For most of us, food is not only something that sustains us: it’s something we use to connect with others and celebrate life’s joyous moments. Yet for all of its positives, food can also cause some of our anxiety, particularly when it comes to waste.

The good news is there are many creative solutions being tested by sustainability organizations to find new ways to reduce food waste. These practices are generally called waste-free cooking or zero-waste cooking.

What is Waste-Free Cooking?

The name really does say it all: waste-free cooking means trying to prepare meals and have a little food and packaging waste as possible. This concept relies on the 3 Rs you’ve probably heard of before: 

• Reduce – Use less food, cook smaller portions, etc.
• Reuse – Instead of throwing out usable food scraps, reuse them in imaginative ways. You know, like grandma used to.
• Recycle – Get into the habit of composting your food scraps.

Benefits of Waste-Free Cooking

Let’s start with some of the big, obvious benefits of adopting this way of eating and preparing food. 

Current estimates suggest nearly 133 billion pounds of food are thrown away each year, just in the United States alone! In some cases, a single person may throw away over 600 pounds of food each year. How many dollars end up in landfills by doing this? When you waste less food, you waste less money.

Waste-free cooking also reduces waste from food packaging and takeout boxes. The EPA reports that nearly a quarter of all trash in landfills is from food-related, single-use plastics and other materials. Waste-free cooking helps protect the environment.

And finally, waste-free cooking can be incredibly fun because it forces you to think in new and creative ways!

Getting Started

It’s easy to get started with waste-free cooking. Here are three important tips:

• Plan well – Meal planning needs to go beyond WHAT you’re going to eat and incorporate HOW you’ll prepare the meal and the ingredients you need (and can leave out).
• Repurpose what you can – Get creative when using those leftovers. Experimenting is a key component in this lifestyle!
• Store foods properly – Most of us mean well when we grocery shop, but food inevitably spoils when it sits too long on counters and shelves. Buy the right storage containers and learn how to store different foods properly to extend shelf life.

Reducing waste when preparing and eating meals is a great way for you to have fun, save money, and lessen your environmental impact.

SOURCES:

• https://www.eatingwell.com/article/7935948/top-10-food-nutrition-trends-2022/
• https://wastefreecooking.com/
• https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/zero-waste-cooking-eating

When you think about it, your brain is a pretty important organ. In fact, it’s like the CEO of your body’s corporation. So it’s important you do all you can to keep it healthy and working optimally.

When it comes to the health of our brain, diet cannot be overlooked. There are certain foods that are chockfull of nutrients our brains need to be healthy, such as antioxidants, healthy fats, vitamins, and minerals. 

If you want your brain to be as healthy as possible, then you’ll want to start eating more of the following brain foods:

1. Avocados

Avocados are loaded with monosaturated fat, which is a healthy fat that has been shown to reduce rates of cognitive decline and keep blood sugars nice and steady. And thanks to the vitamin K and folate in avocados, your brain will be protected from blood clots (stroke) and memory loss.

2. Dark Chocolate

Chocolate lovers rejoice! Dark chocolate is actually very good for your overall health, especially the health of your brain. Dark chocolate is full of powerful antioxidants called flavonols, which also have anti-inflammatory properties. Studies have shown cocoa has the ability to increase cerebral blood flow and cerebral blood oxygenation. In addition, it helps lower blood pressure in your brain and heart.

But before you go out and buy a bag full of Snickers, these health benefits just listed come from dark chocolate, not milk chocolate, which is loaded with extra fat and sugar. A good rule of thumb is the darker the chocolate the healthier it is for you! So look for dark chocolate with at least 70% cocoa to reap these brain benefits

3. Eggs

There was a time where eggs were vilified, but new science has proven eggs – yolk and all – are not only healthy but an absolute superfood!

Eggs are an excellent source of several nutrients your brain needs, including vitamins B6 and B12, folate, and choline. Most people don’t get enough choline, and choline is responsible for creating acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter that helps regulate mood and memory.

If you eat more of these 3 foods every week, your brain will thank you!

SOURCES:

• https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/11-brain-foods
• https://draxe.com/nutrition/15-brain-foods-to-boost–focus-and-memory/
• https://www.health.harvard.edu/healthbeat/foods-linked-to-better-brainpower