Stop Wasting the Most Tossed-Out Food in Canada with These Recipes

Posted on February 10, 2020 by Amber Dowling

It’s slightly staggering to think about, but more than half of all food produced in Canada is wasted. That’s 35.5 million tonnes of produce and other food products that could definitely be put to good use. If you find that you’re throwing out leftovers, extra ingredients, and items from the back of your fridge, get motivated to use them up instead with these delicious recipes.

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Lettuce

In Canada, we waste <a href="https://lovefoodhatewaste.ca/about/food-waste/" rel="noopener nofollow noreferrer" target="_blank">roughly 470,000 heads of lettuce</a> each day. We often have good intentions at the grocery store, but then don’t feel like eating a salad after a stressful day. Instead of letting the leaves wilt, wash and dry lettuce before storing in the fridge, and place a dry cloth in the container to soak up extra moisture. Then try these lettuce cups, which are slightly more satisfying than another run-of-the mill salad, and just as healthy. Or try these <a href="https://www.foodnetwork.ca/healthy-eating/photos/meal-sized-salads/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">meal-worthy salads you'll actually crave</a>. Get the recipe for <a href="https://www.foodnetwork.ca/everyday-cooking/blog/thai-lettuce-cups-1-dish-2-ways/34796/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Quinoa Lettuce Cups</a>
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Spinach

Like lettuce, spinach tends to turn before we can use it. When those leaves start to look watery, don’t throw them out. Freeze them for <a href="https://www.foodnetwork.ca/recipe/tortellini-soup/13410/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">use in soups</a>, stews or <a href="https://www.foodnetwork.ca/healthy-eating/blog/easy-and-nutritious-green-mango-smoothie-36565/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">smoothies</a>, or if you’re thinking about entertaining, transform them into an amazing vegetarian pate instead. Get the recipe for <a href="https://www.foodnetwork.ca/recipe/vegetarian-spinach-walnut-pate/20323/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Vegetarian Spinach-Walnut Pate</a>
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Potatoes

Spuds are also a top landfill offender in Canada — we chuck out about 2.4 million of them every day. That’s a lot of wasted French fries, potato soups, curries and mashed ‘taters. Rather than buying the giant bags when they go on sale, invest in smaller portions, and <a href="https://www.foodnetwork.ca/comfort-food/photos/tasty-potato-recipes/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">get creative in how you use them</a>. May we suggest this cauliflower gnocchi, which is the perfect hybrid of potatoes and veggies delivered in a pillowy parcel of perfection? Get the recipe for <a href="https://www.foodnetwork.ca/recipe/cauliflower-gnocchi/22738/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Cauliflower Gnocchi</a>
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Tomatoes

Tomatoes are another one of the most-wasted foods in Canada, with 1.2 million of them winding up in the trash or compost each day. If you find that you’re throwing out extra tomatoes, this is an excellent opportunity to <a href="https://www.foodnetwork.ca/everyday-cooking/photos/best-tomato-sauce-recipes/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">make your own sauce from scratch</a>. Sauce freezes for up to six months, and is so much tastier than the store-bought variety. Need proof? Whip up these vegan “meatballs” with homemade sauce the next time you have a couple extra tomatoes kicking around. Get the recipe for <a href="https://www.foodnetwork.ca/recipe/vegan-meatballs-with-oven-roasted-tomato-sauce/13672/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Vegan Meatballs with Oven-Roasted Tomatoes</a>
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Carrots

Produce in general is often tossed into the trash before we can use it up, and carrots definitely top that list. If roasted carrots and carrot sticks aren’t your jam, blend some into your next homemade mac and cheese or dice them up into a curry or chicken stew. And then there’s this curried soup recipe, which is an aromatic orange bowl of savoury comfort guaranteed to satisfy. We've also rounded up our <a href="https://www.foodnetwork.ca/everyday-cooking/photos/carrot-cake-soup-salad-recipes/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">20+ best carrot recipes for any meal</a>. Get the recipe for <a href="https://www.foodnetwork.ca/recipe/curried-carrot-and-sweet-potato-soup/17177/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Curried Carrot and Sweet Potato Soup</a>
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Loaves of Bread

There’s no beating fresh bread… until it goes stale. Indeed, more than 750,000 loaves of bread wind up in the garbage each day in Canada alone. Slice and freeze bread for maximum storage, or if it has gone stale, use it up for <a href="https://www.foodnetwork.ca/recipe/croutons-101/12798/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">homemade croutons</a>, breadcrumbs, <a href="https://www.foodnetwork.ca/entertaining/blog/make-ahead-veggie-strata/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">breakfast strata</a> or bread pudding. With options that delicious, it’s pretty much a sin to toss out day-old bread. Get the recipe for <a href="https://www.foodnetwork.ca/recipe/jam-and-bread-pudding/21680/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Jam and Bread Pudding</a>
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Bananas

