With over 12,901 tonnes of perfectly good leftovers ending up in bins every year, Love Food Hate Waste NZ is encouraging families to embrace leftovers to reduce food waste and save money.
The organisation fighting household food waste estimates that households throw away an average of $1,500 per year in uneaten food.
In a bid to help reduce the financial and environmental impact of food waste, they’re asking Kiwis to become “Leftover Legends” and have pulled together a few recipe ideas to help get you started.
Breakfast
Unsure what to do with the end of your cereal packet or languishing oats? Try turning them into a delicious breakfast granola.
Pulling together half packets of cornflakes, oats, raisins and nuts is a great way to make an entirely new cereal while giving your cupboards a good clean out! There are tons of easy recipes to follow online if you want to batch-cook or experiment yourself!
Adding a compote on top by using up bruised or uneaten apples from the school lunch box is another easy way to spice up your breakfast routine!
For parents who are sick of half-eaten bowls of cereal and fruit in the morning, a top tip is to save it in the fridge then combine with frozen berries to make after-school smoothies at the end of the day!
Main Dish
One of the easiest ways to use up last night’s chicken or vegetables is to make a frittata. It has a special place in embracing all sorts of leftovers of ingredients that need to be used up before they go off. From cheese and sour cream to potatoes and herbs, anything can go into making a versatile and easy frittata.
Try giving this Chicken & Vegetable Frittata recipe (available below) a crack the next time you need inspiration for your languishing leftovers
Snacks
Air fryers are all the rage, if you’re lucky enough to have one in your kitchen it can be a great way to turn leftover vegetables into delicious, healthy snacks for the entire family.
A go-to favourite for the Love Food Hate Waste team is Cauliflower Bites. Simply cut a head of cauliflower into small pieces, toss with olive oil salt and pepper and place in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Cook at 200 degrees Celsius for 15 – 20 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through. Serve with chipotle yoghurt for an extra little zing!
By embracing leftovers, and with a little bit of creativity in the kitchen we can all save money and food from the bin.
Discover more recipes for your leftovers at www.lovefoodhatewaste.co.nz/leftoverlegends
Chicken and Vegetable Frittata
Ingredients:
- 1 cup leftover roast chicken, shredded
- 1 cup leftover vegetables (e.g., wilted spinach, roasted carrots, potatoes etc.)
- 6 eggs
- 1/2 cup milk
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1/2 cup grated cheese
Instructions:
- Preheat your oven to 180°C.
- In a bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, salt, and pepper.
- Add the shredded chicken, vegetables, and half of the cheese to the egg mixture.
- Pour the mixture into a greased ovenproof dish.
- Sprinkle the remaining cheese on top.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes or until the frittata is set and golden brown on top.
- Serve warm with a side salad.
