December is a time of joy, togetherness, and celebrating with colleagues, friends, and family. With festive meals and office parties in full swing, it’s easy for food to become the centerpiece. However, it’s also a time when surplus food can pile up, often going to waste. At Project Green Fork (PGF), we believe this season of abundance is the perfect opportunity to embrace sustainability by reducing and redirecting food waste.
Here are a few tips to make the most of your holiday gatherings and prevent food from ending up in the landfill.
1. Plan smarter, not bigger
Start by estimating how much food you actually need for your event. Overestimating leads to unnecessary leftovers. Encourage invitees to RSVP so that you can plan portions more accurately, reducing the risk of over-preparing food. You can use an online calculator to determine serving sizes based on your guest count, and plan a balanced menu that includes dishes people can enjoy in smaller portions.
For buffet-style offerings, consider setting out food in smaller batches, replenishing as needed. This approach minimizes untouched food that can later be donated.
2. Give leftovers a new life
For any prepared food that can’t be donated, transform it into delicious post-party meals. Turkey carvings can become soup, roasted vegetables can go into fried rice, and stuffing can be made into savory waffles. Encourage guests to take home already-served dishes by providing them with small reusable containers. It’s an easy way to share the abundance while preventing waste.
3. Make a plan with PGF
Since August 2023, PGF has helped divert over 100,000 pounds of surplus food away from landfills to local organizations, and your holiday event can be part of this growing impact. We offer assistance to make food donation easy and seamless:
- Schedule a 30-minute meeting by emailing our Food Rescue Coordinator, Heidi Rupke at heidi@cleanmemphis.org. We’ll help you create a food waste diversion plan for your party.
- When you work with the PGF team, we’ll set up a CareIt account for you. This platform connects you with organizations that will collect your food donations.
- PGF can offer best practices around food donation and connect you directly with a local nonprofit who can use your surplus to feed our neighbors.
With a little preparation, you can keep the office fridge from being overrun and direct your food toward meaningful causes.
4. Know what you can donate
If you find yourself with surplus food, PGF is here to help you redirect it to neighbors in need. To ensure food donations are safe and usable, follow these simple guidelines:
- What to donate: Foods that haven’t been served to consumers, haven’t been out of refrigeration or heating for more than four hours, and show no signs of spoilage.
- What to skip: Dishes that have been handled extensively or were already offered at the table.
By partnering with nonprofits in the area, PGF ensures your extra food makes its way to those who need it most.
5. Spread the word
Sustainability is a year-round mindset, and your efforts can inspire others. Share your food-saving successes on social media, and tag PGF to help raise awareness. Display educational flyers at your event or workplace to educate attendees about food donation and how they can get involved.
Celebrate the season of sustainability
Hosting a holiday party doesn’t have to mean creating waste. With these simple steps, you can celebrate while making a meaningful impact. Let’s make this December one of joy, gratitude, and conscious choices. Reach out to PGF today, and let’s create a plan to make your gatherings more sustainable and impactful. After all, the season of sustainability doesn’t end when the decorations come down – it’s something we can make a toast to all year long!
