There’s a reason making a list and checking it twice makes a lot of holiday sense for Santa – we do can do it too.

Host a Holiday Gathering Without the Holiday Stress (or Waste!)

Hosting a holiday dinner party should be about  making memories – not stressing over grocery lists or wondering what to do with a fridge full of leftovers!

A little planning ahead can go a long way. With a few simple tricks, you can spend less time worrying, save money and keep perfectly good food out of the landfill.

Start with planning ahead

A little prep before the big day makes hosting so much easier. Start with your menu and grocery list, and keep these tips in mind:

• Make a list and stick to it. Deciding what you’re making ahead of time makes grocery shopping easier and helps prevent last-minute impulse purchases.
• Shop your pantry first. Before heading to the store, check your cupboards, freezer and fridge. You might be surprised by what you find!
• Know your numbers. Think about how many guests you’re expecting and plan your portions accordingly. It’s also a good idea to have a leftover game plan in mind – just in case a few guests can’t make it (see below for ideas about leftovers).
• Use the whole plant! Take a page from Love Food Hate Waste’s “root to fruit” approach. Think carrot tops in your soup stock, broccoli stems in a stir-fry and veggie scraps in the next homemade broth.

Plan for leftovers

Before you start cooking, make a little room in the fridge and use up anything that’s already taking up space. Your future self will thank you!

A few leftover-loving ideas:

• Give leftovers a second life. Planning a turkey dinner? Think ahead to turkey soup, sandwiches or a delicious next-day casserole, and check out this resource from Love Food Hate Waste for more ideas.
• Start a broth bag. Keep a freezer bag handy for veggie tops, peels and scraps. Once it’s full, you’ve got the makings of a homemade veggie stock!
• Make it a buffet! Let guests serve themselves so they can choose portions they’ll actually eat. It’s a fun, relaxed way to host and helps reduce plate waste.
• Send guests home happy. Have reusable or take-home containers ready for leftovers. Sharing is caring – especially when it comes to holiday food!

Learn more at https://lovefoodhatewaste.ca/plan-it-out/holiday-tips/planning/

Pro tip: These food-saving habits aren’t just for the holidays. They’re great to keep up all year long!

Gift giving can be a little less overwhelming when you plan ahead

A little planning can make gift-giving easier, more meaningful and kinder to the planet.

Here are a few tips from Metro Vancouver to help keep gifts out of the landfill:

• Keep a running gift list. Use the notes app on your phone to jot down ideas throughout the year. Listen for hints, pay attention to interests to help avoid the last-minute shopping scramble, it’s never too late to start.
• When in doubt, just ask! There’s nothing wrong with finding out what someone actually wants. If you’d rather keep it a surprise, think about their hobbies, interests and favourite things.
• Listen when someone says no. If someone says “no gifts,” respect their wishes! A fun outing, shared meal or meaningful experience could be a much better way to celebrate.
• Go in together. Pooling money with friends or family can turn a bunch of smaller gifts into one really special present. It’s also a great way to coordinate and avoid duplicate gifts.
• Don’t forget the gift receipt! Even the most thoughtful gift might not be quite right. Including a gift receipt gives someone the flexibility to exchange if preferred.

Looking for more ways to give thoughtfully? Check out Metro Vancouver’s gift-planning tips and scroll down for some gift inspiration!

Because the best gifts aren’t necessarily the biggest or most expensive – they’re the ones that bring a little joy without creating a lot of waste.

More gift ideas below.

• Gift experiences: spending quality time doing an activity they love or trying something new is the best way to create memories, not waste! From Zumba to skating with SCRD Recreation to going to Dakota Ridge, the SCRD has range of group activities for winter and throughout the year.
• Gift goodies: baking and cooking is a great way to create memories with family and sharing the creations will always make a great gift or party favour. Goody overload incoming? Make cookie dough for the freezer and gift it for post holiday enjoyment.
• Pool resources: maybe there’s something you know they’d love, talk to family or mutual friends and go in on a bigger gift together.
• Choose long lasting: doing a little research into an item’s quality helps to ensure it’s a gift they’ll use for a while.
• Gift a useful gift card: check with close friends/family if there’s somewhere they love to shop or what their interests are before picking out a gift card.
• Get them started with refillables: buying in bulk and refilling common essentials is an investment, helping someone get started will be something that can appreciate for years to come.

Check out Metro Vancouver’s gift idea database for gifts that take the waste out of the holidays.

Sort by budget and if it’s an experience or item that you’re looking for.

From reusable wrappings to creative use of recyclable materials Metro Vancouver has all the ideas.

More ideas at https://metrovancouver.org/holidaywaste/tips-to-reduce/wrap-wise

The holidays can create a lot of packaging from receiving gifts to ordering online. Check out these resources because more is recyclable that you might think.

Search the databases!

1. https://rcbc.ca/contact/ has the Recyclepedia with everything that’s recyclable and where to take it
2. www.scrd.ca/recycling-depot for our local depots
3. https://recyclebc.ca/what-can-i-recycle/ for everything packaging, plastics and paper or their dedicated holiday recycling page for more at https://recyclebc.ca/holidayrecycling/

PRO TIP! String lights and books are recyclable but NOT if you add them to paper or other recycling. Use the links above to find their recycling home.