Plan Before You Shop

An energy-efficient Thanksgiving can start before you ever turn on the oven.

Take inventory of what you already have before making your grocery list. Planning portions based on the number of guests can help prevent overbuying, while coordinating dishes with family and friends can keep three people from arriving with the same side.

A little organization can mean fewer unnecessary purchases, less food waste and fewer last-minute trips to the store.

Give Your Refrigerator Some Breathing Room

Thanksgiving week can put your refrigerator into overdrive. Before loading it with ingredients, leftovers and desserts, take a few minutes to clear out expired items and anything you know won’t be used.

Avoid packing the refrigerator so tightly that air can’t circulate, and let hot foods cool before storing them rather than placing steaming dishes directly inside.

And when everyone is looking for leftovers later? Decide what you want before opening the door. Standing in front of an open refrigerator debating between pie and stuffing is one Thanksgiving tradition we can probably do without.

Make the Most of a Hot Oven

If the oven is already on, put that heat to work.

Look for dishes that can cook at the same or similar temperatures and bake them together when space allows. Resist opening the oven door repeatedly to check on food, since every peek lets heat escape.

For smaller dishes or reheating, consider whether a microwave, toaster oven, air fryer or other appropriately sized appliance can do the job instead of heating the full oven.

And when the cooking is done, turn everything off. Your kitchen will probably have plenty of residual warmth without asking the oven to contribute any more.

Put Lids on It

Sometimes the simplest energy-saving habits are also the easiest to overlook.

Using lids on pots helps hold in heat and can help foods cook more efficiently. Match pots and pans to appropriately sized burners, and use only as much water as you need when boiling vegetables or preparing other dishes.

None of these changes will alter your Thanksgiving menu. They simply help you make better use of the energy you’re already using.

Let the Dishwasher Handle Cleanup

After a big meal, your dishwasher can be one of the hardest-working appliances in the house. Make the most of each cycle by waiting until you have a full load.

Scrape plates instead of rinsing every dish under running water before loading, provided your dishwasher and detergent are designed to handle it. If your dishwasher offers an air-dry or energy-saving setting, Thanksgiving is a good time to put it to use.

And if you have helpers volunteering for cleanup duty, even better.

Give Leftovers a Second Act

Leftovers are part of Thanksgiving, but they don’t have to look exactly like Thanksgiving dinner for the next four days.

Instead of simply reheating the same plate, look for ways to turn what’s left into something new. Turkey can become sandwiches, soups or casseroles, while leftover vegetables can find their way into breakfast or lunch.

Shelly’s favorite next-day tradition? Turning leftover turkey and stuffing into a Thanksgiving breakfast bake. She mixes them with eggs and her favorite seasoning, tops all or part of the dish with cheese, and bakes everything together. Warm turkey gravy is served on the side so everyone can add as much, or as little, as they want.

We turned Shelly’s go-to Thanksgiving morning tradition into a recipe you can make your own.

Get Shelly’s Thanksgiving Leftover Breakfast Bake Recipe

Planning for leftovers helps make the most of the food, energy and resources that went into preparing the original meal.

Make Giving Back Part of Your Thanksgiving Prep

Reducing waste is important, but Thanksgiving is also an opportunity to think intentionally about what we can share.

Rather than buying extra food without a plan for it, consider adding a donation to your Thanksgiving preparations. Food pantries and community organizations know what their neighbors need most, and many accept financial contributions in addition to food and other essentials.

For the Equinox Creative team, giving back is local. Our fully remote team lives and works in communities across the country, so we asked team members to share organizations making a difference close to home.

Stephanie’s Pick: Loaves & Fishes Community Services | Illinois

Stephanie selected Loaves & Fishes Community Services, which provides food assistance and additional support to families throughout Chicago’s western suburbs.

Supporters can donate food, contribute financially, participate in a virtual food drive or volunteer their time.

Danielle’s Pick: Street Soldiers Schenectady | New York

Danielle chose Street Soldiers Schenectady, a grassroots organization supporting people in need in the Schenectady community.

Through regular community gatherings, Street Soldiers provides food and other essentials while creating a direct connection between volunteers, donors and the people they serve.

Shelly’s Pick: Little Chapel Food Pantry | Colorado

Shelly selected Little Chapel Food Pantry in Divide, Colorado. The volunteer-supported organization provides food assistance to people facing hunger and food insecurity in Teller County and surrounding communities.

The pantry accepts financial contributions, food donations and volunteer support.

Small Choices Add Up

An energy-efficient Thanksgiving doesn’t require a perfect meal plan, a completely different menu or a kitchen full of new appliances.

It can be as simple as planning before you shop, making better use of the appliances you already have, reducing unnecessary waste and being thoughtful about what happens to the food you prepare.

And maybe this year, one more item makes it onto the Thanksgiving checklist: finding a way to help put food on someone else’s table, too.

Because using our resources thoughtfully can extend well beyond our own homes.