Thanksgiving is 2 weeks from today and menu planning is in full swing. There are strategies you can put in place right now to save money and reduce food waste. These strategies will protect your finances and the natural world. Food prices today are 28% higher than they were in 2019 because of corporate price gouging, and the higher production costs and lower available supply caused by world events like the war in Ukraine.
~316 million pounds of groceries worth $556 million will be wasted on Thanksgiving Day alone in 2024. If saved, this could provide 5 meals for each one of the 47.4 million Americanswho are hungry.
It took 105 billion gallons of water to make all this wasted foodāāāthe equivalent of every American taking 18 showers
Over half of the food wasted on Thanksgiving comes from two itemsāāāturkey and milk. This is equivalent to 8.2 million whole turkeys.
The greenhouse gas emissions from Thanksgiving food waste are 798,568 metric tonsāāāequivalent to driving 190,000 gas-powered cars for an entire year.
When the Thanksgiving food waste decomposes in landfills, it will release 5,000 metric tons of methane gas (a potent and poisonous greenhouse gas)ā equivalent to the electricity used by 26,000 homes for an entire year.
Here are 5 ways you can reduce food waste, saving you money and protecting the health of the planet:
1.) Ask about your guestsā food preferences now Make sure you know everyoneās dietary restrictions and allergies ahead of time. Build your menu around them so you donāt make any dishes that people canāt eat.
2.) Make everyoneās favorites While itās always fun to try new recipes, when prepping for large group meals stick to everyoneās favorites that are likely to be eaten and likely to be taken home by guests as leftovers. Ask them for their favorite recipes or ask them to bring their favorite dish. Share the full menu ahead of time so everyone knows what to expect and so you can catch any dietary restrictions or allergies before the big day.
3.) Use the free āSave the Foodā Guestimator to make the right amount of food This guestimator helps you estimate how much food you need to make for everyone at your table to be full and happy. Itās free to use, and customizable by number of guests, appetite level of each guest, how many leftover meals you want to have when dinner is done, and the food type (classic Thanksgiving dinner, vegetarian, or a bit of each). It accounts for the main dishes, sides, and dessert. Savethefood has additional great tools to reduce food waste including storage info for different foods, meal planning and prepping, and recipes. Ā
4.) Plan to give some leftovers to all of your guests to take home Have lots of containers on-hand so everyone can take some leftovers home to enjoy or ask guests to bring containers with them. You could also ask them in advance which types of leftovers theyād like to take and how much they want to build into your planning with the guestimator tool above.
5.) Clean out your fridge and freezer Your fridge and freezer are great tools to save food waste and have food to enjoy in the days, weeks, and even months ahead! Frozen meals, when properly stored (see Savethefoodās storage tool for more info on that!), can last for months and will help you have a nutritious meal in minutes during the busy holiday season.
All of these strategies and tools can be used for any food gathering youāre having at any time of year and will help you waste less food (and less money) all year long. Happy holidays!
IN BRIEF
Author, journalist, digital product manager, and licensed New York City tour guide. Creator and host of NYC's Secrets and Lies. Alumna of the University of Pennsylvania (BA), the Darden School of Business at the University of Virginia (MBA), Arizona State University (Biomimicry), and the University of Cambridge (MSt in Sustainability Leadership).
I build digital media platforms, report on urban climate resilience and biodiversity, and produce live narrative experiences that connect communities to history, nature, and place.
THE DEEP DIVE
My work centers on a single thread: building systems and stories that foster deep connection to our shared world. Across digital streaming, environmental reporting, and live civic storytelling, I design experiences that help people understand complex ideas and the environments around them.
DIGITAL PRODUCT STRATEGY & MEDIA LEADERSHIP
At Carnegie Hall, I serve as Digital Product Manager, leading product strategy, operations, and technical delivery for the video streaming platform Carnegie Hall+. I translate artistic mission into scalable, high-performance streaming architecture that reaches audiences globally. Previously, I led agile product and delivery teams across operations and compliance at American Express, managed Broadway theatrical productions and national tours, and guided strategic initiatives across cultural institutions.
ENVIRONMENTAL JOURNALISM & AUTHORSHIP
As a freelance journalist, I investigate how living systems, urban infrastructure, and human culture intersect. My reported features on urban decarbonization, biodiversity, coastal resilience, and biomimicry appear in publications including Smithsonian Magazine, The Washington Post, Mongabay, Natural History Magazine, and Foreign Policy Magazine. In fiction, I write the Emerson Page young adult novel series, alongside upcoming historical fiction and nonfiction works on New York history, mythology, and human resilience. I also write Togetherhood, a LinkedIn newsletter focused on urban ecology and community restoration, and co-host the podcast Frameworks in the Wild.
LIVE EXPERIENCE & CIVIC STORYTELLING
As a licensed New York City tour guide and live event producer, I transform urban landscapes into shared narrative encounters. I created, produce, and host NYC's Secrets and Lies, an interactive live storytelling series staged across cultural landmarks including the New York Transit Museum, the South Street Seaport Museum, and the historic tall ship Wavertree. I also design and lead site-specific walking tours exploring coastal ecology, food history, and neighborhood evolution, often with partners at Climate Week NYC and the Natural Areas Conservancy.
DOUBLE OR NOTHING MEDIA
Through my independent production studio, Double or Nothing Media, I develop ventures across media, ecology, and public history:
Digital Products & Strategy: Architecting scalable digital platforms, streaming experiences, and operational models for mission-driven institutions.
Environmental Reporting & Publications: Delivering long-form reporting, books, and newsletters grounded in climate resilience and regenerative design.
Site-Specific Live Storytelling: Producing immersive live shows and educational walking tours that engage public audiences in community history.
CONNECT
Website & Production Hub: doubleornothingmedia.com and christaavampato.com
Newsletter: Togetherhood on LinkedIn - linkedin.com/newsletters/togetherhood-7273771832221089792/
Instagram & Threads: @christarosenyc
Emerson Page Novels: emersonpagebook.wordpress.com/
View all posts by Christa Avampato
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