Fight climate change by preventing food wasteFood Waste

Fight Climate Change by Preventing Food Waste

Today, an estimated one-third of all the food produced worldwide goes to waste. That’s equal to about 1.3 billion tons of fruits, vegetables, meat, dairy, seafood, and grains that either never leave the farm, get lost or spoiled during distribution, or are thrown away in hotels, grocery stores, restaurants, schools, or home kitchens. It could be enough calories to feed every undernourished person on the planet. (WWF)

But it isn’t just about wasted food. Food Waste causes climate change and since 43% of most of the edible food that is thrown into our landfills in the United States is from individual households….this is a problem that we can solve, together.

Food Waste = Climate Change

When we take that wilted lettuce or mushy strawberries out of the refrigerator and toss them into the trash, we are also throwing away all the energy and water it takes to grow, harvest, transport, and package that food. Why? Well, when we toss that into the trash it ends up in a landfill and rots. That is what produces methane—a greenhouse gas even more potent than carbon dioxide.

About 6%-8% of all human-caused greenhouse gas emissions could be reduced if we stop wasting food. In the US alone, the production of lost or wasted food generates the equivalent of 32.6 million cars’ worth of greenhouse gas emissions. (WWF)

How Can A Recipe Help?

Meatless Monday was originally started to get people to stop eating so much meat. At Food Finders, we just want you to think about how to better use the food you purchase and since produce is the most common food type to get thrown out–we wanted to offer you a solution to preparing and planning meals, but also to use all the food in the fridge, even when it looks a bit mushy and strange.

Strawberries should not be washed until you eat them. But if you let them sit just a bit too long, they can still be chopped up and mixed with other foods for a delicious and nutritious meal. Today we want you to pull out those strawberries and make a meal out of them. Make it your responsibility to monitor the fridge contents and find ways to use everything–saving water, energy, and our beautiful planet!

Strawberry walnut salad in a bowl.

Try This Refreshing Strawberry Walnut Salad!

Strawberries, even when mushy, add a flavor and fragrance to a salad that makes it seem like a treat. Today our plant-based meal is also high in fiber, which makes it so filling for a lighter choice. Plus, for every strawberry you can save and eat, you will know that you are doing your part to prevent food waste.

Major Health Benefits

Nutrition is one of Food Finder’s important mission goals. When we feed people food, they nourish their bodies and minds. This delicious salad is filled with many health benefits. First, you have the base… baby spinach. As simple as it sounds, spinach can also be very nutritious as it is a good source of both vitamin A and vitamin C–and it is another food that often gets thrown out because it is left too long. Now you have your strawberries. Not only are they the perfect summer fruit to cool down with, but strawberries can also even help with inflammation. Lastly, you want to add a bit of crunch by adding walnuts. This Omega-3 plant source is much needed as it helps to boost your immune system and decrease the chance of heart disease. Mixing this all up you are preventing food waste, nourishing your body, and enjoying a delicious meal that will hopefully inspire many more!

Ingredient List

For the Salad:

  • 10 oz bag baby spinach
  • 1⁄3 cup of feta cheese
  • 1 lb strawberries, sliced
  • ¼ cup of walnuts, chopped
  • 1 red onion, sliced

For the Dressing:

  • 2 tbsp. olive oil
  • 1 ½ tbsp. white wine vinegar
  • ½ lemon, juiced
  • 1 ½ tbsp. of honey
  • ¼ tsp. salt
  • 1 ½ tsp. Dijon mustard
  •  ⅛  tsp. garlic powder

NOTE: This meal can be made in 15 minutes or less!

Directions

  1. In a large bowl, fill with your baby spinach and other salad toppings. We suggest putting all your toppings in a separate bowl (away from the salad) and shake it to get a nice mix of everything. Then you can add it along with the dressing.
  2. Next you will need to make the dressing for your salad. Whisk all your ingredients together in a small bowl or reusable container.
  3. You can now pour your dressing on your salad to your own liking. If you’d like, you can also add a dash of pepper as a finishing touch.
  4. And that’s it! Time to enjoy your meal.

If you have a recipe you would like to share with us for #meatlessmondays, please email us! Feel free to check out our other #meatlessmonday recipes on our blog if you haven’t already.

