I used to be a big time food-waster. In fact I go shopping with the honest intention to use every ounce of soy-milk, every pack of mixed vegetable and so many different stuff I load in my cart. Sometimes I cook with the intention of finishing every bit of a nutritious meal, but I end up dumping most of it away after losing interest in the first love I got from tasting the cooked meal.
It cost me a lot as much as I wanted to satisfy my need to feed my appetite. So I decided to make a change and rounded up a bunch of ways to make do with my leftovers. I would be pleased to share two possible meals I turned into a healthy snack. You can turn your leftover pasta, rice, bread, milk, pizza, chicken and turkey, vegetables, bread etc. into a healthy snack to keep your day going.
Here are my two favorite leftover snacks that has a bit of everything and is perfect for health eating –
- Veggie snacks: One of the greatest barrier I have had over the years of going on diet is the amount of time used in preparing vegetables as soon as you buy them for a meal. Next is the amount I have as a leftover when I am done using what I needed out of it. So here is what I got accustomed to. Some regular veggies that can be grouped for a mini snack are tomatoes, cucumber, carrots, beets, lettuce, colored bell pepper, broccoli, mushroom etc.
I first created a mentality of “do it once, do it all, and you wouldn’t have to repeat it again”. I wash, peel and cut them all to be used throughout the week. I take the portion I need, cook my meal for the day and freeze the leftovers. I take part of the leftover when I am ready for a snack, I steam and spice it as I please, add some onions then mix with cooked chicken breast for a lunch meal. Sometimes I take the veggie sticks with a dip or make a small salad, mix my veggies with brown rice, add veggies with egg white broth and steam a bit and you are good to go for a healthy snack.
Vegetables are a great low-calorie high-fiber food that provide essential nutrients and energy while helping you feel fuller for longer. If you ever feel hungry, vegetables should be your first snack to turn to.
- Fruit snacks: I can totally say 80% of living humans loves fruits, and a lot of ways have been introduced on how to enjoy your fruits. Though sometimes we find ourselves being filled by just a few bites and then we keep it down to rot. Sometimes we forget it in the fridge, it becomes slimy and unpleasant (I am a certified offender lol). As much as I am an offender I am also a sucker for “not wasting food or anything consumable”. So what I did was to get the fruits (banana, strawberry, pawpaw, apples and the likes of them) I needed to consume for a week. Wash, peel, cut and dish into a bowl, then I took as much as I could consume for two days
After which I stored the rest in the freezer. I decided to make a smoothie for lunch and after dinner. Took my banana and apples with my straw berry added a bit of ice and soy-milk or yogurt and I blended it for breakfast or lunch. Took my pawpaw and the left over banana and blended for a smoothie after dinner, mixing it with some yogurt, yummy!
My reasons for pawpaw after dinner is because pawpaw is a good source of fiber which helps relieve constipation and is beneficial for colon health. I would wake up eased up after a visit to the “white throne” in the bathroom. Bananas on the other hand are known for their high potassium content, with over 400 mg potassium in a single medium-size banana. Potassium is necessary for good nerve and muscle function as well as for maintaining a healthy balance of fluids in the body.
Make the best use of your food available to you. Consult us and ask questions on what you need to do with a particular meal when you do not want it wasted. We are always ready to respond to your questions at any given time. Have a great weekend and eat right, with the right snacks.
By Blessing Nwachukwu | [email protected]
Diet234 Team
