This year's inauguration will be historic for so many reasons ... one of which being that the events and celebrations surrounding the inauguration will not be limited to those in the D.C. metro area.  Inaugural events are kicking off all over the country as the Presidential Inaugural Committee urges citizes nationwide to join hands and break bread with their neighbors to watch history in the making.  Are you hosting an inauguration party in your neighborhood this year?  Keep it green with these tips: 

 

Go local: Serve locally grown and produced foods. If you're hosting a potluck inaugural event, challenge your guests to bring a dish that contains locally grown and/or organic ingredients.
 

Go reusable: Use dishes, utensils and napkins that can be washed and reused rather than disposables. If you're hosting the whole neighborhood and dishwashing is not an option, consider purchasing biodegradable plates, cups and utensils that can be tossed in the compost bin.

Show your true colors: Make a statement with your food selections by showing off your patriotic spirit. And no, I don’t mean red or blue. I mean red, white and blue. Try red peppers, apples, strawberries, red grapes, raspberries, red kidney beans, potato salad, white asparagus, cauliflower, cheese, chick peas, navy beans, popcorn, tofu, blueberries and blue corn chips.

 

Dig up your roots: Serve up locally-sourced, organically grown versions of these favorite foods of our past presidents: 

 

George Washington: Crab soup

John Adams: Hard apple cider

Thomas Jefferson: Ice cream

James Madison: Gingerbread

John Tyler: Pudding

Abraham Lincoln: Oysters

Ulysses Grant: Cucumbers soaked in vinegar

Woodrow Wilson: Chicken salad

Franklin D. Roosevelt: Fruitcake

Dwight Eisenhower: Prune whip

Lyndon Johnson: Chili

Ronald Reagan: Jelly Beans

George W. Bush: Fruit salad