Meadows Coffeehouse

Reduce food waste (and save money) with these 8 tips!

Did you know that as much as 40% of the food that is produced is wasted? Each American wastes as much as 238 pounds of food each year (equal to about $1800).

Try out these tips to shop and prepare food more mindfully:

1️⃣ Be mindful with (food) shopping. Simple meal planning will streamline shopping, make daily cooking easier, and reduce waste.

2️⃣ Focus on seasonal produce. Locally grown, in season produce is typically more affordable.

3️⃣ Chill out. Buy frozen produce during its off season.

4️⃣ Be preppy. Try doing your own prep work rather than purchasing pre-made marinades and pre-chopped produce.

5️⃣ Batch and freeze for later. Cook up extra of whatever you are making to freeze and enjoy later and freeze produce you won`t use before it expires.

6️⃣ Give beans a chance. Beans, lentils, and other plant-based proteins are far less expensive than meat, poultry, and fish.

7️⃣ Use all parts of the vegetable. The easiest way to do this is save scraps for a homemade vegetable broth.

8️⃣ Transform leftovers. When planning your meal, think how to spread one item throughout multiple dishes.

Get more tips on managing your kitchen waste at the link in our bio! #StoopFoodWasteDay #ReduceFoodWaste #SaveMoney #FoodWasteTips #MealPlanning #MealPrep #PlantBasedEating ...

Fight food waste by using the whole fennel in this recipe for Fennel Bulb and Frond Gratin!

Makes 6 - 8 servings

INGREDIENTS
About 3 – 4 fennel bulbs with fronds
1 cup low sodium chicken or vegetable broth
1/4 cup olive oil, divided
3/4 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
2 teaspoons fresh thyme, diced
1/2 cup breadcrumbs (optional)

DIRECTIONS
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and lightly grease a casserole pan.

Cut off the fronds and stems of the fennel bulb. Dice 1 cup stems and fronds and reserve the remainder for other uses such as broths and soups. Quarter bulbs and cut into 1 – 2-inch slices. Discard woody core.

Boil bulbs in broth for about 5 minutes, until tender. Drain and reserve broth for future uses. Toss with diced fronds, stems, and 1 tablespoon olive oil.

Blend 1/2 cup Parmesan with thyme and 1/4 cup breadcrumbs (optional). Mix this into the fennel. Add fennel to casserole dish and top with remaining Parmesan cheese and breadcrumbs. Drizzle with olive oil.

Cover and bake for 20 – 30 minutes. Increase oven temperature to 425 degrees F. Uncover and bake another 10 minutes, until browned. May be garnished with fennel fronds.

#StopFoodWasteDay #FoodWasteWarriors #FightFoodWaste #ZeroWasteCooking ...

Hearty greens are in the spotlight right now — whether in kale salads, collard wraps, or green smoothies — and for good reason!

These nutrient power houses deserve their accolades, but the thick stems are bitter, hard to chew, and often become food waste.

Here`s some kitchen hacks that will have you devouring those stems instead of trashing them:

1️⃣ Blanch `em. Quickly dip greens in simmering water to soften stems and cut bitterness.

2️⃣ Pickle `em. Add stems to a brine of vinegar, sugar, salt, and any spices you want to tenderize them and add flavor.

3️⃣ Blend `em. Blending breaks down the fiber and including other ingredients like fruit can cut through the bitterness.

4️⃣ Braise `em. Slow cook your greens (add stems first!) on the stove top with a preferred cooking liquid, oil, and garlic.

5️⃣ Toast `em. Leave stems on your future kale chips or toast them on their own for a topping.

#FightFoodWaste #FoodWasteWarriors #KitchenHacks #StopFoodWasteDay #EatMoreGreens #ReduceFoodWaste ...

We fight food waste! 🤺

April 24, 2024 is Stop Food Waste Day. Did you know that food waste in landfills causes over 14% of all methane emissions in the United States? Methane is a greenhouse gas that traps heat in the atmosphere 28 times more than CO2!

But together we can make a difference! Try these tips at home...
1️⃣ A quick ice bath will revive wilted produce 🥶
2️⃣ Give your leftovers a new life by getting creative 🎨
3️⃣ Plan your meals for the week and make a shopping list 🛒

Change is easy. Join us in the fight against food waste and stay tuned for the rest of the week as we share food waste fighting tips, tricks, and recipes! #StopFoodWasteDay #FightFoodWaste #FightingFoodWaste ...

What are emissions? We`re exploring the key emissions produced by food.

A third of all global greenhouse gas emissions can be linked to the food system! From growing to processing, transporting to storage, and managing excess food waste, each step in the food chain produces carbon emissions. But what are greenhouse gas emissions?

Greenhouse gases, or GHGs, are gases that trap heat in the atmosphere. Human activities like burning fossil fuels and industrial farming have accelerated the concentration of these heat trapping gasses over the last few centuries. The higher concentration of GHGs is contributing to unpredictable, extreme weather patterns and climate change.

The top greenhouse gasses are:

1️⃣ Carbon dioxide (CO2) accounts for about 79% of human-created emissions.

2️⃣ Methane (CH4) makes up only 12% of human-created emissions, but is 28 times more effective at trapping heat in the atmosphere as CO2.

3️⃣ Nitrous oxide (N2O) is a lesser known yet formidable GHG. It is 256 times more powerful at trapping heat in the atmosphere than CO2.

🌲 Most CO2 emissions in agriculture are due to the clear-cutting of forests for the expansion of farmland, especially for carbon production.

🐄 Animal agriculture is the biggest culprit for this GHG, due to methane released during the digestive processes of ruminant animals like cows, lamb, and goats.

💩 Soil management practices in farming, including the use of chemical fertilizers and the management of livestock manure, account for around 75% of N2O emissions.

Fight food`s role in climate change with us and flip the switch to plants. Legumes, fruits, vegetables, nuts, and grains offer a vibrant array of tasty, nutritious, and diverse options — with a fraction of the environmental impact!

Learn more at https://ow.ly/Ej7j50R64Wt. #EarthDay #EarthDay2024 #EmissionsExplained #FoodSystem #GreenhouseGases #ClimateChange #ClimateAction #PlantBasedLiving ...

Reduce your carbon footprint with these 11 ways to flip the switch to plants for Earth Day and beyond!

☕ Switch cow`s milk (33g CO2e) to oat milk (14g CO2e) in brewed coffee.

🥑 Switch bacon, egg, and cheese sandwich (1,097g CO2e) to avocado toast (312g CO2e).

🥛 Switch cow`s milk (268g CO2e) in cold cereal to oat milk (110g CO2e).

🥜 Switch cream cheese bagel smear (270g CO2e) to peanut butter (54g CO2e).

🥪 Switch roast beef (4,689g CO2e) on your sandwich to turkey (499g CO2e).

🌯 Switch cheese (493g CO2e) on a sandwich or wrap to avocado spread (94g CO2e).

🥗 Switch a salad topped with chicken (499g CO2e) to a salad topped with tofu (199g CO2e).

🍔 Switch a grilled beef burger patty (4,689g CO2e) to a grilled chicken patty (499g CO2e).

🥕 Switch ham/bacon toppings (279g CO2e) in a salad to beans (48g CO2e) or vegetables (29g CO2e).

🫘 Switch beef chili (2,439g CO2e) to vegetarian chili with beans (190g CO2e).

🍜 Switch beef (4,689g CO2e) in stir fry to chicken (499g CO2e).

#EarthDay2024 #EarthDay #EarthDayTips #PlantBasedLiving #LowCarbonDiet #SustainableFood ...