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.

Carrot tops

Did you know carrot tops have more provitamin A carotenoids, important for a range of body functions including vision and immunity, than the orange root? Fat and cholesterol–free, carrot tops also contain significant amounts of dietary fibre, vitamin C, calcium and iron. These nutritious greens also contain vitamin K and various phytochemicals, such as phenolic compounds and polyacetylenes.

Carrot tops are a great herb substitute in any dish you are already using carrots in, or skip the basil and use them with equal parts baby spinach in pesto. If you are not a fan of their bitter taste, you can add them to soup stock or blanch the carrots greens in boiling water to help reduce the bitter flavour.