what do i do with...

a zero waste guide

FOOD

homes contribute about 40-50% of all food waste that occurs, so reducing your own food waste is a great way to make an impact. here are some ideas

• carbs
• - Bagels: Bagel chips (slice into thin slices, brush with butter or olive oil, sprinkle with sweet or savory spices, bake till crispy)
• - Hot dog/ hamburger buns: garlic bread!! or any-old-bread chips/croutons
• - If you cut bread into cubes and bake them till toasted, that’s croutons. If you slice it and bake it till crispy that’s crostini. If you roll it flat, cut it into cracker shapes and bake it till crisp, that’s crackers. And if the moon hits your eye like a big pizza pie, that’s amore.
• - Tortillas: tortilla chips (duh)
• - Rice: Any Idiot Can Make Fried Rice
• Vegetables + Fruit
• - Cabbage: Baake miso
• - Herbs: zero waste dressing: blend any creamy substance (mayo, creme fraiche, cream cheese, sour cream, nonsweet yogurt, tofu) with something to loosen (milk, almond milk, cream, water). Add sharpness (vinegar, pickle brine, lemon/lime juice) and FLAVOR (old herbs, old cheese, olives, tahini, anchovy, garlic). Blend till smooth and add salt and pepper to taste.
• - Any fruit on the brink of overripeness can go into vodka to infuse (devil on your shoulder) or be made into popsicles (angel on your shoulder)
• - Most old and pathetic vegetables can be quickled (quick pickled). Cut them into your desired shape and top with a hot brine of vinegar and seasonings; let cool in the fridge.
• - Dairy
• - Milk on the brink can be turned into ricotta by adding an acid.
• - Ricotta: Don’t knock it till you try it ricotta and kimchi sandwich. Spread ricotta on one slice of pretty good bread. Top with kimchi and another slice of bread. Enjoy. My partner swears by this.
• Meat
• - Ribs: Rib sugo: slow-cook ribs with canned tomatoes (garlic, onions, mushrooms optional but recommended) until thick and flavorful.

I also greatly recommend the book "the everlasting meal cookbook" by tamar adler-- but she doesn't cover everything, so these are some of my own ideas for repurposing food products. However, her french fry mashed potato recipe did change my life.

but food waste isn't the only place food waste occurs, so here are some ideas for repurposing other items in your life

- old and stained clothing that wouldn’t be suitable for donation can be cut into strips, which can be braided into a rag rug. also, don’t forget to cut the buttons off of any waste clothing— you can still use those!