How to throw an Eco-Friendly Superbowl Party

It's that time of year again...all around the country, friends and family are gearing up for one of the biggest parties of the year. SUPERBOWL!!!! In our house, it's almost a religious holiday...even though neither of our teams made it this year. ;-> This holiday is all about eating, drinking and yelling, and when it's all said and done...you're left with nothing but a big heap of trash (and hopefully some great pictures). So this year, it is my mission to throw an Eco-friendly Superbowl Party. Regardless of what team colors you're rooting for (black & gold), your party can shine in Green glory. Here are a few simple steps you can take when planning your party:

1. Online Party Planning at MyPunchbowl. This site is so cool!!! Not only can you design your own invitation, you can use your Facebook and Twitter accounts to notify your guests. And most importantly, you're not wasting any paper.

2. DIY Decorations - Check out these awesome do-it-yourself party lights. All you need is a string of LED Christmas lights and some ping pong balls, and voila...you've got yourself a unique and reusable decoration. And best of all, the LED lights are more energy efficient and safer since they give off almost no heat. LOVE!!!

3. Organic Beverages - Since this holiday is all about drinking, why not offer your guests some drinks that are produced sustainably? Like these wines from Clif Family Winery. Yes, this fairly new winery comes from the same people that bring you CLIF BAR, LUNA, and other nutritious organic foods and drinks. Their commitment to organic farming goes hand-in-hand with their goal to grow food in ways that nurture the land, protect wildlife, and benefit communities and people's health

And of course, what is a Superbowl party without beer? My favorite organic brewery is Eel River Brewing Company from Fortuna, CA. Not only are they America's First Certified Organic Brewery, but they are the very first Biomass Powered Brewery. I think we should strive to live by their motto 'Be Natural, Drink Naked'...that's organic, isn't it?

4. Bio-degradable or Re-usable products - With all this eating and drinking, it's inevitable that you're going to need cups, dishes and napkins. So this year, choose products that are bio-degradable or made from recycled materials. Like these cups from Bare by Solo and these napkins from Seventh Generation. And remember to leave a few sharpies out, so your guests can write their name on their cups.

Forget the Styrofoam plates – when you’re serving your best cheese dip or grilled veggie dish this year, use CornWare Tableware. These plates, bowls, utensils and cups are made from corn, a renewable resource.The best part is that they’re compostable. You can toss them right after the party or reuse them – it’s entirely up to you. You can get these great sets of tableware in several different colors, so matching them to your party décor is no problem!

5. RECYCLE!!!! This is an obvious one, but I am still shocked to find many people I know do not even recycle. Get yourself a few extra trashcans, slap on a recycle label...and do your part. So much of the waste from your Superbowl Party is recyclable...so DO IT!!!!!

6. Local and Organic Food - When choosing your Superbowl menu this year, consider using foods that are grown locally or organically. You can find hundreds of organic products at your local supermarket. Like these Organic hot dogs from Applegate Farms. They have a huge selection of Natural and Organic Meats. And to go with your Organic meats, try Barowsky's Organic Breads. Just because you're making responsible choices, doesn't mean you have to sacrifice any of your favorite Superbowl traditions!

And most likely your city has numerous Farmer's Markets (especially on Saturday Mornings) where you can shop for all your produce, flowers, etc. for the big day. And you'll feel good knowing you're not only buying products that are fresh and grown locally, but you're also supporting your community by choosing local farmers.

With these 6 simple steps, it's easy to add some Eco-flair to your Superbowl party this year.

Eat, Drink and Party Responsibly! GO SAINTS!!! xo Carlee