According to data from the Akatu Institute, Brazil is the fourth largest food producer in the world. The sad news is that one third of the food produced is thrown away. Every day 39,000 tons of food are destined for the trash, enough to feed about 19 million Brazilians with the three main daily meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner).
Thinking about avoiding waste, it is necessary to look for alternatives for the reuse of leftover food. To help you with this task, nutrition student Yolanda Lopes da Silva has prepared 10 clever ways for you to reuse food scraps. The cool thing is that with reuse you can save up to 20% of your monthly budget:
- Tomato: Do you know the tomato tips that you take out and throw away? If beats with a little water and tomato extract you have a nice sauce. For this you need to sanitize the tomatoes well before cutting, removing the tips, storing in a bag and freezing. To use it is not necessary to defrost, just hit the blender;
- Rice: Leftover rice can become a dumpling, rice lasagna, baked rice or risotto;
- Bean: Leftover beans? How about making a delicious Tutu? Other options are: Tropeiro Beans and Bean Soup;
- Chicken: Can be shredded and reused in pies, pizza, risotto;
- Milk: Carved milk can yield a delicious dulce de leche;
- Crusty Bread: You can beat it in a blender and prepare a breadcrumbs. Bread toasts and dumplings are delicious too!
- Meat and Eggs: Fresh crumbs can be prepared with leftover meat and eggs;
- Shells: The peel of melon, watermelon, pineapple, jabuticaba, banana and orange can turn into a delicious jam. Check out a recipe at the end of the article;
- Seeds: Fruit and vegetable seeds can also be reused. By crushing them in a blender and mixing them with flaxseed it is possible to make a crumb rich in fiber, vitamins and minerals. Another option is to toast them in the oven and use them as quick, nutritious and healthy snacks during the day;
- Composting: Another thing you can do with shells, seeds, coffee grounds, and egg teas and shells is composting, an eco-friendly and totally economical organic fertilizer manufacturing technique.
In addition to reuse, an important tip is that you cook and serve only with the necessary amount to consume avoiding the remains of the dish end up in the trash. And always try to eat at dinner or the other day what is left in the meal pans.
At the time of shopping you also need to be careful. Purchase only the amount needed for consumption to prevent food from spoiling in the refrigerator or pantry. Check the expiration date of each product so as not to buy a large amount of a food that is about to expire.
Check out some recipes to put the reuse tips to work now:
Melon rind jelly
Ingredients:
- Peel of a medium melon
- 1 cinnamon chopstick
- 2 carnations
- Sugar
- Water
Preparation: Wash and cut the melon rind (yellow and white) into pieces and cook them with enough water to completely cover the rind pieces. Cook until the white part crumbles. Strain into a clean, thin cloth, squeezing well to remove all juice. For each glass of juice obtained, add one glass of sugar. Add the cinnamon and the cloves and bring to the boil again until it reaches the desired point.
Functional seed crumbs
- 200g flaxseed
- 200g sesame
- 200g of sunflower
- 200g of oats
- 200g of watermelon seed
- 200g pumpkin seed
(shred in blender)
Mix all ingredients already ground in a blender with 300 gr of hazelnuts or chopped walnuts. Store in the refrigerator in a dark container with a lid.
If you have any more interesting tips to share with us write in the comments!
Get Smart With Your Scraps! | Food and Trash Recycling Hacks by Blossom (April 2024)
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