5 Easy Ways to Use Leftover Food Scraps During the Holidays

We’re so excited to partner with the International Food Information Council for this blog post. Check out all their tips below for a waste-free Thanksgiving!

The following article was written by Alyssa Pike, RD, Senior Manager, Nutrition Communications, International Food Information Council.

Food waste is a global issue, with estimations that 30-40% of all food goes unsold or uneaten. While reducing food waste is a shared responsibility, how can we, as everyday consumers, help? It turns out that many of us believe that our own individual choices can make a difference. Our latest Food and Health Survey found that 42% of consumers believe their individual food and beverage choices have a moderate or significant impact on the environment. 

One practical way we can begin to decrease individual household waste is by getting savvy on how to reuse leftover food items and scraps instead of immediately tossing them in the trash. Let’s look at how to utilize a few common food scraps or leftovers, especially after Thanksgiving. 

Vegetable peels and stems 

Don’t toss those vegetable stems! Instead, make them into dip, hummus or sauce for a delicious and healthy appetizer.

Alternatively, they can be blended into to a soup or tossed into a stir-fry.

Not into using them right away? Create a “veggie peels” freezer bag and throw your leftover vegetable peels in after each meal. Once your bag is full, make a homemade vegetable broth. 

Citrus peels

Citrus peels are often discarded, but they don’t have to be! These peels can be candied, used as a drink garnish, or added to infused water, which can be the perfect touch to your holiday gathering!

Here’s a tip that will make baking and breakfast a breeze: Zest your peels before using the citrus and place the zest in the freezer to be used later in baked goods or sprinkled on yogurt or oatmeal. 

 Leftover bones

Leftover turkey (or poultry or beef!) bones can be used to make a delicious soup. Simply allow the turkey carcass to cook for at least eight hours, then add your veggies – celery, onions and carrots are perfect for a hearty broth. Throw in egg noodles and you’re golden.

Just be careful to remove the bones before eating! Store the noodles separate from the rest of the soup to prevent them from getting too soggy. 

When in doubt, compost 

When leftover scraps or peels can’t be further utilized, composting is the next best thing. Composting is the natural process of recycling organic matter, including food scraps, into a fertilizer that can enrich soil and plants.

Scraps that are ideal for composting include leafy greens, carrots, citrus peels, onion skins, ground coffee, nuts, and egg shells. Just be sure to clean the shells with cold tap water to rinse away any lingering egg.

Leafy bits of greens 

Thought to be one of the most wasted food items, leafy greens don’t have to fill our trash bins. They can be used as a garnish to top food dishes like tacos, soups and rice bowls or thrown into a smoothie or stir-fry mix!

For greens that already have salad dressing on them, try tossing it in with a chicken (or turkey) salad sandwich or veggie skewers.

To learn more about consumer attitudes and perceptions about food waste, check out this consumer research.