If you are looking to try to reduce your food waste, there are some very practical things you can start doing. Try buying only what you need at the supermarket and cook only as much as you are likely to eat to avoid leftovers. That said, if you end up with leftovers, pop them in the fridge, and reimagine them into another dish entirely for tomorrow’s dinner.

What about kitchen scraps? While a very worthy use for your kitchen discards would be to throw them into the compost bin, why not try and see if some of your peelings, pulps, stalks, stems, and seeds can be transformed into delicious meals and snacks in their own right with these creative OGP recipes.

We also highly recommend downloading the Food Monster App  — with over 15,000 delicious recipes it is the largest plant-based recipe resource to help you get healthy! 

1. Watermelon Rind and Jalapeño Pickles

Source: Watermelon Rind and Jalapeño Pickles/One Green Planet

There is nothing quite like chomping on a wedge of watermelon on a hot summer’s day.  But, don’t throw away those rinds. With a texture and flavor much like a cucumber, they are perfect for making pickles. These Watermelon Rind and Jalapeño Pickles by Linda Ly make a wonderful topping for any tacos.

2. Healthy Stuffed Potato Skins

Source: Healthy Stuffed Potato Skins/One Green Planet

You are thinking of mashed potatoes for dinner, so you peel the spuds, throw away the skins and cook up the rest.  Stop!  Why not bake the whole potatoes, scoop out the fluffy white innards and save that for later. Right now, enjoy the most nutritious part of the potato by making some of Vaishali Honawar’s Healthy Stuffed Potato Skins.

3. Roasted Sriracha Pumpkin Seeds

Source: Roasted Sriracha Pumpkin Seeds/One Green Planet

It’s a messy business deseeding a squash or pumpkin. We go to all that trouble, we have pumpkin pulp up to our elbows and then go and chuck hundreds of little nutrient goldmines into the bin.  Instead, take a little more time and make yourself a batch of Robin Runner’s Roasted Sriracha Pumpkin Seeds. Grab a handful to munch on or toss some into a salad or soup for a little crunch.

4. Broccoli Stalk Rice

Source: Broccoli Stalk Rice/One Green Planet

When cooking with broccoli, don’t you sometimes find you end up with half of the vegetable sitting on the scrap pile?  Broccoli often comes with a huge stalk that doesn’t always seem to fit into your recipe.  However, save that stalk and make some Broccoli Stalk Rice.  Helyn Dunn says that it has a similar texture to the more commonly known cauliflower rice and can be a fantastic base for all kinds of meals.

5. 20-Minute Raw Ravioli With Almond Pulp Ricotta

Source: 20-Minute Raw Ravioli With Almond Pulp Ricotta/One Green Planet

If you make your own almond milk and ever feel a little heartbroken at discarding the residual almond pulp, never fear.  This amazing recipe for 20-Minute Raw Ravioli With Almond Pulp Ricotta by Nikki and Zuzana will help you to use up that pulp in the most delicious and crowd-pleasing way.

6. Avocado Seed Smoothie

Source: Avocado Seed Smoothie/One Green Planet

Rather than mindlessly tossing the seed of your avocado out, why not save that nutrient-dense and antioxidant-rich little nugget and use it in Taryn Fitz-Gerald‘s recipe for this Avocado seed Smoothie.  With matcha powder for extra power, this smoothie is a great way to start your day.

7. Raw Juice Pulp Crackers

Source: Raw Juice Pulp Crackers/One Green Planet

It’s wonderful that you get all those amazing nutrients from juicing all of those fruits and veggies, but look what is left behind- all that pulp!  Bianca the Green Creator came up with a solution.  Take that juice pulp and mix it with some chia, flax, spices, and water to create Raw Juice Pulp Crackers that are crunchy and ideal for all of your favorite spreads and dips.

8. Garlic Beet Greens 

Source: Garlic Beet Greens/One Green Planet

This recipe for Garlic Beet Greens by Elaine Lander is cheap and easy to whip up making it a perfect mid-week meal.  Don’t toss the greens from your beets.  These often-forgotten greens are rich in antioxidants, potassium, calcium, and several vitamins to say the least.  Give them a chance.

9. Candied Orange Peels

Source: Candied Orange Peels/One Green Planet

A staple in any baker’s pantry, candied orange peel finds itself in all kinds of baked treats from cakes to fruit loaves.  Take a look at Olivia Lin‘s recipe for Candied Orange Peels and try making your own.  Next time you enjoy freshly squeezed orange juice, think twice about throwing those peels out.

10. 3 Ingredient Aquafaba Chocolate Mousse

Source: 3 Ingredient Aquafaba Chocolate Mousse/One Green Planet

Aquafaba, or chickpea brine, when whisked acts just like egg white would in the making of mousses and meringues.  This recipe for 3 Ingredient Aquafaba Chocolate Mousse is as light and fluffy as Clémence Moulaert‘s grandmother used to make.

As you can see, there is no need to be throwing out the kitchen scraps just yet.  You can help to save the planet a little by reducing your waste and having fun experimenting with a long list of dishes and desserts at the same time.

Learn How to Cook Plant-Based Meals at Home!

Reducing your meat intake and eating more plant-based foods is known to help with chronic inflammation, heart health, mental wellbeing, fitness goals, nutritional needs, allergies, gut health, and more! Dairy consumption also has been linked to many health problems, including acne, hormonal imbalance, cancer, prostate cancer and has many side effects.

For those of you interested in eating more plant-based, we highly recommend downloading the Food Monster App — with over 15,000 delicious recipes it is the largest plant-based recipe resource to help reduce your environmental footprint, save animals and get healthy! And, while you are at it, we encourage you to also learn about the environmental and health benefits of a plant-based diet.

Here are some great resources to get you started:

• Weekly Vegan Meal Plans
• Plant-Based Health Resources
• Plant-Based Food & Recipes
• Plant-Based Nutrition Resources
• The Ultimate Guide to Plant-Based Nutrition
• Budget-Friendly Plant-Based Recipes
• High Protein Plant-Based Recipes
• Plant-Based Meal Prep

For more Animal, Earth, Life, Vegan Food, Health, and Recipe content published daily, subscribe to the One Green Planet Newsletter! Lastly, being publicly-funded gives us a greater chance to continue providing you with high-quality content. Please consider supporting us by donating!