GoddessLife

Just because you want to go "green", it doesn't mean you need to cut back on the good times. Follow these simple steps and find out how you can achieve the triple goals of saving money, serving better food and taking care of the planet. Green events still enable you to enjoy events and be healthy and environmentally-friendly at the same time.

Use washable plates and utensils. It is always best to use what can be reused again and again, so prefer crockery over disposables. Alternatively, many stores now carry recycled, compostable plates that will go right into your composter or can be thrown away. They biodegrade quickly so they won't take up landfill space. You can find sturdy plastic cutlery made from corn or other plant sources everywhere, or visit a thrift store and buy up big on old metallic cutlery just for your green events. Whether you use plastic or metallic cutlery, be sure to tell guests to put the cutlery in the wash and not the bin so that they can be reused many times. It helps to leave a container with water and suds in it for people to put their used cutlery straight in.

Go organic. Preservatives and substitutes like high fructose corn syrup and partially hydrogenated oils aren't doing your body any good. They can cause insulin spikes in the body, causing us to crave more sugar and they’re also very difficult to digest. Find certified organic whole food (without the nasties) at most grocery stores. Better yet, find a farmer's market where you can talk to the farmer directly and ask questions about where your food came from. You can complement your fresh, organic food with a little organic wine! These days you don't need to be a sommelier to find a good bottle of organic vino. If you don't want to cater yourself, hire a local caterer who is well versed in using local, organic produce and supports the concept of sustainable dining.

Use cloth. Choose cloth napkins over paper napkins. They last a long time, are easy to wash and guests enjoy them a lot more than paper. They’re more elegant too! There is also a natural tendency to be territorial about one's cloth napkin and use it throughout the night, whereas paper napkins are considered used up with one wipe and people have a tendency to reach for extra ones, thereby encouraging waste.

Use natural gas-powered grills. Unfortunately charcoal adds more than flavor to your food - charcoal could contain coal dust and sodium nitrate. The lighting fluid can make your food taste funny. The chemical effects of these products on your body and the environment are nothing to laugh about. Natural gas is the cleanest and the most energy-efficient method to barbecue. For an authentic wood flavor, soak a few hickory chips in water and throw them on the grill right before your food.

Rely on natural light. Go outdoors and leave the lights off for as long as possible. Rely on sunlight and candles for lighting.

For a themed party - select a theme for your party in which you can creatively use items that are around your house already. Use these to decorate your bash and then put them back in their place after the event. Avoid purchasing extra items to make a theme, as these will be disposed of at the end of the event and will add to landfill.

Get the guests sorting. Leave recycling bins and compost bins next to the garbage bin. That way, guests are obliged to consider their throwaway choices carefully. This also saves you from having to comb the garbage bin afterwards!