Go Green Ideas for your Holiday Party
'Tis the season when our thoughts turn to gathering
with our friends and family and celebrating the time of year. That
doesn't mean it's time to throw out your 'green' sensibilities and
splurge on unhealthy foods and non eco-friendly product for the sake of
togetherness. Here are some green party ideas that will make everyone
thrilled to have come into your home, and they might not even realize
that you are going green.
The best idea for having a party and wasting as little food as possible
is to give a cocktail party. You need to take into consideration as to
the time of the party so you can gauge how hungry your guests will be,
but by serving drinks and hors d'oeuvres throughout the evening, you can
take into account people who might come in later; and having a sit down
dinner might not have been practical, and would have added embarrassment
to your guests.
Besides, I hate sit down dinner parties. See, there is never a time when
the food is ready and everyone is hungry. And, on a personal note, I
never eat a lot at a party because I am too busy babbling and catching
up and I like to be able to wander throughout the house and talk to
everyone whilst I nosh on the goodies.
If any of your guests are sweet, and offer to bring something, make sure
that it isn't being duplicated by someone else; nothing worse than
ending up with two veggie trays or two spinach dips. Speaking of both,
these can be very green party ideas for food. Buy local or organic
veggies and serve a light yogurt flavored dip with the veggies. The
spinach dip is usually served in a bread bowl that is almost always
eaten by the end of the party, so there is one less dish to clean up.
*Tip* Try and make sure that bread bowl is made from whole grains and
you are even more green!
Try to stagger the placing of the hors d'oeuvres out on the table. If
you put everything out at once, the hot foods will get cold, the cold
foods will get warm and wilted, and your guests will feel overwhelmed
with the amount of choices. Do as much prep work as possible before the
party, so all you have to do is platter the cold food and warm the rest
as the evening progresses.
Have small bowls of mixed nuts though out the house so your guests can
munch on something if they are not in the kitchen or dining room. Larger
grocery stores and health food stores have organic nuts; buy some of
each and then roast them with a variety of spices and herbs. In this way
you control the amount of salt added and add your own special touch.
A bowl of olives from the olive bar from your local grocery store or
Whole Foods are loved by everyone and don't have to expensive. Olives
from an olive bar are typically not as salty as those from a jar, and so
are healthier.
Speaking of plating; do not use paper products whenever possible. Craft
stores and department stores sell seasonal cloth napkins that will add a
festive touch to your table, and they are easily washable and stored for
your next party. Paper napkins are not only tacky, for very
environmentally unfriendly. Be eclectic with your serving plates. They
don't have to match, as Martha Stewart will tell you and add a personal
touch.
Keeping your party simple, using fresh foods and green paper products
and you are assured to appreciate these green party ideas.
About the author
I have been writing articles and publishing editorials for over 3 years covering a number of popular topics about everyday life. My interests as of late have involved temporary handicap access options and researching motorized wheel chair options for a short term situation. Discover the innovations and choices I found about wheel chair ramp options and choices to provide for temporary access needs