How to Add a Side of Awareness to Your Thanksgiving Meal

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November 24, 2010 • 5:00 am PST
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turkey, organic, thanksgiving

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1. Be Mindful of your Meat. If you chose to go for tofurkey this year, kudos to you. But, if you decide to go with a turkey, choose an ethically raised or humanely raised turkey. Cooking Turducken? Apply the same principles to your chicken, turkey, and duck. Poultry is not covered under the Humane Methods of Slaughter Act and turkeys are said to be among the most abused animals on earth. And with an estimated 42 million turkeys raised for Thanksgiving alone, that's a lot of turkeys. Some phrases to look for when shopping are Heritage turkeys, sustainably raised turkeys, or USDA certified organic turkeys. Certified Organic birds were raised under strict guidelines; no antibiotics, no growth enhancers, only organic feed, and the animals must be given access to outdoors. The term "free range" can be misleading, so do your research when purchasing a bird, know where it's from, and how it was raised. Go for locally raised birds from smaller farms if possible. Factory farms also have a much higher environmental footprint, so you are doing your part in more ways than one here. The price may be a bit higher, but it's well worth it. So, whatever your preference may be, opt for a meat that was given a good life.

Photo (cc) by Flickr user tuchodi.

Milissa Skoro
actress

Thanksgiving can be a somewhat decadent holiday. But, even amidst the indulgence, there is ample room for awareness and simplicity that will benefit you and the Earth. Here are a few tips for creating a greener, healthier Thanksgiving including, some of my favorite family recipes. Bon appétit!

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