Cart

Your cart is empty

Continue shopping now

How to Limit Food Waste

 

 

By: Dr. Will Cole

 
Being environmentally conscious can mean a lot of things. Whether that is choosing to eat less meat or using less plastic, there are many ways we can make an effort to live a more sustainable life. One of which is being more aware of the waste we produce when it comes to food.


In my functional medicine telehealth clinic, I work with my patients around the world on transforming their diets to be filled with nutrient-dense food medicine plans and advanced functional medicine protocols to deal with problems like autoimmune conditions. brain health problem, hormone imbalances and digestive conditions. And while that in of itself is a good thing, all that clean eating can leave a lot of waste if one isn’t careful. But thankfully, we can harness the healing power of these scraps while also contributing to healing the planet. Let’s take a look at exactly how to utilize all of your food:


Fresh Produce


Regrow scraps


Did you know that you can actually regrow certain vegetables just from their scraps? Instead of buying additional produce, regrow them yourself in your kitchen. For example, the ends of many vegetables can be added to water to produce additional tops. Here’s a list of some vegetables that can be regrown:
-Green onions
-Romaine lettuce
-Celery
-Garlic
-Onion

The instructions are slightly different for each one so be sure to look up the steps and tools needed for each one.


Make vegetable broth

Vegetable broth makes a great base for soups and stews, especially for those avoiding chicken or beef-based broths. Save the scraps from the ends of lettuce, tops of carrots, etc. and add to a big pot of water with some sea salt, pepper, and garlic. Let simmer and you have a delicious start to some winter soups.


Play around with green smoothies and juices


Those extra scraps of kale? Add them to a smoothie! You can even juice the extra veggies you have (celery juice actually has been shown to have some amazing health benefits!) for a morning or midday pick-me-up!


Freeze leftovers

When in doubt, freeze it! If you are even the slightest bit unsure of whether or not you’ll use that fruit or vegetable before it goes bad chop it up and freeze it in a ziplock bag. Then if you are ever in a pinch for dinner throw them in a crock pot with some broth and seasonings for a veggie soup, add to a quick stir-fry, or add to a smoothie. This will save you time as well as eliminating waste.


Animal Protein

 

When eating meat, I am an advocate for supporting regenerative farms whenever possible. I also encourage people to eat nose to tail, focusing on nutrient-dense, yet often discarded parts of the animal.

 

Make bone broth

Due to its collagen and mineral content, bone broth is one of the main foods that I recommend to my patients as a tool for restoring gut function and aid in healing from problems such as candida overgrowth, leaky gut syndrome, and IBS (irritable bowel syndrome). Not only will buying a whole chicken save you money when compared to individual cuts of meat, you can use the bones to make a batch of bone broth in a slow cooker. This can be frozen and used as the base for soups and other recipes.


Lean into organ meats
While organ meats aren’t the most popular, their nutritional value can’t be beat. They are one of the foods highest in B vitamins which act as the fuel for methylation - the biochemical process in our body responsible for hundreds of pathways that maintain healthy hormones, detoxification, and brain function. Organ meats are also high in the active form of vitamin A and CoQ10. Using every part of the animal is certainly one way to.


Make dog food
Yes, I’m serious. If eating organ meat yourself isn’t that appealing, your four-legged friend would certainly love what you’d want to throw away. Most conventional dog food contains grains and other ingredients less than ideal for your furry friend. By making your own dog food with vegetables, bone broth, and leftover organ meats, you are using up what you would otherwise throw away while also elevating their health so you can enjoy their company for many more years to come.
Previous
Next

The Wellness Club

Sporty & Rich Wellness - Why Cold Water and Smoothies are Making you Bloated

Why Cold Water and Smoothies are Making you Bloated

Translation missing: en.blogs.article.by Taylor Davis

    By Dr. Natazia zu Stolberg, L.Ac, DACM In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) the stomach is seen as a pot, with the fire under it being our metabolism. This digestive fire is crucial for the efficient breakdown of food, absorption of nutrients and smooth flow of Qi...

Read more
Sporty & Rich Wellness - 10 Ways To Calm Anxiety

10 Ways To Calm Anxiety

Translation missing: en.blogs.article.by Taylor Davis

By: @curanaturopathy Anxiety is a complex and multifaceted emotional and physiological response to perceived or anticipated threats, which we commonly refer to as stressors. This response is characterized by various cognitive, emotional, behavioural, and physical symptoms.  It’s no doubt that anxiety serves a true purpose as a natural and adaptive reaction to prepare us to deal with challenges...

Read more
Sporty & Rich Wellness - What’s Causing My Skin to Breakout?

What’s Causing My Skin To Breakout?

