Showing posts with label Leftovers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Leftovers. Show all posts

Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Myth: Using coupons is the only way to save money on food.

Answer: BUSTED!

The average household throws out 470 pounds of food every year. According to a recent survey, 39% of Americans feel guilty about wasting food (read more at http://supermarketnews.com/consumer-trends/americans-guilty-about-food-waste-survey). This food waste costs a family of four about $600 each year. Think you and your family can use $600 this year? Here are some tips to help you cut down on your food waste:
  1. Use as much of your vegetables as you can! Do you only put cauliflower florets in your stew or stir-fry? Stews or soups don’t rely on the perfect appearance of your ingredients so try to use as much of the vegetable as you can. The liquid in stews and soups help to soften the tougher part of veggies.
  2. Use leftovers! Do you have leftover veggies or chicken strips? They go great on salads. Have some leftover chickpeas from that recipe you prepared the other day? Add them to canned soup for some extra fiber. Get creative!
  3. Get familiar with proper storage. Knowing where to store foods (refrigerator, cupboard or freezer) and how long they will keep will help you make the best use of the food you have on hand.
Visit MissouriFamilies.org to find more information on conserving food & saving money.

Contributor: Ellen Schuster, M.S., R.D., Associate State Specialist, University of Missouri Extension, schusterer@missouri.edu, 573-882-1933

Friday, November 25, 2011

Myth: There are no new ways to use holiday leftovers.

Thanksgiving foods
Answer: BUSTED!

Consider these ideas for healthy and creative ways to use your holiday food leftovers.

  • Leftover turkey got you down? Make turkey salad – OK, not just any turkey salad. Add diced pears to the mix. Pears add a nice sweetness to the salad. Or try adding ground curry seasoning to the salad for a curry turkey salad. You can also make wraps with turkey. And if you’re making a batch of chili for your next football-viewing event, use turkey in the chili. If you have leftover pieces of sweet potato, add those to the chili too! Making a vegetable stir-fry? Add some turkey pieces for a different flavor. You can also freeze leftover turkey in small portions to use later.

  • Got some extra cranberry sauce and you don’t know what to do with it? Use it as a sandwich spread for a nice ‘kick’ to an everyday sandwich. Baking butternut squash in the oven? Top with cranberry sauce for a different flavor sensation.

  • Lots of leftover veggies like green beans? No problem! Add them to soups - make your own or add to a healthy canned soup to make it even better for you. Add leftover veggies to stews or salads. And, as mentioned above, try adding sweet potato or other leftover veggies to chili.

MU Extension publication Storing foods at home has guidelines on safely storing a variety of foods in the cupboard, refrigerator and freezer.

Contributor: Ellen Schuster, M.S., R.D., Associate State Specialist, University of Missouri Extension, schusterer@missouri.edu, 573-882-1933