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COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. -- With all the planning, cooking and cleaning... the last thing on our list is going green this Thanksgiving.
But it's the perfect time to reasses your holiday preparations... with a nod to sustainability.

A nutrition specialist at Natural Grocers on South Nevada, Anna Hanselman explained, "You're helping your family your loved ones, you're helping yourself, but then on a bigger scale you're helping the environment, and animals."

From recycled paper invitations all the way to composting there's a lot you can do to go green this Thanksgiving.
Hanselman said, "You can use like organic squash for your casseroles, organic pumpkins again for your pies and desserts."
Finding organic options is a piece of cake! Or pumpkin pie in this case.
Organic, farm-raised turkeys are available for order, and are still alive today so they're fresh for your feast.

"These turkeys have been able to roam around in pastures, so they're getting constantly fresh, open air, which is going to support their overall health," Hanselman explained, "Generally you want to eat an animal that's healthy because whatever that product is you're ingesting, is going to effect your body."

As you're shopping the aisles the next few weeks you can find organic options around almost every corner... just look for the label. Hanselman said the "100% USDA organic" sticker is important, especially when buying produce.
An organic approval means the foods are produced without the use of synthetic pesticides or fertilizers, just like the veggies you can find at local farmer's markets and urban gardens.

Larry Stebbins from Pike's Peak Urban Gardens says they don't even have to think about fertilizer at these farms and ranches.
"The plants are healthier and they seem to fend off the bugs," he said.

Keeping your ingredients local makes your meal healthier, and since traditional recipes rely on what's in season, you're sure to find a surplus of what you need in a store nearby. Stebbins suggests using local staples in new ways this year.

"Don't forget pumpkins are not just for Halloween!" he said, "I've done this before on Thanksgiving, you stuff a pumpkin and you cook it in your oven, and it's delicious. Get yourself some good dressing, stuff it in there and bake it, and it can be a wonderful alternative to turkey!"

You can even prepare for next year... by planting hearty plants in your own yard.
"We can dig up carrots this time of year we can dig up parsnips, we can dig up turnips, and it can't get any fresher than that," Stebbins added.

If your local farmer's market has already closed it's doors don't forget the organic grocer. It may seem more expensive, but according to Hanselman, in-season products, sales, and the health benefits to buying organic make it an easy transition.

"It is gonna take some to plan a little bit more than others. But it is a misconception that it's just for the wealthy," she said.

We put anna's theory to the test. When you break it down to dollars and cents, organic versus non-organic:
Turkey? Same price.
Cranberries? Same price.
Stuffing? $2 more for organic.
Carrots? $1 more for organic.
Yams? 10 cents more for organic.
Potatoes? Same price.

We found our prices at King Soopers and Whole Foods, but you can check your local grocers for a comparison of your own.

You can feel a little less guilty about indulging-- by eating organic you're doing something good for your body, your family and the environment.

Hanselman added, "You either pay now or later, and if you eat foods that are cheap, and full of chemicals and unhealthy product, in the end you're gonna be unhealthy and who knows what that leads to."

Buying organic helps out Colorado farmers and also landfills! The average american family wastes one-third of what they buy each year.

So take out the tupperware, compost your casseroles, and think reasonably when shopping to help your wallet and your waistline.