Food for Thought

Waste not

Stop throwing away these surprisingly nutritious foods.

Food waste is a major issue in Aotearoa New Zealand. According to Love Food Hate Waste NZ, Kiwi homes throw away 157,398 tonnes of food per year, all of which we could eat.

We often discard things like produce skins and stems, which are not only edible but also a great source of additional fibre and nutrients. Curb food waste in your household by adding peels and stems you would normally throw away into nutritious, delicious recipes.

Watermelon rinds

Not only do watermelon rinds have all the same nutrients found in the refreshing fruit, but the rinds also contain even higher concentrations of certain minerals, vitamins and bioactive ingredients. While low in calories, watermelon rind contains high concentrations of provitamin A carotenoids, vitamin C, vitamin B6, zinc and potassium. The nutrientdense rind also contains chlorophyll, lycopene, citrulline, amino acids, and phenolic compounds such as flavonoids.

Wash the watermelon well before use. Make a refreshing summer drink by blending watermelon flesh and rinds with lime juice and mint, or add a few watermelon slices (including the rind) to your favourite smoothies. You can also add the watermelon rind to fruit salad, salsa, chutney, stir-fries, coleslaw, or pickle it.