The Green Holiday Table

James Stevenson, Pinellas County Extension Specialist, Urban Sustainability

Choosing the Main Course


What to eat, what to eat? Are you planning a big holiday feast this year? Many families have a set, traditional meal, enjoyed every year. This may include familiar stand-by dishes, or may have a unique-to-the-family twist. Whatever your spread, the centerpiece of any feast can be a sustainable main.

If meat makes your meal, consider purchasing from a local butcher. You can order in advance, precisely what you want and when you want it. Although freezing food is certainly not a bad thing, there is something to be said for fresh meats and vegetables. Ask your butcher to forgo the plastic foam containers when wrapping your slab, opting for good old butcher’s paper in stead. From fowl to pig to cow, your butcher will know just where and when your choice came from.

This may be the year to have a seafood feast. Local seafood markets can help you make the best choice for your family. Freshly-caught seasonal fish from our own waters again support a local economy and do not travel hundreds of miles to get to your plate.

Whatever you choose, keep fresh and local in mind and enjoy your repast!