16 December 2024

Gifts

Guess what!  More is [usually] not better. According to Hidden Brain (fave podcaster Shanker Vedantam!), mosts gifts miss the mark anyway. The secret to giving the perfect gift: ASK the recipient what they want. It also seems that experience gifts are remembered (and appreciated) for far longer than material gifts.

One study found that 10-30% of the value of money spent is lost through the process of gift-giving; in other words, the gift you gave is worth much less to that person than what they would have done with the same amount of money. So…give cash???

You can save money and the planet by shopping thrift stores, vintage shops and facebook marketplace. I love to find new homes for things I no longer need. Finding the perfect gift for someone could take a little time, but if it's the thought that counts, a lot more thought is put into a physical search than pushing the BUY NOW button.

Food

The number one thing you can do is limit food waste. After that, it's all about keeping things plant-centric. There are plenty of sustainable veggie-ful appetizers, mains and sides you can try. If you plan to include animal foods, consider meat the “garnish” and make half your plate vegetables. Here's my traditional Christmas menu (obviously will do latkes for Hanukkah!):

Filet Mignon

with Mushroom Gravy

Grilled Portobello Mushrooms with Garlic Sauce

Roast Potatoes

Bashed Carrots and Neeps (Delia P. 145)

Yorkshire Pudding

Shaved Brussels Sprouts & Kale Salad

I love how it all comes together in the colors of the rainbow! Let me know about your special holiday foods and feel free to reach out for other recipe ideas.

Decor

I plan to use my recycled napkin rings again this year. The strips of green and brown paper bag (from a well-known grocery chain) and cute little pine cones add a touch of nature to my festive table.

You can also find lots of FREE decorations in and around your house. Get creative with pinecones, acorns, evergreen branches and even tin cans.

For more ideas, check out one5c's Thrifters Guide to Holiday Decor or this newsletter article from Rhonda Gilmore, Director of Undergraduate Studies in Design + Environmental Analysis at Cornell University:

Simple, Sustainable Designs for the Holiday Season