It’s bananas how many bananas hit the rubbish bin — 555,000 per day. Considering <a href="https://www.foodnetwork.ca/baking/photos/15-ingenious-ways-to-use-overripe-bananas" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">all of the delicious uses</a> for the ripe fruit, that seems almost criminal. When bananas are beginning to brown, peel them in chunks and dry-freeze in ice cube trays before transferring them to a freezer-safe container. They can be used for a world of things beyond banana bread (although that’s delicious too), including puddings, smoothies, oatmeal and pancakes. Get the recipe for <a href="https://www.foodnetwork.ca/recipe/banana-and-pecan-pancakes-with-maple-butter/21384/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Banana and Pecan Pancakes with Maple Butter</a>
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Apples

An apple a day keeps the doctor away, yet <a href="https://lovefoodhatewaste.ca/about/food-waste/" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">more than 1.2 million get tossed</a> every single day. Like potatoes, buy only the apples you think you’re going to eat on any given week, and then when they do start to turn, transform them into applesauce or something even yummier — like these nourishing squares. Get the recipe for <a href="https://www.foodnetwork.ca/healthy-eating/blog/indulgent-healthy-apple-pie-squares/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Healthy Apple Pie Squares</a>
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Leftover Beef

Sunday night roasts can become the bane of your existence by Wednesday morning, but that could be because those leftovers need a slight remix. Add <a href="https://www.foodnetwork.ca/everyday-cooking/photos/top-make-ahead-beef-recipes/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">leftover beef</a> to casseroles, whip up a stroganoff, throw it into a beef and barley stew, or enjoy those meaty strips in all their glory with a good old-fashioned Philly cheese steak. Get the recipe for <a href="https://www.foodnetwork.ca/recipe/philly-cheese-steak/19355/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Philly Cheese Steak</a>
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Milk

Picture one million cups of milk soaking up landfills daily in Canada. That’s shocking, considering milk is for so much more than drinking and adding to coffee — it makes a great marinade for meats, for adding to <a href="https://www.foodnetwork.ca/recipe/one-pot-mac-n-cheese/20225/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">creamy pasta sauces</a> and for <a href="https://www.foodnetwork.ca/recipe/country-pancakes/13270/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">whipping into pancakes</a>. Want an extra special wing night? You can even use it for these Nashville-inspired bites. Get the recipe for <a href="https://www.foodnetwork.ca/comfort-food/blog/nashville-hot-chicken-wings/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Nashville Hot Chicken Wings</a>
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Eggs

It’s easy to get crackin’ on using up those leftover eggs (rather than letting them join the 450,000 other eggs in the trash each day). Scramble them up for breakfast or dinner, add them to baking, or make yourself something extra tasty, like eggs in a delightful hash-brown cup. Inspired? Here are more <a href="https://www.foodnetwork.ca/everyday-cooking/photos/creative-ways-to-cook-eggs/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">creative ways to cook eggs</a>. Get the recipe for <a href="https://www.foodnetwork.ca/recipe/baked-eggs-in-hash-brown-cups/19597/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Eggs in Hashbrown Cups</a>
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Leftover Chicken

Nothing beats a good roast chicken, but how often do we actually consume an entire one in a single sitting? Whether you cooked the whole bird or a tray of breasts, thighs or legs and find yourself with extras in the fridge, chances are you'll be desperate for reliable <a href="https://www.foodnetwork.ca/everyday-cooking/photos/easy-leftover-chicken-recipes/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">leftover chicken recipes</a>. Get the recipe for <a href="https://www.foodnetwork.ca/recipe/ina-gartens-chicken-pot-pie/15430/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Chicken Pot Pie</a>
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Yogurt

Dairy products are among the most thrown-out food in the country, which makes sense when you consider quick expiry dates. If yogurt happens to make its way into your compost bin more often than not, go for plain Greek yogurt that you can flavour for yourself, and then use in place of sour cream for Mexican food, pierogies, and even these creative nachos. Get the recipe for <a href="https://www.foodnetwork.ca/recipe/souvlaki-style-nachos-with-garlicky-yogurt-feta-sauce/15235/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Souvlaki-Style Nachos with Garlicky Yogurt Feta Sauce</a>
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Cheese

Bought a little too much fromage for that cheese platter you threw on the table during your latest shindig? Leftover cheese and cheese rinds are the perfect thing for thickening up and adding flavour to soups and stews, plus they’re pretty great in <a href="https://www.foodnetwork.ca/recipe/baked-mashed-potatoes-with-parmesan-cheese-and-bread-crumbs/15917/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">mashed potatoes</a> and casseroles. Then there’s this quiche, which is a next-level way to use up leftovers. Get the recipe for <a href="https://www.foodnetwork.ca/recipe/ree-drummonds-brie-and-broccoli-quiche/19640/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Brie and Broccoli Quiche</a>
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Leftover Rice

If you’ve accidentally made too much rice and you don’t know what to do with it (and let’s face it: who hasn’t?) throw it in the freezer where it will keep for up to six months. Then the next time you need something extra carb-tastic for a stir-fry or curry, you’re set. It’s also a last-minute addition to a warm bowl of soup. Here are more <a href="https://www.foodnetwork.ca/everyday-cooking/photos/easy-tasty-ways-use-leftover-rice/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">tasty ways to use leftover rice</a>. Get the recipe for <a href="https://www.foodnetwork.ca/recipe/chicken-rice-soup/15639/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Chicken Rice Soup</a>
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