PREVIEW

Thanksgiving Waste: Experts Share Tips to Save Food and Resources. Thanksgiving is one of the most wasteful times of the year, with roughly a third of all U.S. food lost annually, experts told ABC News. Around 200 million pounds of turkey are thrown away during the holiday week alone. Dr. Jean Buzby from the USDA emphasized the significant resources wasted when food is discarded: "Fresh water, energy, land, and labor go into producing, transporting, and preparing food. Keeping food out of landfills reduces wasted resources and methane emissions.” Producing one pound of turkey requires 520 gallons of water — the equivalent of seven bathtubs — and generates greenhouse gas emissions equal to burning half a gallon of gasoline, according to the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC). NRDC expert Anya Obrez explained that people often overprepare for Thanksgiving to ensure abundance: "Food on the table represents care for loved ones, but cooking for large groups can be challenging, leading to overestimations.” Obrez and Buzby recommend planning meals carefully. Tools like the NRDC’s portion calculator can help hosts determine how much food to prepare based on guest count, desired leftovers, and meal type. Making a grocery list can curb impulse buying, Buzby told ABC News. This ensures only necessary ingredients are purchased, reducing the chance of waste. Save peels and scraps for broths or snacks like potato skin chips, and serve smaller portions to prevent leftovers from piling up on plates, Obrez advised. "Guests can always go back for seconds or thirds if they're still hungry.” Thanksgiving leftovers can be reinvented, Buzby said. Ideas include mashed potato fritters, bread pudding, turkey stock or chili, and French toast with extra cream or buttermilk. Freeze leftovers to extend their shelf life. "Freezing food is like hitting a pause button," Obrez explained, adding that nearly anything can be stored for future meals. Sending food home with guests or donating excess are also viable options. With thoughtful preparation and creative reuse, Thanksgiving can be both celebratory and sustainable. As Obrez said, "It’s about balancing festivity with mindfulness.”
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