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    Home ยป Videos ยป Live

    5 Ways to Love Your Leftovers

    Published: Mar 29, 2017 ยท Updated: Mar 31, 2018 ยท Post may contain affiliate links

    Five ways to love your leftovers, so you're not eating the same thing on repeat or wasting food.

    Leftovers often get a bad name, and ya know what? that makes me so sad because leftovers are totally my thing!!

    Maybe it's because my mom was, without a doubt, the queen of repurposing leftovers. Or that leftovers save you a ton of money and time. Or that leftovers prevent food waste. You name it, leftovers are awesome!

    There are a number of ways to use your leftovers but I tend to go for the same 5 different options.

    [clickToTweet tweet="5 ways to love your #leftovers, so you're not eating the same thing on repeat or wasting food!" quote="5 ways to love your #leftovers, so you're not eating the same thing on repeat or wasting food!"]

    Stuffed Peppers or Squash

    You can fill cut bell peppers or squash with almost anything! I love using leftover taco meat or spaghetti sauce.

    How to do it:

    You'll slice your pepper or squash in half and scoop out the seeds. Bake at 375°F for about 7 minutes. Fill the pepper/squash with the leftovers and top with cheese if desired. Bake for about 10-15 minutes until filling is warm and cheese is bubbly.

    Recipes:

    Stuffed Bell Peppers

    Breakfast Stuffed Peppers

    Stuffed Squash

    Lentil Spaghetti Sauce

    Tacos

    Easy Stuffed Sweet Potatoes from Living Well Kitchen

    Twice Baked Potato

    Twice baked potatoes are incredibly satisfying, budget-friendly and most importantly, very delicious. They're also quite easy to make.

    How you do it:

    You can bake your potatoes before cooking or use leftover already baked potatoes. Then scoop out some of the potato and stir with some of your leftover whatever. I usually use chicken, ground beef, beans, salsa and/or cheese. Then fill the potato shells with the mixture; cover in cheese if desired and bake for about 10-15 minutes.

    Recipes:

    Twice Baked Taco Potatoes

    Southwest Stuffed Sweet Potato

    Vegetarian Fried Quinoa from Living Well Kitchen

    Fried Rice or Quinoa

    Fried rice (or quinoa) is my "clean out the fridge" meal. I like to make it at the end of the week and just add everything leftover into the skillet. You can add different spices & seasonings to change up the flavor.

    How to do it:

    You'll want to use cold leftover rice/quinoa because it fries better than warm, freshly cooked rice. Add some oil to a skillet and saute your veggies. Then push those the sides of the skillet, add a little more oil, and add the rice. "Fry" the rice. Then add the seasonings and any additional add-ins like eggs, green onions, chicken, pork, meat, tofu, etc. Cook until everything is hot.

    Recipes:

    Pork Fried Rice

    Mexican Fried Quinoa

    Vegetarian Fried Quinoa

    Turkey and Quinoa Soup from Living Well Kitchen

    Soup

    This is another "clean out your fridge" meal. I love making soup because you can make a big batch and freeze leftovers for later. When freezing soup, I like to freeze it individual serving sizes so I can defrost only the amount I'll need for one or two meals, not 8.

    How to do it:

    Add some oil to a pot and add onions, bell peppers, carrots and/or celery. If using mushrooms, let the harder veggies cook for a minute before adding. Then add some garlic and spices. Pour in your broth or water. You can add grains, beans or some other protein. Simmer for about 30-60 minutes. Add any leafy veggies a few minutes before serving. Be sure to taste and add extra spices, lemon juice and/or salt if needed.

    Recipes:

    Turkey Quinoa Soup

    Chicken and Rice Soup

    Taco Salad from Living Well Kitchen

    Salad

    I love a good salad but only if it has enough toppings. Lettuce and a little dressing is definitely not my thing. Make sure to have some source of protein and carbohydrate so you feel satisfied after eating your salad.

    How to do it:

    Fill a bowl or plate with chopped lettuce and top with leftovers. Make sure to include some kind of carbohydrate, so you stay full and satisfied.

    Recipes:

    Taco Salad

    Sedona Quinoa Salad

     

    Meme

    What is your favorite way to eat leftovers?!

    Check out my Facebook Live post where I share more about my five favorite ways to enjoy leftovers:

    Pin for later:

    5 Ways to Love Your Leftovers from @memeinge, so you're not eating the same thing on repeat or wasting food. Great ideas for dinner and lunch

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    Meme (a brunette female) is holding umbrella and spinning around in front of the Eiffel Tower wearing a denim jacket, skirt, and blue shoesHi, I'm Meme, a thirty-something registered dietitian nutritionist from Alabama living in San Diego. Here to help you enjoy food, feel better in your body at any size, and live free of diets & shame.
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