Strategies for Reducing Food Waste and Building a Better Sandwich

Strategies for Reducing Food Waste

As the International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste approaches, it is important to revisit the topic of food waste and share some strategies for reducing it. By cutting down on food waste, we can conserve natural resources, reduce carbon emissions, save money, and address a growing global issue.

Tackling Food Scraps

Fruits and vegetables account for a significant portion of food waste. Here are 10 ways to tackle food scraps and use up fruits and vegetables:

1. Build a soup from scratch using vegetable scraps.
2. Cook a pot of zero waste pasta by incorporating roasted vegetables.
3. Make a frittata with leftovers, using whatever ingredients you have on hand.
4. Master the Any Ingredient Fruit Crisp recipe to use up fruits before they go bad.
5. Simmer a kitchen scrap stock using vegetable scraps and other ingredients.
6. Brew a pot of tea using tired herbs and citrus rinds.
7. Build a power bowl using a base of rice, noodles, or whole grains and adding whatever vegetables you have available.
8. Blend a smoothie using a combination of fruits, vegetables, nuts, and milks.
9. Assemble a huge salad using ingredients you already have in the fridge.
10. Build a better sandwich utilizing roasted vegetables, avocado, greens, and herbs.

How to Build a Better Sandwich

When it comes to building a better sandwich, there are a few key elements to consider:

• Crusty Bread: Opt for sturdy, fresh bread like sourdough or homemade bagels.
• Creamy Spread: Choose spreads like tzatziki, Boursin cheese, goat cheese, or hummus.
• Crunchy: Add texture with options like sweet potato chips, beet chips, or crisped bacon.
• Meaty: Incorporate roasted fall vegetables, beets, roasted mushrooms, or poached chicken for a hearty filling.
• Greens: Use crisp greens like romaine, endive, radicchio, or sprouts for freshness.
• Condiments of Choice: Enhance flavor with dijon mustard, mayonnaise, chutney, or other condiments.
• Bonus Ingredients: Consider adding avocado, tomato, peaches, or red onion for extra flavor.

The Ultimate Veggie Sandwich Recipe

Here’s a delicious vegetarian sandwich recipe that incorporates seasonal ingredients and reduces waste:

Ingredients:

• 2 slices hearty, whole-grain bread
• 2 Tablespoons Boursin cheese
• 1/4 cup cooked vegetables (grilled or roasted)
• 1 small cooked portobello mushroom or other mushroom
• Handful of crisp salad greens (radicchio, romaine, etc.)
• 1/2 avocado, sliced
• Pinch of flaky sea salt
• Wedge of fresh lemon
• Handful of crunchy veggie chips (beet, sweet potato, or potato)

Instructions:

1. Spread the Boursin cheese on both slices of bread.
2. Thinly slice the vegetables and mushrooms, and layer them on one side of the bread.
3. Press the salad greens into the Boursin on the other side of the bread, and top with sliced avocado. Season with flaky salt and lemon juice.
4. Add a layer of veggie chips on top of the mushrooms.
5. Join the two sides of the sandwich together and press gently.
6. Use a sharp serrated bread knife to cut the sandwich in half. Serve and enjoy!

By implementing these strategies for reducing food waste and building a better sandwich, you can contribute to the effort of combatting food waste and enjoy delicious, sustainable meals.

Inspiration From Zero Waste Cookbooks

For further inspiration and guidance on reducing food waste, consider adding zero waste themed cookbooks to your collection. Some recommended titles include:

• The Zero Waste Chef ~ Anne Marie Bonneau
• Perfectly Good Food ~ Margaret Li, Irene Li
• Scraps, Wilt & Weeds ~ Mads Refslund, Tama Matsuoka Wong
• Cook More, Waste Less ~ Christine Tizzard

These cookbooks will not only help you make nourishing meals but also contribute to shrinking your grocery bill.

Choose one of the zero waste actions mentioned above and start implementing it this week to make a positive impact on reducing food waste.

Source: Zero Waste Cooking: How to Build a Better Sandwich