Save Money on Your Local Holiday Meal

Holidays can be stressful on the budget when it comes to coming up with just the right gifts, party fare and general meal planning for family gatherings. Here are some easy ways to make your holiday meal as green as possible while helping you stretch that organic dollar, leaving you more time to spend with family and friends.

1. Find Organic, Green, and Earth-Friendly Food E-Coupons

Yes, they’re out there. Finding coupons for your favorite organic foods online to use at your local market is easier then you think. Here are 10 websites that offer printable, organic food coupons and those that will send you coupons by mail:

1. organiccoupons.org presents a link called "Offline Coupons". Click to find a full list of websites that offer organic coupons for food and other fun organic products. Look for coupons for organic wines, chocolates and tasty treats from Stonewall Kitchens.

2. allorganicslinks.com is a website that will link you to your favorite organic food companies with tips on how to sign up for special offers (e-coupons).

3. livingnaturally.com offers coupons to Organic Valley products, Fair Trade Certified Choice Teas, Amy's Kitchen and more.

4. Register at Organic Valley and you'll receive complimentary coupons for many of their products.

5. Taste the Dream. Send them a story about how much you enjoy their products and you'll receive a bunch of coupons.

6. mambosprouts.com lets you download printable food coupons, plus, if you purchase something from their Mambo Natural Marketplace, a part of the sale will go to "support organic, eco and sustainable living and commerce."

7. knudsenjuices.com offers coupons for their bottled Simply Nutritious beverages.

8. Don't leave the little ones out - earthsbest.com let's you choose coupons from either their line of Sesame Street products or Earth's Best Baby Food.

9. Get on the mailing list for guiltlessgourmet.com and you'll get coupon dibs on great chips and dips to put out for your guests.

10. Check out simplyorganicfoods for savings on dressings, grilling seasonings and marinades.

2. Make Dishes Ahead And Freeze For the Holiday

With a few dishes and desserts pretty much ready to go in the freezer, you’ll avoid last minute food shopping (and most likely extra spending) and save some time in the kitchen the day of. Side dishes and soups like Root Vegetable Purees or Roasted Root Vegetable and Apple Soup freeze well, can be thawed the day before, and simply reheated on that special occasion.

Make-ahead dough for Gluten Free Orange Animal Cookies and Double Whole Wheat Piecrusts is another great way to avoid crunch time this holiday.

3. Have a Potluck Holiday Meal

Give yourself a break this year and have each of your guests bring their favorite dish. Talk about a money and time saver – have your guests make the dish at home and it will be ready for reheating once they get to your place. Need a couple of recipe ideas to pass on? How about Spinach and Jack Cheese Bread Pudding or a Caramelized-Onion and Gruyere Tart that can be sliced into finger food-sized pieces after it's reheated?

4. Have a Vegetarian Holiday

This is most likely (short of going Vegan) one of the greenest ways to go this season. If turkey isn't on your menu, enjoy a few strictly vegetarian dishes like Curried Sweet Potato and Lentil Soup or a deep and flavorful dish of Pasta with Broccoli Rabe and Garbanzos. End your meal with a traditional yet welcome Cherry Pie.

5. Make The Most of Your Leftovers

If you’re roasting a large heritage turkey this holiday, more than likely, leftovers will be on tomorrow's menu. If you've roasted a large bird, it’s actually more economical because you’re getting more meat per pound, which translates into more leftovers. Turkey soup isn’t the only recipe fit for those flavorful scraps. Add cooked turkey to vegetable stir-frys or spicy smooth curry dishes and give those leftovers their due.