How to Lower Your Grocery Bill and Stop Food Waste with Carleigh Bodrug (Replay)
Feb 17, 2025
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Carleigh Bodrug, CEO of PlantYou and New York Times bestselling cookbook author, shares her inspiring journey from a novice cook to a champion of sustainable eating. She discusses alarming food waste statistics and offers practical strategies for reducing grocery bills, like bulk shopping and meal prepping. Carleigh introduces 'scrappy cooking' techniques to transform kitchen scraps into delicious meals, emphasizing that mindful cooking can save both money and the planet. Her fresh take on low-waste, plant-based recipes is a game-changer for sustainable living.
Most food waste occurs in consumer households due to unplanned meals and expired ingredients, highlighting the importance of meal planning.
'Scrappy cooking' emphasizes using leftover ingredients creatively, transforming food scraps into delicious meals and minimizing waste.
Food insecurity affects access to nutritious options, necessitating a broader representation of diverse cultures in the vegan community.
Deep dives
Understanding Food Waste in Consumer Homes
Most food waste occurs in consumer households, accounting for approximately 30 to 40 percent of the total waste. While many people assume grocery stores and restaurants are the primary culprits of food waste, restaurants are usually efficient in managing their food due to financial pressures. The ease with which consumers waste food often stems from busy lifestyles, leading to unplanned meals, expired ingredients, and forgotten groceries. To combat this, awareness and intentionality about meal planning and grocery shopping are crucial.
The Importance of Meal Planning
Meal planning is a vital strategy for reducing food waste and promoting healthier eating habits. By planning meals for the week and writing out a shopping list, individuals can better utilize the food they already have and avoid purchasing unnecessary ingredients. Simplifying meal prep by chopping ingredients ahead of time also increases the likelihood of cooking, thus reducing the chances of food spoiling. This approach not only helps in minimizing waste but can lead to improved dietary health.
Creative Cooking Solutions
The concept of 'scrappy cooking' emphasizes the innovative use of leftover ingredients and food scraps. Techniques such as making vegetable broths from peels and scraps or creating pestos from greens can effectively use food that might otherwise be discarded. This not only minimizes waste but also fosters creativity in the kitchen, resulting in unique dishes that showcase sustainability. Such practices can also be economically beneficial, as they maximize the value extracted from groceries.
Addressing Food Insecurity and Cultural Representation
Food insecurity is a significant issue for millions of households, with challenges tied to both access to fresh produce and economic constraints. It is crucial to recognize that many processed food options are often more accessible than healthy whole foods, creating a barrier to achieving a nutritious diet. Furthermore, the representation of veganism often skews towards a primarily white demographic, which might deter individuals from diverse cultures who may not see themselves in that narrative. Amplifying voices from various backgrounds in the vegan community can help bridge this gap and highlight the cultural significance of plant-based diets.
The Journey of Writing a Cookbook
Writing a cookbook is a multifaceted and demanding process that extends beyond just recipe creation. It involves recipe testing, photography, and layout design, all while ensuring that educational elements are included to assist novice cooks. The learning curve can be steep, particularly for newcomers attempting to navigate the publishing landscape. Successfully balancing these aspects not only enhances the book's practicality but also ensures its ability to connect with readers seeking to incorporate more plant-based options into their diets.
The US throws away more food than any other country in the world - over 80 billion pounds per year, with each American throwing out an estimated 30% of the food they purchase. This alarming fact is what propelled today’s guest to create a cookbook & community dedicated to showing people how to transform commonly wasted foods into delicious recipes.
Carleigh Bodrug is the CEO and Founder of PlantYou, a New York Times Bestselling cookbook author, and self-taught plant-based chef famous for her simple take on low-waste and vegan recipes. In this special replay episode she and Tori dive into the topic of reducing food waste and saving money on groceries, with Carleigh sharing her expertise on how to make the most out of ingredients, minimize waste, and maximize flavor, all while sticking to a budget. From innovative recipe ideas to practical tips for utilizing kitchen scraps, this conversation offers valuable insights for anyone looking to eat more sustainably and economically.
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