Hi Friend!

Did you know the average American household wastes up to 40% of the food they buy?!

That is a lot of waste, a lot of money, and a lot of resources that could have been better utilized.

In an effort to help you minimize waste, I wanted to share with you the weird and everyday ways I reuse food in order to prevent food waste.

Easy Ways to Use Random Leftovers

• Leftover Cabbage? Add it to a stir-fry, or drizzle with lime juice and salt and use it to top fish or beef tacos.
• Wilted Veggies? Use them (or freeze to use later) to make chicken stock or veggie broth.
• Ugly Grape or Cherry Tomatoes? Turn them into a restaurant-worthy dish with my white bean and tomato pasta.
• Kale or Spinach Past its Prime? Toss salad greens (like spinach or kale) that are starting to get a bit slimy into Slow Cooker or Instant Pot minestrone or use them to make a tropical kale smoothie.
• Brown Bananas? Of course they are delicious in banana bread or banana bread muffins, but what about a pina colada smoothie?
• Don't Toss Broccoli Stems. Instead, grate them to use for the filling of potstickers or egg rolls or add to fried rice.
• Too Many Baked Potatoes? Dice them up for a frittata or cut them into wedges and bread them for seasoned potato wedges or toss with oil to make quick oven fries.
• Leftover Chili or Sloppy Joes? Make a quick tamale pie by spreading out the leftovers into a 2 quart pan and then top with cornbread mixture and bake. OR serve over rice with your favorite taco toppings for a new and filling meal.
• Random Grains and Meat? Combine rice or quinoa with leftover shredded chicken, pork, or beef with taco seasoning and salsa and you have the filing for burritos. Enjoy immediately, or flash freeze for a quick and easy lunch there when you need it.
• Don't Toss Near Empty Jars. Use your peanut butter jar to mix overnight oats (with added pb flavor for the win!). Use a bottle of almost empty Dijon to mix up Balsamic dressing.

Nothing fancy, just a few simple things I do to help utilize what I have and cut back on food waste. I hope it helps you save money yourself.