After holiday festivities or even just gatherings, many people find themselves with an abundance of leftovers, and at a loss of what to do with them. Instead of worrying about how to eat it all quickly or undoing your health and wellness goals, there are many more ways to leverage leftovers than just cramming them all onto your plate until the last bite is finished. If you aren’t comfortable letting food go to waste and still want to keep track of your own waist, here are some new ways to look at leveraging your leftovers.
Mix-up your meat! If you just had turkey, a roast or even ham, you may have a hard time thinking outside the traditional meal, but there are so many other ways to have a meat dish without it being meat, potatoes and bread!
- Meat and Vegetable Stir-Fry: Dice the leftover meat and sauté it with a mix of colorful vegetables such as bell peppers, broccoli, and snap peas. Then toss in your favorite sauce like teriyaki or curry.
- Meat and Bean Soup: Create hearty soups by simmering diced meat with low-sodium vegetable/chicken or beef broth, canned beans (like cannellini or black beans), diced tomatoes, onions, garlic and spinach.
- Quiche or Frittata: Incorporate leftover meat into a quiche or frittata by mixing it with eggs, spinach, onions, and cheese. Bake until set for a delicious breakfast or brunch option that can be enjoyed throughout the week. This goes great with salad or your soup!
- Meat Salad Wraps: Mix chopped meat with plain Greek yogurt, add diced celery, onion, apples, or grapes for sweetness, and serve in lettuce wraps for a refreshing lunch option. You can also add shredded carrots, nuts, seeds or whatever you like!
In addition to meat, a holiday or festivity, there can also be a lot of candy hanging around after those occasions. For some people this isn’t a big deal, for others, it’s hard to see it and not eat it all at once. Here are some ideas on how to handle the excess candy:
- Trail Mix: Combine small pieces of leftover candy with nuts (like almonds or walnuts), seeds (sunflower or pumpkin seeds), and dried fruits (like cranberries or blueberries). This creates a balanced snack that satisfies sweet cravings while providing healthy fats and protein. This is also great for taking on trips, hiking, or keeping some in your bag for anytime you need a snack.
- Healthy Snack Bars: Use crushed candy as an occasional topping in homemade granola bars. Combine oats, nut butter, honey or maple syrup, and add small bits of candy for sweetness. These bars can be portioned out for snacks throughout the week or rolled into balls too.
- Treat Bags: Assemble treat bags filled with small portions of leftover candy mixed with healthier options like popcorn or pretzels. These bags can be shared with neighbors, postal workers, or friends as thoughtful gestures when they least expect it!
After holidays and gatherings, it’s also important to keep moving forward. You had fun, you ate some great food and now it’s back to the routine. If you feel like you are really off course, just take small moments to find ways to feel healthier and more focused.
- Plan Balanced Meals: Focus on planning meals that include lean proteins, whole grains and plenty of fruit and lots of vegetables. Once you start to plan a few meals that you know will make you feel better, keep going. What foods make you feel great? What foods are you proud to eat?
- Mindful Eating Practices: Encourage yourself to be aware of your eating practice. Notice your food, the colors, textures and flavors. Just slowing down and being present can help you feel more present and in control of your food life.
- Have Fun: We have to eat to stay alive. Eat foods you enjoy and like! If you don’t have a taste for kale but like spinach, eat the spinach. If you love bread, have some, not all. Try to remember you want to nourish your body, but you also should enjoy the food that fuels you.
Being creative with leftovers can be a lot of fun and something to look forward to after big events. Sometimes there is a melancholy feeling when a big day has come and gone. Now you can use that time to transform your leftovers into new foods, meal prep and even treats for those around you. Food is what fuels us! Let’s keep that something we look forward to, to keep us healthy, happy and going strong, even if that means getting creative and trying new things. You don’t have to do things the old way, or waste food anymore – leverage your leftovers!