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Are you looking for some inspiration when planning a birthday party? Why not go for an eco-friendly option? Combine green values with party themes and activities that kids love.
Jeanine, Liz, Ingrid and Cyndi are neighbors. They want to throw a joint birthday party where both the children and the grown ups can enjoy healthy party foods while "keepin' it green."
There's kid friendly Oven Fried Chicken Fingers and Veggie Dumplings With BBQ Dipping Sauce. Who doesn't like Black Bean and Corn Quesadillas? And don't forget the cake...Whole Wheat Ginger Snaps Towers. And there are fun eco-crafts that even the grown-ups will love.
Emeril's Tips to Reduce Your Party Footprint
- Gift Wrapping
- Choose reusable gift bags, recycled paper or wrapping made from recycled and tree-free materials.
- Go one step further and ask on your recycled invitations that all gifts be wrapped in newspaper or fabric.
- Instead of wrapping presents at all, hide them somewhere in your home and leave clues to send the recipient on a gift hunt.
- Presents
- You can request that guests bring your child a used book or a gently used toy from their own home. And in lieu of a card, your guest can write a personal note in the book.
- Or have guests bring a gift to donate to a worthy cause, like an animal shelter. Suggest that a tree be planted or an animal "adopted" through a wildlife conservation organization.
- Choose recyclable gifts. Check labels and ingredient lists to see what something is made of before purchasing it. Look specifically for the phrase "post-consumer" on products.
- Low power options are good. Choose gifts that are either energy-efficient or battery free.
- Go local! Find gifts that were locally grown, raised or made in your area to reduce the carbon dioxide involved with the transport of your gift.
- Ask for "experience gifts" where someone can get your child a ticket to a show, or a pass to a museum or aquarium.
- Give a living gift, such as houseplants or seeds in earth-friendly containers.
- Check your local fire station to see if they give tours or host parties. The kids will have a blast and volunteer firefighters will appreciate donations and gifts (call ahead to find out what sorts of items they need).
We should limit the amount of plastic we purchase and use, and that includes kid's toys. Provide your guests with some green gift-giving suggestions:
- Tableware Recycling
- Use reusable dishes, utensils, tablecloths and napkins, all of which can just be washed instead of being tossed.
- Choose products made from recycled materials, eco-friendly materials like bamboo or biodegradable materials such as corn and potato starch.
- Set out labeled recycle bins for guests and encourage kids to use them for any plastic, aluminum or glass waste you might have. Make sure your recycling stations have clear and easy to follow instructions of what goes where.
- Supply friends and family with reusable water bottles.
Americans toss out about 25 billion polystyrene cups per year, and plastic and paper trash makes up 11 percent and 35 percent respectively of municipal solid waste in the US. Do your part to limit waste at your party:
Homemade Playdough
1 cup organic flour
1/2 cup sea salt
2 Tbs. cream of tartar
1 cup filtered water
1 Tbs. vegetable oil
Mix flour, salt and cream of tartar in a saucepan. Combine water and oil in a small bowl. Stir into flour mixture gradually. Cook over medium heat for 5 minutes or until very thick, stirring constantly. Remove and allow to cool for a few minutes. Knead until smooth. Store in an airtight container.
Natural Dye Tie-Dye T-shirts
Make the dyes by boiling the natural item (spinach for green, onion for yellow, red cabbage for blue, etc.) in water for about 30 minutes and then allowing it to cool.
Then tie up the shirts in different patterns with rubber bands and soak them in a color fixative of water and vinegar.
Finally, to dye the shirts either dip the shirts in the dye or use a spray bottle (this is a less messy way to do it.)
Recipes Featured on this episode include:
Emeril's Oven Fried Chicken Fingers With BBQ Dipping Sauce (Video)
Emeril's Veggie Dumplings With Tomato Dipping Sauce
Emeril's Black Bean and Corn Quesadillas
Emeril's Whole Wheat Ginger Snaps Towers
Check out the Planet Green Schedule to catch this episode of Emeril Green.
Read more about green parties:
Green Glossary: Naked Lady Party
Emeril Green Episode: Emeril's Green Team Tailgate
Use Pingg For Your Next Office Party
Zero Waste Tailgating (Emeril Green Video)
Top 8 Supper Club Recipes of 2008: Green Meals to Really Impress Guests
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