Make a Choice

What we do is bigger than food rescue blog

In addition to planning your meals and keeping food from ever going to the landfill, you can also make an impact on reducing food waste and hunger by helping us grow our food rescue operations: Donate

Or Volunteer

#StopFoodWaste

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cauliflower taco headerNutrition

Meatless Monday: Enjoy Cauliflower Tacos!

Spice up your summer with our #MeatlessMonday pick for this week…Cauliflower tacos! This meal is a great way to include a vegetable substitute instead of your usual fish taco. Plus, cauliflower is packed with Vitamin C, making it a healthy alternative!

plated cauliflower tacos
Cauliflower tacos plated, Delish

Ingredient List

For the Slaw:

  • 1 cup of red cabbage (thinly sliced)
  • 1/2 cup of diced red onion
  • 1 jalapeño (minced)
  • 1 clove of garlic (minced)
  • 1 lime (juiced)
  • 2 tbsp. of apple cider vinegar
  • Dash of salt

For the Cauliflower Taco:

  • 1 1/2 cup of all-purpose flour
  • 1 tsp. of chili powder
  • 1 tsp. of cumin
  • 1/2 tsp. of garlic powder
  • 1/2 tsp. Cayenne pepper
  • Dash of black pepper and salt
  • 1 1/2 cup of almond milk
  • 1 1/2 cup of panko bread crumbs
  • 1 medium head cauliflower, cut into bite-size pieces (also known as florets)
  • 2-3 corn tortillas

PRO TIP: Using an air fryer is the best way to get your cauliflower to be the right amount of crispy! You can also garnish your tacos with yummy toppings like cilantro, lime, avocado, sriracha, and spicy mayo.

Cooking Directions:

  1. First, combine all the ingredients for your saw in a medium-sized bowl. You will need to let them sit while prepping the other ingredients for your tacos.
  2. You will need to mix the flour and spices next. Use a dash of salt and pepper to add some seasoning. Add in the almond milk and stir to combine. You want the mixture to be thick, but it should also be easy to dip the cauliflower into. (If needed, add more milk to secure texture.)
  3. Then place Panko breadcrumbs in a small bowl. These will be used to add that crisp texture to your cauliflower. Dip the chopped cauliflower (or florets) into the milk mixture and toss it into Panko breadcrumbs. It should be coated nicely so it will fry the entire vegetable.
  4. In batches, place coated cauliflower into an air fryer basket and spray with a cooking spray. Cook at 400° for 15 minutes, and check on them. About halfway through, you should flip and spray once more with cooking spray. (Note: If you use a convection oven, you will need to cook at a higher temperature and for longer. We recommend 425° for 20 minutes.)
  5. Now you can add toppings if you like! For maximum flavor, you can combine mayonnaise and Sriracha (and maybe a hint of maple syrup) into a small bowl.
  6. Time to assemble and enjoy! On a tortilla, place cooked cauliflower, avocado (optional), pickled slaw, and cilantro. You can top it with the Sriracha mayo and serve it with lime wedges for an added touch.

Makinze Gore Food Editor Makinze is currently Food Editor for Delish. (2021, November 1). You would never believe these Air Fryer cauliflower tacos are vegan. Delish. Retrieved August 4, 2022, from https://www.delish.com/cooking/recipe-ideas/a35787681/air-fryer-cauliflower-tacos-recipe/

If you have a recipe you would like to share with us for #meatlessmondays; please email us! Feel free to check out our other #meatlessmonday recipes on our blog if you haven’t already.

You can also make an impact in reducing food waste and hunger by helping us grow our food rescue operations: Donate.

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Food Waste

Make This Delicious Candied Orange Peel Recipe

#WhyWasteFoodWednesday

Can We Reuse Leftover Orange Peels?

Most of us have probably eaten an orange for a quick snack and thrown away the peel without giving it much thought. But, this action contributes to a bigger problem… our growing landfill epidemic. Fun fact: A shocking 3.8 million tons of orange peels go to waste each year! That’s a huge amount of fruit peels making it to our landfills annually. So, how can we help? Try reusing your leftover citrus peels to make a fun snack! This #WhyWasteWednesday, check out our delicious candied orange peel recipe.

unpeeled orange with peels left to be discarded
Unpeeled naval orange with peels left to be discarded.
candied orange peels
Candied Orange Peels

Candied Orange Peel Ingredients

  • 1 large naval orange
  • ¾ cup of sugar
  • ½ cup of water
  • ½ cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

Source: Food Network

THE STEP BY STEP RECIPE:

Step 1: Prep the orange peels.

