Green Your Kid: Thanksgiving Fun for the Family
BY: Lynda Fassa
Nowadays, Thanksgiving is primarily about family (and eating). However, the holiday was originally about giving thanks for the bounty of food that was to help folks through the lean winter months. These kid-friendly ideas will help get your family back to Thanksgiving's roots.
Get Crafty Together
The holiday table is the center of all
things Thanksgiving, and there’s no better way to make it festive -- and
eco-friendly -- than to craft homemade decorations with the kids. My
family likes to use things we already have around the house (or in the
backyard). We’ve discovered that paper towel rolls make excellent
turkeys: Simply cut the roll in half (each half is a turkey) and glue
real or construction-paper feathers to the back. Draw eyes and a beak
and you’ve got a fun, handcrafted decoration that stands on its own.
For a bright and natural centerpiece, kids can help fill big bowls
with seasonal fruits, gourds and colorful leaves. Added eco-perk: The
centerpiece can be eaten or composted after the party! You can also make
each member of the dinner party feel extra-special with homemade place
cards. Just write each guest's name on a small piece of paper and glue
it to a big leaf. Whatever you choose, just be sure to use items that
you already have on hand!
Bake Together
Baking is an
easy way to involve kids in the preparation of the feast, and this
recipe for oatmeal cookies couldn't be more kid-friendly. Combine the
following ingredients in a bowl, adding the eggs one at a time, and bake
in a preheated oven at 375 F for eight minutes. Even the youngest kids
can drop spoonfuls of dough onto the baking sheet! Help your kids
understand green values by telling them how each of the ingredients
comes from the Earth.
Soft Oatmeal Cookies
1 cup softened butter
1 1/2 cups white sugar
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
3 cups quick-cooking oats
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Only Cook the Favorites
To avoid waste and save money,
purchase and cook only food you know will be appreciated. That's truly
going green! If your kids love chicken, then consider skipping the
turkey. Likewise, only one member of my family -- ahem, me! -- really likes
pumpkin pie. Year after year, I’ve put down more than my share of that
spiced creamy smoothness because I thought it was tradition. But not
this year. We’ll be celebrating Thanksgiving 2010 with nothing more than
a Tofurkey and french-fried yams. Not typical or traditional, but it’s
what my family loves to eat.
If you do happen to find yourself with an overabundance of leftovers, have your kids help you pack them up and then drop them off at a homeless shelter to share your culinary talents with people in need.
