s mental health practice located conveniently off of the Charles Street exit of 695. We also offer on-line care throughout Maryland. Get the help you need now.
Great and thanks for sharing. I picked a few new ideas.