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Welcome to the 28th "Green" Tips Message. This message is sent to all subscribing users on a weekly basis providing simple tips on becoming more Green! This article is part of Earth911’s series, where they showcase ways to green your life in various areas.This week's message provides simple tips on:

8 Easy Green Thanksgiving Tips

1. Shopping for Food

Before you rush to eat yourself into a Tryptophan-induced coma, take a minute to think about where your food comes from.

When shopping for your Thanksgiving meal, keep two words in mind: organic and local. These keywords will guarantee a fresher, more nutritious meal.

If you buy local, not only can you enjoy fresh food, but you will also support your local economy. Check for farmers’ markets, family farms, community-supported agriculture programs and U-Pick options in your area for the freshest produce, eggs, dairy and grass-fed meat. Also, consider buying organic wines to be more eco-conscious without sacrificing quality or taste.

Also, don’t forget the vegetarians at your table. The Vegetarian Resource Group estimates that 3 percent of Americans, between 6 million and 8 million adults, are vegetarians. For example, the Organic Consumers Association developed a healthy vegetarian Thanksgiving menu which includes stuffed acorn squash with corn bread dressing and chestnut gravy.

If you’re going to have a large crowd, buy food in bulk to reduce packaging waste and save money. And of course, bring your own reusable shopping bags to the grocery store.

2. Crowd Control

At least 28 billion pounds of edible food is wasted each year – more than 100 pounds per person. One of the best ways to reduce your waste this Thanksgiving is to plan ahead for the meal and practicing portion control.

Use Less Stuff created a handy list of approximate per person food and drink portions:

• • Turkey - 1 pound
  • Stuffing - 1/4 pound
  • Sweet potato casserole - 1/4 pound
  • Green beans - 1/4 pound
  • Cranberry relish - 3 tablespoons
  • Pumpkin pie - 1/8 of a 9 inch pie

After the meal, evaluate how many people were present and how much of each dish was consumed. By keeping track each year, you can make a more efficient, less wasteful Thanksgiving meal in the future.

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