 Parties are occasions in which food brings people together. The cleanup, however, is not the most fun part and sometimes food gets thrown away more than it should. There are several tips to reduce the waste which makes it more eco-friendly and less mess. We often have small appetites but big eyes when surrounded by party food. We can reduce waste by keeping party treats in simple, single-portion sizes.
Decorating sugar cookies is one of the easiest ideas for parties with children. Provide homemade or store-bought sugar cookies, frosting or icing, and toppings. Each child gets two or three cookies, a small cup of frosting, and a choice of toppings. Toppings can be used, such as sprinkles, colored sugars, non-pareils, raisins, dried fruits, and more. Instead of focusing on eating a big plate of food, the children are focused on decorating their cookies and licking the icing off their fingers. Sugar cookies also reduce food waste because they travel home well if the children do not eat them. Ice-cream cones and similar items are another great treat in single-portions. Regardless of whether it is winter or summer, many of us like ice cream so there is little food waste. Simply provide several different flavors of ice cream, ice-cream cones, and toppings. Each guest gets his or her choice of ice cream. Adding a craft or seasonal game to the occasion makes it even more fun. A hands-on activity for guests is decorating cupcakes with a holiday or seasonal theme. For this, have plain cupcakes, colored frosting and candies, or other items to decorate the cupcakes. Instead of the cupcakes being the desert after a huge pile of food, they are the main event. Everyone can decorate their cupcakes, sneak and eat the decorations, then devour their decorated cupcakes. Many websites offer ideas for simple and creative decorated cupcakes.
Reducing food waste at a party doesn’t have to mean there are no party treats or fun. Selecting treats people love in single-portion sizes and adding a few party games or music can make it easy to reduce waste. Single-portion foods like cookies, ice-cream, and cupcakes fit with any holiday theme.
Finally, consider buying a zero-waste kit. Eco-Cycle's Zero Waste Event Kit provides everything you need to make your gathering Zero Waste. Simply place your order online and choose the number and types of materials you'll need for your party. Next, rent collection containers from your local CHaRM center, host your event, and deliver your compostable materials back to the CHaRM after the party. Finally, recycle your recyclables at your curb or the nearest drop-off center. You can even donate the food waste to a farmer or 4H club for animal feed if you choose, as long as it’s carefully sorted.
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