Simpler Entertaining

  Here are some ideas to make your party less stressful and more sustainable (for you and the environment):

1. Plan ahead and finalize your menu early. Knowing exactly what you want to make and how many people you’re expecting will reduce last-minute grocery store runs and help reduce waste.
2. Feature local foods on your menu. Sign up for a CSA (community-supported agriculture) or community garden to get local, seasonal food throughout the year. This can help simplify planning while supporting your community. Serve plant-based foods or make meat a side instead of the main course. This is more sustainable, simpler and cheaper. 
3. Have a gourmet potluck party instead of doing all the cooking yourself. The food can still be scrumptious, but each person cooks only one dish.
4. Celebrate with appetizers and cocktails or coffee and dessert instead of serving a full meal.
5. Borrow and share specialty cookware and appliances with your neighbors. Buy Nothing groups and kitchen tool libraries offer great ways to borrow kitchen tools without having to buy them. If you need extra dishes, opt to borrow or thrift them instead of using disposables. 
6. Host a cookie swap. Double or triple one recipe to share instead of baking batches of several different kinds of cookies. Six friends who each make six dozen of the same kind of cookie can go home with a dozen of each kind (minus one or two, perhaps).
7. Throw a decorating party where people bring leftover crafting supplies to make decorations and then everyone gets to take home some of what’s made. Or use natural decorations. Leaves, dried flowers, or sprigs of holly can all brighten a space and bring seasonal cheer. 
8. Host a skill share. Hand over the activity planning to a talented friend or family member who’s excited to share their skills with the rest of the party. Together, you can all learn a new craft or recipe. 
9. Create a theme for food and decorations. Focusing on a color scheme or idea lets you do more with less.
10. Encourage guests to bring reusable containers to take home leftovers and reduce food waste.
11. Host your event outside. Many community gardens and land trusts allow you to host events on the land, just as you would at a public park. This gives you a beautiful backdrop and helps your guests connect with nature in local green spaces.