Reusing Common Leftovers…Seeds, Stems, Stalks & More – 719woman.com
I have been saving my chicken bones and vegetable scraps for years, freezing them until I have a bag of each and then making my own homemade stock, which essentially costs me nothing. I’ve used overly ripe avocados on my hair, which adds lots of shine and moisture, and eases my conscience because I didn’t just toss it and waste our money. And instead of throwing out my orange or lemon peels, I simmer them in a pot of water for a natural room freshener, again saving money, and keeping things more natural. (In the winter I like to simmer orange peel, cloves and cinnamon sticks.)
My point with these examples is that there are so many different ways you can use food items, food items you typically discard, in your daily beauty regimen, when cleaning, or in recipes you might not have thought about.
Food items you normally toss like eggshells, corn silks, watermelon seeds or pickle juice can be used in various ways…like eggshell toothpaste. Yes, eggshell toothpaste, something I personally had never heard about but is supposedly very effective in removing plaque, preventing cavities, and even whitening teeth.
Here’s the recipe for eggshell toothpaste…
And here are 15 delicious ways to use pickle juice…
http://www.bonappetit.com/test-kitchen/cooking-tips/article/15-ways-to-use-leftover-pickle-juice
A few years ago I read about the health benefits of celery leaves, something I had grown up thinking was “trash,” and ever since have added them to green salads or homemade soups and stews. (The leaves are high in vitamins, minerals, and fiber.) Again, a “freebie” ingredient, that’s good for you. Broccoli stems and cauliflower stalks can be tough and are usually cut off and then thrown away but if you slice them up, they’re great when added to a stir-fry.
Saving money, being less wasteful, and keeping things natural around your home, here are 21 foods and drinks you typically toss but can easily be used in other ways…