The feasting of Fourth of July has become its own beast, known worldwide. The sheer amount of hamburgers, fruit, potato salads, hot dogs, and chocolate chip cookies eaten on this day is practically unimaginable. While this is the day to go ham on all of these foods, it’s important to make sure that you’re eating all of the leftovers that you can, whether this means having the same meal over and over again or getting creative with what you make.
According to ReFED, over 100 million pounds of food were estimated to go uneaten during the Fourth of July last year, with Americans throwing “away about 20% of the food meant for the occasion.” The water used for this uneaten food roughly equals the amount of residential water that the state of California uses within two weeks. That being said, make sure to use up all the food you buy for the Fourth! You can make meaty mac and cheese, no-churn watermelon sorbet, pigs in a blanket, and much more with your leftover supplies.
We highly encourage using reusable forks, napkins, plates, and cups with your delicious Fourth of July meal. It’s easy to find all of these with a patriotic theme. Not only does it reduce waste, but it helps you save money as well! If hosting a picnic, consider having people bring their own reusables or provide compostable options for them.
Be more thoughtful this Fourth of July—it’s possible to have an incredible Independence Day culinary experience while keeping our beloved planet happy and healthy!
