Okay, it’s not quite the lyrics to Deck the Halls, but Christmas does seem to promote largesse in more ways than one. Not only do we go overboard with the credit cards, we seem to think it’s a given that we must dish up more food than nubile nymphs at a Roman feast.

Have a ball: There's no need to go overboard at Christmas. Picture: C.P. Storm

When will we learn that excess does not mean success? In the spirit of giving, here are five ways to get through the silly season without blowing the waistline, the budget or the planet.

Choose quality, not quantity. No, you don’t have to turn into Uncle Scrooge and count the number of peas. Just think about the type of food you’re preparing and buy the best quality, most ethically produced you can afford. This might mean one organic turkey instead of three different types of meat. Better to have one truly fabulous offering than several inferior choices, and you’ll have the satisfaction of knowing the meat you serve your guests came from a bird that lived a good life. 

Stick with the season. If you’re heading for a white Christmas, chances are much of what you might like to serve is no longer in season. Those “fresh” items that are on the shelves will invariably be imported and of inferior quality, not to mention more expensive. Don’t be afraid to reach for good quality organic staples such as tinned tomatoes, canned peaches to create a bit of winter magic. 

Share the load. Ask your guests to bring a dish. Christmas is supposed to be about getting together and sharing; this should extend to the food you prepare. Why should one person have to slave over the stove all season long – divvy up the menu and you can all eat, drink and be merry.

Buy what you need. Work out the guest list and plan wisely. Again, this doesn’t mean undercatering. Just don’t over-cater to the extent that you’re eating leftover ham and turkey sandwiches for the next fortnight. Don’t fall for super size everything that is so prevalent this time of year. If you don’t normally eat shortbread you’re not suddenly going to consume two tins of the stuff because it’s on special at Christmas (and, no, your mother-in-law doesn’t want the extra tin, either).

Be creative. If you do end up with leftovers, don’t resign yourself to said sandwiches. There are plenty of great recipes out there, with the world’s kitchens at your fingertips. Turn today’s roast into tomorrow’s salad, omelette or risotto. We love this quick and easy turkey pilaf.

And while we’re on the waste not, want not theme, here are few other last-minute gift ideas for those who really don’t need another “thing” in their lives (come on, do you really?):

Pass it on
Buy your mother a goat, your sister a mosquito net and your husband an immunisation kit. Okay, they might not need them, but the person in the Third World country you have bought for on their behalf most definitely does. Or give closer to home and donate to a local charity or aid group on a loved one’s behalf. 

Green presents
Offset your brother’s car trips, or your parents’  electricity usage, or even this year’s trip home to see the folks by buying carbon credits. Plant a tree on a loved one’s behalf. Or give to those who fight to keep the planet green, such as Environmental Working Group, Grist or Soil Association. Every little bit helps.

Merry Christmas, and all the best for a safe and happy 2009.

Whether driven by fears about global warming or general concern for their health and wellbeing, Americans are voting for a cleaner, greener way of eating and drinking with their hard-earned dollars and, according to research firm Packaged Facts, they will continue to do so in greater numbers.

The demand for organic and natural products has seen the industry move beyond the grass-roots reaction to an increasingly commodified food market to a multi-billion-dollar industry that is proving every bit as attractive for heavy-hitting corporates.

The report (not so snappily named Natural and Organic Food and Beverage Trends in the U.S.: Current and Future Patterns in Production Marketing, Retailing, and Consumer Usage, 2nd Edition) details the rise and rise of the industry and forecasts continued good times ahead, with double digit growth for at least another five years.

But not everyone is enjoying the boom times. There have been plenty of failures amid the myriad success stories of organic produce, with the report’s authors maintaining that innovation and integrity are integral to cutting it with savvy green consumers. Even the big boys, with their huge marketing budgets, have lost some big bucks venturing into the market, with Packaged Facts citing Nabisco and Kellogg’s among the victims. If you really want the organic, or green, dollar, it seems you need to show you share the green values.

In the UK, however, it’s not company values – perceived or otherwise – that are hitting the organic food and beverage market, but folk tightening the proverbial belts. Market research company TNS has watched organic sales rise tenfold in the past 10 years, but the latest figures tell a different story.

Sales fell by nearly a fifth in August from a peak in February this year, with the sharpest decline recorded in eggs, which is down 18 percent on the same period last year. According to a report in The Guardian newspaper, shoppers are still buying more ethical alternatives, but it’s free range rather than the more expensive organic. Noble Foods, the UK’s biggest egg marketer, has reportedly converted some of its organic farms back to conventional farming and advised other producers to do the same if they want to stay in business.

The Guardian says there are also signs that conversions to organic production are slowing.