7 Creative Uses for Food Scraps
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s most recent investigation, around 30-40% of the U.S. food supply goes to waste. That’s about 133 billion pounds of food that goes into landfills instead of hungry stomachs. With around 10% of U.S. households reporting food insecurity, these statistics on food waste should be alarming.
The food supply chain can be complicated, with items passing through multiple stages from production to consumption. From the time agricultural products leave the farm gates, there are numerous opportunities for plans to go awry, resulting in contaminated or spoiled food. As individual consumers, it might feel like we don’t have much control over food waste that happens outside the home. And that’s valid - we cannot control whether an industrial freezer malfunctions or if pests get into a food supply. So what can we do as individuals?
My first suggestion is to buy local. We’ve heard it before and we’ll hear it again. Buying local foods is an effective way to support local economies, strengthen communities, and access healthy foods - and it also helps decrease food waste! With less processing and shorter transportation, the local food system is less likely to experience issues which result in food waste. (Not to mention, lower environmental impact and fresher products that retain higher percentages of nutritional value than non-locally sourced foods!)
As much as we love local food, it’s likely that attaining local ingredients isn’t realistic for every meal that we eat. Fear not! Decreasing our personal food waste within the home can be quick and easy. Try these tips:
Grocery shop with intention to avoid overbuying - try planning meals and making a list!
Keep an eye on food in the refrigerator or pantry and if it starts to go bad, stick it in the freezer. Overripe bananas or avocado? Freeze and turn into a smoothie! Bought too many bagels? Freeze some and defrost later! Accidentally doubled your soup recipe? Freezer!
Don’t be afraid to get creative with your food scraps! Check out these fun and creative ways to give common food scraps a second life!
7 Creative Uses for Food Scraps
Compost: Try an at-home compost system or a local compost service! We have many great compost services in Gallatin Valley that pick up compost directly from your home. It’s easy, affordable, and you can feel good about responsibly disposing of your food scraps.
Soup stock: Hold onto those potato peels and carrot tops! Throw those leftover veggie scraps into a container in the freezer. When you’re ready to enjoy some fresh veggie broth, add the scraps to a pot of boiling water, simmer, and drain. It’s that easy!
Add citrus peels to your garden to deter pests: Orange peels especially are known to be a strong pest deterrent. Simply sprinkle them on the ground throughout your garden to help deter unwanted critters.
Banana peel tea: We know bananas are high in nutrients that are good for human bodies. Did you know that banana peels contain nutrients that are good for plants too? Soaking banana peels in water releases nutrients like potassium, calcium, sulfur, and magnesium into the water, making a nourishing “banana tea”. Add the banana tea to the base of your plants, especially potassium-loving plants like tomatoes or peppers, and watch them flourish!
Coffee grounds fertilizer: Used coffee grounds are a rich source of nitrogen. Try adding them to your garden as you would traditional compost. Sprinkle them evenly throughout your garden and gently mix into the top layer of the soil.
Juice pulp: The pulp left behind by juicing is still full of fiber and nutrients. You can repurpose those pulp scraps into new kitchen creations like fruit bars, crackers, soup, or even muffins! Check out this article to learn more and view recipes.
Mix-up your recipes: With a quick Internet search you’ll find unlimited creative ways to cook with ingredients we might often overlook. For example, try whipping up a Carrot Top Pesto or some Sauteed Leek Greens!
There’s no limit when it comes to creatively using your food scraps! Have other suggestions? Leave us a comment, we’d love to hear from you.
Sources:
https://www.usda.gov/foodlossandwaste/why
https://www.fda.gov/food/consumers/food-loss-and-waste
https://www.usda.gov/foodwaste/faqs
https://www.islandernews.com/lifestyle/using-orange-peel-to-deter-pests-an-organic-way-to-regain-control-over-your-garden/article_b7cbcfa8-c23f-11ec-89df-93dcd1ce7a09.html#:~:text=The%20gardener%20recommends%20boiling%20a,them%20away%2C'%20Kevin%20says.
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/composting/ingredients/coffee-grounds-gardening.htm