Cut orange peels.

For this recipe, you will need to first cut your orange peels strategically to make the most of the fruit scraps. Make about ¾ –1 inch cuts from the orange part of the peel to the green stem. You will need to continue doing so until the peel is completely used. While it might make things easier to use a vegetable peeler, you can also do so by just eye balling it!

Step 2: Boil water and add your peels.

Next, bring half a cup of water to a boil in a saucepan. Once the water is boiled, add in the orange peels you’ve just cut! You will want to cook them for about 1 minute. (Try not to go over this time or else they will be too hard.) After doing so, drain water used and run cold water over the peels. Quick Tip: Repeat this step with fresh water for maximum flavor!

Person boiling water over a stove.

Step 3: Stir sugar and simmer over medium heat.

Woman pouring sugar.

Now it’s time to add the sugar! Stir in the amount needed and wait for it to dissolve. For this step, you will need to put another half cup of water into the saucepan. Make sure to stir until there are no remaining traces of sugar left in the pan. Simmer peels for about 15 minutes or until tender.

Step 4: Transfer to baking sheet and leave to cool.

Candied orange peels left to dry

Make sure to line a pan with parchment paper to place your peels on. You will want to use tongs (or a fork will do the trick) to transfer your peels to parchment paper. After doing so, leave to dry for about 1 hour.

Step 5: Melt chocolate and drizzle on peels.

Melted chocolate in bowl.

Lastly, add the finishing touch…chocolate! You will need melted chocolate for this next portion. Put chocolate chips in a microwave-safe bowl and warm them for about 30 seconds. Then, you can drizzle the chocolate on your orange peels! You will need to leave them on the parchment paper to set, which should take about 15 minutes in the refrigerator.

Hope you enjoyed this recipe! Be sure to let us know how your candied orange peels came out.

If you have any other repurposed recipes, please send them to us at marketing@foodfinders.org !

Make an impact on reducing food waste and eliminating hunger by donating food to our Summer to End Hunger Food Drive.

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Food Waste

Simple Avocado Smoothie Recipe

#WhyWasteFoodWednesday

What Can We Do With Overripe Avocados?

It’s summer time and this hot weather is not very kind to our avocados. If you have some avocados just sitting on the counter, they will get mushy! While it might be tempting to throw them away, we challenge you to reconsider. So much of our produce ends up in our landfills when it could have been repurposed into something else instead. This Wednesday, we are sharing a simple avocado smoothie recipe that you can make in 3 easy steps!

Fresh Avocados
Fresh avocados on cutting board.

Avocado Smoothie Ingredients

💚 1-2 overripe avocado(s)

💚 1 ¼ cup of whole milk

💚 1 tablespoon of sugar

💚 1 ½ tablespoons of lime juice

💚 1 tablespoon of chopped basil

Source: Bonappetit

Step 1: Scoop out edible avocado bits!

It’s important to know what state your avocados are in first! Cut them in half and check the inside of your avocado. If the inside appears to be turning brown, please know that it is still safe to be eat. Fun fact! The change in color is usually a sign of a chemical reaction happening and not of a spoiled avocado. Use a spoon to scoop out your avocado bits and put aside for the base of your smoothie.

NOTE: If there appears to be mold, remove by cutting off molded portions (if it can be salvaged). Avocados that are rancid smelling will be harmful to your body, so dispose immediately.

Stale avocado that is turning brown in color.

Step 2: Mix in key smoothie ingredients and lightly purée.

Blender with avocado bits and smoothie ingredients inside.

Now that you have a solid avocado to work with, you’ll want to gather all the ingredients needed to make a delicious smoothie!

This list includes: lime juice, chopped basil, sugar, and whole milk — plus avocados of course! Add a cup of ice and blend until smooth.

Step 3: Time to garnish and serve!

Healthy avocado smoothie

After the purée is finished, it is now time to garnish and serve!

We recommend chilling the glasses ahead of time as it makes the drink taste much cooler. This will be just perfect on a hot summer day! Now pour your smoothie into a glass and accent with basil as a finishing touch.

And that’s it, yay! You’ve just made a delicious smoothie in 3 simple steps!!

If you have any other repurposed recipes, please send them to us at marketing@foodfinders.org !

Make an impact on reducing food waste and eliminating hunger by donating food to our Summer to End Hunger Food Drive.

READ MORE