Peeled, Poked and Pressed: Upcycling Kitchen Scraps Story by: Meg Grice
It’s no secret that we tend to buy more than we need, whether it comes to the current fashion trends or ingredients in the pantry. Being prepared provides us with a sense of security, no matter the context. Because planning for uncertainty and life’s realities don’t always mix, waste has become a common output in the home. Kitchen scraps do not have to be another piece in the product life cycle, headed straight to the waste bin. With careful planning and recipe inquisitiveness, anyone is capable of reducing excess in the kitchen. Minus what goes on in personal cooking spaces, Feeding America says that around 54 billion pounds of food waste come from home activities each year — nearly the same amount as consumer-driven businesses and manufacturers combined. According to a 2017 study by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, food is the main contributor to landfill volume. With so many consumables going to waste, it’s essential to find ways to mitigate unnecessary excess and alter the way we think about leftovers. Iowa State University Extension and Outreach manages Spend Smart Eat Smart, a website hosting recipes, worksheets, videos, budgets and other tools to ensure responsible decision-making at home.
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