7 Creative Ways Re-purpose Leftovers
Do you find yourself purchasing more food than you can eat? Or, finding that your produce goes bad before you have a chance to cook it? According to the National Resources Defense Council, it’s estimated that up to 40% of food grown, processed and transported in the U.S. will never be eaten. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, roughly 70 billion pounds of food is lost in the United States each year. Almost one-third of that food waste happens because we purchase, cook or serve more than we consume. A good way to decrease food waste in your own home is to start with a meal plan and then re-purpose your leftovers. Meal planning can decrease food costs and food waste by helping you create a meal calendar and grocery list ahead of time so you purchase only what you need for a week’s worth of meals. But, as we all know, sometimes life gets in the way and our planning may not always go as planned. If you find yourself peering into your fridge and seeing food on the brink of expiring, here are seven creative ways to re-purpose your leftovers. *Reminder, food stored in an airtight container and refrigerated can stay good up to 7 days.
1. Turn leftovers into soups or bowls
The great thing about soups and bowls (think Buddha Bowls) is that you don’t need a recipe. Just dump what you have left and that’s it! Leftover pasta, rice, meat and/or vegetables can be combined on the stove with low sodium broth or vegetable juice to create a super easy soup. Likewise, you can create a colorful bowl with your leftover rice, slaw, meat or beans and a drizzle of your favorite dressing, or oil.
2. Croutons, French toast, breadcrumbs
Bread going bad? Turn it into croutons or breadcrumbs to be used later. Tear your bread into bite size pieces, place it on a baking sheet and bake in oven at a low heat until it’s dried out and crispy. Store your croutons or breadcrumbs in an airtight container and use them later for salad toppings, meatloaf or coating for chicken tenders. Another tasty way to use up your almost stale bread is to make French toast and top it with any berries or fruit you want to use up.
3. Stir Fry
The thing with stir fry is anything goes! And stir fry is a super quick meal. Add any of the vegetables you have on hand that you know you may not be able to use up later. Keep it vegetarian or add in leftover chicken, beef, shrimp or pork. Toss in a little low sodium soy sauce or teriyaki sauce and you’ve got a meal in minutes.
4. Quesadillas
Quesadillas are another versatile meal where you can get creative with leftovers. Tired of re-eating the huge pot roast you made earlier in the week? Shred the beef and put it in a quesadilla with cheese and broccoli. Quesadillas don’t always have to be Tex-Mex; you can fill yours with anything you want.
5. Smoothies
Similar to a stir fry and quesadilla, smoothies have endless possibilities. Add in fruit, yogurt, milk, greens, beets, whatever you want. Toss your ingredient in a blender and you’ve got a nutritious snack or meal in seconds. Smoothies are also a great way to take your food on the go on busier days.
6. Egg Dishes
Egg scrambles or frittatas may not be the first thing that comes to mind when thinking about meals, but they are a perfect way to use up your ingredients. A frittata is like a quiche without a crust. You can add in whatever leftovers you have on hand, beef, chicken, cooked vegetables and more. Frittatas are a fun brunch meal perfect for a lazy Saturday or Sunday. If you want something even faster, just add your leftovers to an egg scramble. Breakfast for dinner is always a big hit at my house and this is a great way to use up produce, eggs and cheese.
7. Sauces
Creating sauces from your tomatoes, carrots or greens that are going bad helps extend the life of the veggies and also gives you an easy prep ingredient for later in the week. Use your tomatoes for marinara or salsa or your spinach for an alternative pesto. Store it in an airtight container and pop it in the fridge for later.
Do you have a favorite way to use leftovers? Let us know in the comments below!
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