Translation missing: en.blogs.article.by Taylor Davis

By: @curanaturopathy Your skin health is a reflection of your internal health. If there's any signs of imbalance in the form of active breakouts, pimples, blemishes, so on, this can give us an indication that there's an imbalance internally and most often it's related to our gut health. Factors such as nutrition, hormones, stress, lifestyle choices can also influence your skin....

Read more
Sporty & Rich Wellness - Are Electrolytes Healthy For You?

Are Electrolytes Healthy For You?

Translation missing: en.blogs.article.by Taylor Davis

By: @gooodmoodfoood I am sure you have seen a lot of information on social media and the internet lately about drinking electrolytes. This may be slightly confusing because we have been told for years that sodium is bad for us and is making us dehydrated! In reality, ultra-processed foods high in processed sodium leave us feeling dehydrated and lethargic. When an individual...

Read more
Sporty & Rich Wellness - The Importance of Non-Toxic Skincare: Health Risks of Popular Ingredients in Conventional Products

The Importance of Non-Toxic Skincare: Health Risks of Popular Ingredients in Conventional Products

Translation missing: en.blogs.article.by Taylor Davis

By: @inceipek1 In recent years, there has been a growing concern among consumers about the potential health risks associated with the use of conventional skincare products. Many popular ingredients found in these products, such as emulsifiers, parabens, and others, have come under scrutiny for their potential toxicity. Emulsifiers: Emulsifiers are commonly used in skincare...

Read more
SIBO: The Most Commonly Missed Cause of IBS

SIBO: The Most Commonly Missed Cause of IBS

Translation missing: en.blogs.article.by Taylor Davis

By: @drmelissa.co Bloating, abdominal discomfort, unusual gas, constipation and/or diarrhoea are all symptoms that western medicine commonly chalks up to Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). But IBS is essentially a blanket diagnosis for a group of symptoms, without providing any insight into the cause of the symptoms or curative treatments. Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO) is a condition of the small intestine. The...

Read more
Sporty & Rich Wellness

Where to Start When Healing Acne

Translation missing: en.blogs.article.by Taylor Davis

By: @drmelissa.co Acne is one of the most complex skin concerns to treat. Treatment often involves a lot of trial and error and each case requires an individualized approach to achieve the best result. Patients may opt to treat the skin with pharmaceuticals (oral or topical), conventional skincare products, or with more natural options including supplements, gentle topicals, herbs, acupuncture, light therapy, etc. Regardless...

Read more
Sporty & Rich Wellness - Your Comprehensive Guide to SPF

Your Comprehensive Guide to SPF

Translation missing: en.blogs.article.by Taylor Davis

By: @dermahealthnutrition  Relaxing in the warmth of the sun is undoubtedly enjoyable, but are you aware of the potential risks? Protecting your skin from harmful rays is essential to prevent sunburn, reduce the risk of skin cancer and premature ageing. Here's what you need to know:...

Read more
Sporty & Rich Wellness - The Importance of the Skin Barrier

The Importance of the Skin Barrier

Translation missing: en.blogs.article.by Taylor Davis

By: @curanaturopathy Our skin barrier plays a crucial role in a healthy glowing complexion, but unfortunately there are many internal and external factors that influence the functionality of our skin barrier.  The skin barrier is the outermost layer of your skin, referred to as the epidermis or status corneum - this layer of tissue is...

Read more
Sporty & Rich Wellness - Omega-3 Fatty Acids for Skin Health

Omega-3 Fatty Acids for Skin Health

Translation missing: en.blogs.article.by Taylor Davis

By: @dermahealthnutrition  Omega-3 fatty acids are essential to our health and, according to recent research, may also have a positive effect on skin conditions such as atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, acne, and wound healing. Omega-3 fatty acids are a type of polyunsaturated fat and are called "omega-3" because the first double bond in their chemical structure is at the third...

Read more
Sporty & Rich Wellness

The Connection Between Exercise and Skin Health

Translation missing: en.blogs.article.by Taylor Davis

By @coreflexpilates founder @chrisbardawil Exercise keeps our skin clear and firm, boosts its blood flow, removes toxins, and lowers cortisol levels. All of these factors are beneficial for the skin, but there are some things to be aware of when it comes to exercise and skin health, these are mainly; redness, bacteria, and drying out of the skin.When first looking up this...

Read more
Sporty & Rich Wellness - What is Microcurrent and Does it Work?

What is Microcurrent and Does it Work?

Translation missing: en.blogs.article.by Taylor Davis

@drmelissa.co Microcurrent devices have become a staple in the routines of many skincare professionals and aficionados. These at-home and in-office devices claim to tighten and lift the face while softening fine lines and wrinkles...but do they work?  Microcurrent devices provide treatments that are non-invasive and gentle. They deliver low level electrical currents...

Read more