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.

Beet greens

Beet greens are the young leaves of the beetroot plant and are high in vitamin B6, magnesium, potassium, copper, and manganese. Low in calories, fat, cholesterol and sugar, beet greens contain more iron than spinach or kale and generally possess higher concentrations of vitamins, minerals, and dietary fibre than the root (with the exception of folate). The provitamin A content in beet greens helps strengthen the immune system, can help fight inflammation and support brain health.

Adding a handful of beet greens to your favourite smoothies will boost the vitamin and mineral count without altering the flavour. Delicious in a salad or toss them in a homemade pesto by replacing half your herbs with beet greens. Chop and sauté beet greens with garlic and olive oil for a fast, tasty side. If you are making a soup that requires spinach, kale, or any other green vegetable, use beet greens instead.