You probably feel like there’s enough on your plate with simply planning and cooking Thanksgiving dinner, but ensuring it’s an eco-friendly event doesn’t have to mean extra stress and added costs. In some cases it can actually minimize your errand running and help keep your cash in your wallet. More importantly, however, it’s another chance to limit the impact you’re having on the planet, and if everyone participating in this food-friendly holiday took the initiative to do the same, we’re certain the earth would be giving out some big thanks of its own.

Below are a few quick tips to up the eco-factor of your Thanksgiving feast (and don’t forget to check out our Green Thanksgiving Guide for even more info).

FOOD

While it would be nice if “giving thanks” was the first thing that popped into our heads when most of us thought of Thanksgiving, the reality is that food tends to come first. After all, what’s a Thanksgiving without the dinner part? Food is also one of the easiest ways to improve the eco-friendliness of your event, and the biggest way you can do that is by—you guessed it—looking for local goods. Sourcing your veggies, cheeses, breads, and more from a farmer’s market means you’re vastly reducing the transportation impact  that comes along with imported offerings and that it means you’ll be able to really get to know your farmers (and their practices!)

When it comes to turkey, the one you’ve been eyeing at your local supermarket is usually the worst choice. Most conventional frozen and fresh turkeys are bred to be larger than life, exposed to pesticides and chemical fertilizers, and confined to cramped living quarters (often cages). While organic and free range are both better choices, they’re not perfect. Many free range turkeys don’t live the pasture-roaming lives we imagine, and there’s little enforcement about the standards of the term.  Your best bet—and unfortunately often most expensive—is to buy from a local farm that you can check out  yourself (still looking for organic and free roaming) or to order a heritage turkey, which is arguably the most natural and eco-friendly. You can find a list of heritage turkeys available for order online here.

DRINK

Often overlooked in the flurry that comes with getting a great Thanksgiving feast on the table, wine is a prime spot to get a little bit greener with your evening (and, of course, it’s always helpful if you’re not a big fan of family gatherings). By choosing an organic wine (or two or three) for the evening, you’ll be cutting down on the pesticide-exposed portion of the meal. What’s more, the eco-footprint of organic bottle of wine is about 7 square meters per bottle, whereas conventional comes in at a whopping 14 square meters per bottle. Better still, some wine advocates feel that organic growing practices are crucial for the healthy, complete soil that makes for great grapes. So if you want the best bottle for both your guest’s palates and the planet, make it a point to opt for organic wine (you can find plenty of varieties here).

DECOR

An easy way to get your Thanksgiving dinner greener is to drop decor completely (trust us, most people won’t notice as long as there’s plenty of food available), but if you aren’t ready to part with an enhanced ambiance, try to use only natural decorations that are available in your area. For example, skip out-of-season flowers that have been flown in from across the globe (leaving a carbon trail in their wake) and try seasonal local items like gourds and fall leaves and branches, which are also more fitting for the occasion.

If you are going to involve flowers, at least choose organic flowers, which are often very comparable in price and a grown without the heavy pesticides that are used for most bouquets.

For another easy impressive touch, add candles to your fall foliage. They’ll cast a flattering glow on your guest (and your food, if something gets left in the oven just a touch too long). Just make sure to opt for beeswax or soy candles instead of traditional petroleum-based candles, and make sure all fragrances are natural—there’s nothing worse artificial scents overpowering your carefully prepared dishes. Check out some environmentally-friendly candles here.

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