Waste Not! Want Not!

Dear “Rejuvenatedlifebyashe” family, I hope you are all doing well. 

“If you have health, you will probably be happy, and if you have health and happiness, you have the wealth you need, even if it is not all you want.” Elbert Hubbard

Kitchen bins tend to fill up the fastest in homes. Kitchen is a place that generates a lot of waste, from excess packaging from shoppings to food scraps from prepping to leftovers forgotten to wilted herbs and vegetables to freezer burnt food etc etc etc. Today’s post is not about making the world greener but getting possible health benefits from foods that may be considered waste but in fact have a lot of nutritional value.

Very often, people remove the skin of fruits, vegetables and chicken. Meanwhile, there are so many nutrients located in the outer layers. In fact, most fruits and vegetables have the best of their nutrients in their skin and layers under the skin.

For instance, chicken skin is packed with Vitamins A and B, protein, healthy fats and selenium, which combats inflammation in the body. 

Apple skins contain a large amount of fibre, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. 

Orange skin has vitamin A, folate, riboflavin, thiamine, Vitamin B6 and calcium. It’s rich in polyphenols which may prevent or manage many chronic illnesses.

The outer layers of potatoes, carrots, cucumbers, mangoes, kiwi, eggplants are edible and nutritious.

Fruits and vegetables that would otherwise be discarded can be blended into smoothies e.g. overripe bananas, chopped broccoli stalks, wilted herbs, fruits and vegetable peels.

I make herbal tea with my fruits and vegetable skins by boiling them in water for about 20 to 25 minutes. The fragrance of boiling orange skin is very alluring. I throw into a sauce pan all the various skins of fruits and vegetables available. When they are more than I need at a time, I store in the refrigerator. 

Vegetable scraps like the tops, stalks, peels and any other left over bits with some olive oil can be sauted , added to water , then simmered into an aromatic broth.

Pumpkin lovers like myself should not throw away the seeds, they are a powerhouse of nutrients and benefits. They are a great source of protein and unsaturated fats, including omega 6 fatty acids. They can be roasted and eaten as snacks or blended in smoothies or used in baked goods. Next time you go shopping, check out the prices of pumpkin seeds and you will thank me.

Drinking water can be infused using the skin of citrus fruits, apples, cucumbers to add a kick. 

Wilted herbs and berry tops also make excellent additions to water.

Make your own calcium supplement from egg shells. Egg shells consist mainly of calcium carbonate and some protein. Cooked egg shells dried and ground, then sieved to remove any large fragments is all the calcium you need. Make sure the shells are cooked or heated to make sure they are safe for consumption. Egg shell powder may improve joint health and improve bone strength in people with osteoporosis.

Plantain peel comes with many internal and external health benefits, which is why it is such a worthwhile ingredient to include in your skincare regime. It is very high in vitamin A, allantoin, apigenin, aucubin, baicalein, linoleic acid, oleanolic acid, sorbitol, and tannin, which all promote wound healing, speed up cell regeneration, and have skin-softening effects. It can be used to treat skin disorders and defects, such as wrinkles, skin allergies, and acne, and can reduce scarring as a result. Rubbing plantain peel against your skin is one way to eliminate wrinkles due to its abilities to tighten and tone the skin.

Herbs and vegetable stalks are quite tasty and certainly carry some nutritional benefits. 

Broccoli's trunks, for example, contain calcium, iron and vitamin C. Adding herb stems to your dishes has its yummy place, too. Add them to smoothies and salads or just sauté with olive oil and garlic for pasta dishes.

Next time you want to bin any food, crosscheck to make sure it will not be of better value in your body than bin.

“You can not buy your health, you must earn it through healthy living.” Live well! 😊