When you think of summer, you might think of summer vacation, beaches, vacations, and barbecues! I’ve always enjoyed attending BBQs but noticed how much MEAT is at each one. Sometimes there will be a few veggie skewers or charred peppers and corn here and there, but that’s a rarity in comparison to beef patties, wings, and more.
I don’t want to give up BBQs, and realized I didn’t have to! There are four easy ways to celebrate the summer in a low waste fashion.
Provide more plant-based options.
I get it – when you think of BBQs, you think of meat. But there are some companies making delicious vegetarian- or vegan-friendly options these days… Have you heard of Beyond Meat or Gardein? Now I’m just waiting for Impossible Foods to be available in retail stores because their burger patties are THE best.
Use reusable items.
Stainless steel utensils, cloth napkins, and dinner plates make for excellent substitutes to disposable ware for your friends and family to use.
Bring out your compost bin.
Sometimes people are unable to finish their food, so there might be scraps that would get thrown away, but these should not be thrown in the regular trash. Make sure you have a compost bin available for these food scraps, and save your leftovers for your next day’s meal!
Plan ahead!
Get a head count of how many people will be attending, their dietary restrictions, and that will help you gauge how much food you need to buy. This can reduce the amount of leftovers or food that is wasted at the end of the day if people don’t finish what’s on their plates.
I hope these tips will help you plan a low waste party in the future 🙂 Happy summer!
A Healthy Blueprint 
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