Grill Your Way To Green (Part II)

How to throw a Green BBQ (cont.)

The day before…

Although not labeling your garbage cans make for a fun game of “What goes where?” provide a “Trash” can, “Compost” bin and “Recycling” bin for guests. Check out the LA bureau of sanitation (http://san.lacity.org/solid_resources/recycling/what_is_recyclable.htm) for what can and cannot be recycled and (http://locallosangeles.blogspot.com/2008/12/los-angeles-trash-part-1-green.html) for what scraps of food are OK to go in the green bin for composting.

The day of...

• Wait until the day of the event to cut up any fruits and/or veggies so that they don’t turn brown or soggy because of oxidation.
• If you are serving chicken, be sure to marinate it before guests arrive so the marinade absorbs.
• If you are planning on using recyclable plastic cups, put out some tape and a sharpie pen. That way guests can write their names on the tape and paste it to their cup so they won’t forget which is theirs.
• Provide guests with clean pool towels as well as sunscreen so they don’t get burned (Soleo Organics and Burt’s Bees make great, chemical free sunscreens)!
• Provide some green entertainment: cards, backgammon, Frisbee & pool volleyball are all great fun and are sure to keep guests busy at all times!

Before guests leave...

Make sure nothing goes to waste: The table has been cleared, the bins have been sorted (recycling, compost and trash are all where they should be), but what to do with all of the leftovers? Send guests home with unused Tupperware full of any uneaten food. In doing so, you are ensuring that nothing will go to waste sitting in your fridge over the next week and, if you’re like me, you’re not tempted to eat any of those left-over gluten free chocolate brownies calling your name from inside the cabinet, mmm!

Now grill up and chow down!