Invite Guests in Style
The party starts with the invitations, so take this opportunity to set the tone for your fiesta. Skip the old-school paper invites -- nobody wants more clutter on the refrigerator door, anyway -- and go for a sleek electronic version. Sites like PaperlessPost.com and Pingg.com get the message across without skimping on fun or sophistication.
Decorate Wisely
Opt for biodegradable decorations like flowers or plants instead of streamers and balloons. You can also add color to your party space with big bowls of seasonal fruit and festively adorned cupcakes -- everyone loves an edible decoration!
Use the Wrap that Keeps on Giving
Encourage guests to cover their gifts in creative, reusable wrappings, like baby blankets, decorative cotton bags or baskets (perfect for holding toys or bottle components when babe arrives) or onesies -- roll a wooden infant toy or pair of baby socks into a onesie and tie at the top with a keepsake ribbon.
Set a Green Table
Setting a planet-friendly table is key for any green hostess. Use your own reusable plates, cups and silverware. If you don’t have enough, ask a few guests to bring backups from home -- and recruit a dishwashing crew in advance!
Plan a Seasonal Menu
Cooking with seasonal vegetables and fruits is one of the easiest ways to go green. You can substitute the seasonal stuff for meat-based meals, adding more eco credit to your party. With some creative thinking, even dedicated carnivores won’t miss the meat. Up to your ears in summer squash? Make a hearty squash lasagna (long slices of squash can replace the pasta). Drowning in apples? Make a big apple crumble for dessert, which is always irresistible with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
Forgo Favors
The party is often more than enough, but if you can’t bear to send your guests home empty-handed, give edible gifts, like reusable satchels filled with dark chocolate, dried fruits and nuts. Or give them seeds to be planted in a home garden or an indoor pot.
Marisa Belger’s work has appeared in Travel + Leisure Family, Natural Health, Prevention
and TODAYShow.com, where she wrote a column about eco-friendly living. She was an editor at Lime.com and collaborated with author Josh Dorfman on his bestselling books, The Lazy Environmentalist
and The Lazy Environmentalist on a Budget. She is the managing editor of and frequent contributor to
Green Goes Simple.