According to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, roughly one-third of all food produced for human consumption—approximately 1.3 billion tons—is lost or wasted each year. Consumers in developed countries such as the United States are responsible for 222 million tons of this waste, or nearly the same quantity of food as is produced in all of sub-Saharan Africa. How much do you think is wasted after Thanksgiving? Here are some ideas for using your leftovers!
Healthy Recipes
Feeling bloated on Friday? Try some of these salad recipes.
Perfect for when you wake up late and bloated on Friday, but still want to have a good lunch! This recipe’s key ingredients are sliced celery, chopped apples, and toasted pecans. The celery lightens the salad, while the grapes and apples add a sweet tartness to the savory turkey, resulting in a light and refreshing blend of flavors that won’t weigh you down for the rest of the day.
Mix and match some of the ingredients to make a Thanksgiving Cobb Salad…it’s just like your everyday Cobb Salad, but with a twist of Thanksgiving! Instead of grilled chicken, chop up and throw in your leftover turkey…throw in anything else that you think will be good, too! A perfect way to utilize the leftover proteins.
Turkey, Sweet Potato, and Watercress Salad
Don’t know what to do with your extra sweet potatoes? Combine turkey and sweet potatoes to create a wonderful, and healthy, Watercress Salad! This salad will surely leave you satisfied as it employs a blend of spices to bring together a delicate mix of greens, starch, and sweets.
Fun to Make
Need to maintain your Thanksgiving excitement with new recipes? Try some of these fun recipes that help you drag Thanksgiving out for a week!
Thanksgiving Leftovers Made Fresh Again
Thanksgiving in a jar! It can be anything you want it to be. Great for sending home with guests, an afternoon snack, or for bringing back to school! Put them in your freezer, refrigerator, or eat them as is. They are not only colorful, but delicious as well.
Turkey & Cranberry Sauce Pizza with Goat Cheese
Americans love pizza and Thanksgiving, so why not combine the two? This recipe uses goat cheese, too! Try something new this holiday season by simultaneously reinventing a classic dish while making use of your extra turkey and cranberry sauce! This dish can function as a solo meal or made to share with family and friends.
Fried Stuffing Bites with Cranberry Sauce Pesto
Recipes that Help You Use Lots of Leftovers
Have too much leftover stuffing and potatoes to handle? Try some of these recipes that can help you use up all of your leftovers!
If you need a tasty snack while you read, relax, or watch holiday sporting events, fried stuffing bites are your answer. Think fried mac n cheese—but stuffing. A quick burst of your family’s special stuffing combined with cranberry sauce pesto will send your taste buds on a trip. Easy to handle, easy to dip, and delicious. What’s not to love?
Use up your leftover turkey in this soup recipe that will keep you warm. This hearty medley makes use of any turkey parts you have on hand—everything from the carcass to the breast. Throw in the not-so-pretty pieces for the broth, and include kale, white beans, and corn for color, texture, and taste.
Eggs in Purgatory—use up your potatoes (sweet or regular)!
This recipe helps you quickly use up your leftover potatoes—try using sweet potatoes, too! Perfect for brunch the following morning. You can even throw in some cheese (hot pepper jack is a fan favorite) into the mashed potato pancake to create an even more savory dish. Top it off with an over easy egg to create a gooey, stick to your ribs meal that will start your day off right.
Crispy Leftover Stuffing Hash with Sunnyside-Up Eggs
This hearty breakfast recipe uses up your leftover stuffing and is sure to please. Pretend like you’re preparing veggie or meat hamburger patties, only your means are stuffing and your cooking apparatus is a skillet. This tasty meal may not help your post-Thanksgiving waistline, but it will certainly clear up room in your fridge!
Credits:Food NetworkMartha StewartCooking ChannelWhole LivingOne For the TablePOPSUGARFood and Agriculture Organization of the United States