Our mothers have always taught us to “peel the potatoes and carrots” when we assist with some ‘home cooking’. Have we ever thought twice about why?

Did you know that the peels or rind of fruits and vegetables usually contain more nutrition and fibre than their bodily counterparts?

Below are some common ‘scraps’ that we would normally throw away that are actually great for ingestion, vitamins and minerals – not to mention fibre!

Broccoli Stems / Leaves

The stems found in broccoli may not seem so tasty and nutritious, but they actually contain just as much nutritional content as their florets (plus more fibre), bonus! The leaves are a great type of collard greens that can be cooked and prepared the same way as kale, bok choy or other similar greens.

Apple and Carrot Peels

Depending on what you’re cooking or baking, apple and carrot peels can be left on the entire fruit / vegetable, especially if it’s organic! There’s no need to waste the peel, as they add additional nutrition whilst bringing enhancement to the flavour of the dish overall. If you are peeling them, you can add them to smoothies or mixed into loose leaf salads.

Celery Leaves

Celery leaves are great when they’re chopped up finely and can be used as a garnish or stir fried into any dish! They not only add a distinct flavour to the dish, but also brings a pop of green to the dish!

The above are just a few examples where the whole fruit or vegetable can be incorporated into your daily smoothies, snacks and meals without any food wastage!

What’s your favourite scrap that you love consuming?! Let us know in the comments below! Remember, sharing is caring!
References:

• “Yes, You Can Eat Strawberry Stems, Corn Silk & These Other Food “Scraps””. Dr. Axe. N.p., 2016. Web. 19 Dec. 2016.
• Black, Tracey. “10 Fruit And Vegetable Scraps You Can Eat”. Don’t Mess with Mama. N.p., 2016. Web. 30 Dec. 2016.