The holidays mean many things, but one thing is certain. It’s party time! And while it’s the most wonderful time of the year, sometimes the thought of planning a festive gathering for family and friends that maximizes fun and minimizes environmental impact can be a little overwhelming. Relax. Try these easy tips for green entertaining and you might just find yourself in the holiday spirit.

Sharing: Not Just for Toddlers
Simple math: One party generates less waste than two. Team up with a friend (or friends) to throw a party and you’ll all save money and time. Decide whose home is the most fiesta-friendly, carpool to buy groceries and other supplies, pool all of your serving dishes and utensils and split up the cooking—less work and stress for everyone involved. Plus, your friends will not only see each other, but get the chance to meet someone new.

A Seasonal Party Calls for a Seasonal Menu
Funny thing about traditional dishes—they tend to be right in line with current thinking about eating what’s seasonally available. Holiday recipes including sweet potatoes, apples, nuts and dried fruits are staples of holiday menus and happily coincide with what can be found at your local farmer’s market. I love using the ecomii recipe database for this—just look up what you’ve got and find a recipe. If your local market closes in the winter,  or a local co-op doesn’t exist,  try organic or see if the Eatwell guide can help you find locally produced baked goods, cheese, and more.  

Say Goodbye to Paper Plates and Plastic Forks: A Thrift-y Solution
Even those of us with the greenest of intentions are tempted by the lure of disposable plates and utensils when it comes to party time. So cheap! So easy! But so wasteful. A better way: Head to the local thrift store and stock up on mismatched plates, wineglasses, cheap flatware and anything else you need. Try picking a color range (blues for Hanukkah or black, red and green for Kwanzaa) to make things look more cohesive. You’ve now got your own set of partyware that you absolutely don’t have to worry about if anyone drops, chips, or walks off with some. After the party, wash it and store it until the next event. You’ve just officially made your life easier for years.

Toast Local
Buying locally produced wine and beer not only helps your local economy, it saves emissions because the booze doesn’t have to be shipped to you. When getting ready for your New Year’s celebration, ask about local bubblies at the wine shop, and try Brewpubzone to look for microbreweries in your area. If these options aren’t available, consider asking about sustainable wines or wine in a box—it’s come a long way since the 70s, and it’s environmentally friendly, too!

Go Veggie
Most meat is resource-intensive to produce and cook—going  veggie will reduce your party’s carbon footprint dramatically. Additionally, having a meat-free party simplifies your life in a lot of ways: it’s cheaper, it’s healthier, and it means all of your scraps are compostable (more about composting ). Try something unusual and festive like chard tacos — guests will have fun assembling them and never miss the meat.  Other party-friendly, meat-free dishes (with in-season ingredients): Artichokes Siciliano and Fingerling Potato and Chanterelle Gratin .

Waste-Free Décor
Instead of disposable paper and plastic decorations, go for items you can eat or use year after year. Bowls of fruit are festive and will encourage healthy snacking. For Thanksgiving, try dressing up gourds as turkeys (see how ) --you can cook these guys after the holidays without guilt. In December, easy-to-make popcorn garlands can become bird food later (take the popcorn off the string) or used to cushion packaging. If you want some items that will be used year after year, try eBay for vintage decorations that can become your family’s keepsakes.  ....read more