From Loathing to Loving Leftovers
I’ll admit it – I used to be one of those people who absolutely dreaded leftovers. Growing up, my experience with packed lunches had jaded me. I’d open my lunchbox to find frozen bread or pita with thawed cream cheese, or a sad Nutella sandwich that had lost its appeal after hours in my backpack. More often than not, I’d end up tossing the whole thing in the trash, hungry and unimpressed.
By the time dinner rolled around, I was already full from snacking and had zero interest in eating what I saw as “old” food – even if it had been freshly cooked just a few hours earlier. Leftovers were a big NO for me, well into my adult life.
But fast forward to today, and my perspective on leftovers has done a complete 180. I now frequently savor meals I once dismissed as leftovers, and meal prep has firmly established itself as a crucial foundation of my cooking routine. What changed? I learned to approach meal prep and leftovers with a new mindset.
Meal Prep: A Game-Changer
Meal prep isn’t just about reheating the same dish multiple times – it’s about planning and being creative so that you can transform your relationship with food. I began intentionally choosing recipes that tasted even better after a day or two, and discovered the art of meal prepping and freezing dishes before their final cook-off.
For example, pulling out a homemade lasagna from the freezer and baking it to perfection makes it feel like a Sunday dinner without the hours of preparation. Now I embrace leftovers because I make sure to cook and teach others how to prepare meals that retain their flavor and quality when reheated.
This shift in mindset has truly transformed my relationship with meal prep and leftovers alike. I like to think of leftovers as your food getting a makeover – with a new sauce or a new flavor bomb, you’ve got a whole new meal. The more you practice the skill of being creative and trying new things with leftovers, the better you get, which makes leftovers even more fun and exciting.
Tips for Embracing Leftovers
If you’re ready to ditch the leftovers stigma and make your life easier with meal prep, here are a few tips to get you started:
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Choose tried and true recipes to start. Look for recipes that say they’re freezer-friendly or include re-heating tips.
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Embrace the freezer. Prep meals in advance and freeze them for later. This allows you to enjoy homemade meals without the hassle of cooking every day.
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Get creative with leftover makeovers. Use leftovers as ingredients for new dishes. Turn yesterday’s roasted chicken into a flavorful chicken salad or transform leftover rice into fried rice.
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Invest in quality storage containers. Good containers keep food fresh and prevent it from becoming soggy or losing its texture and flavor. I love using my Stasher bags for this.
Remember, meal prep is a game-changer that can save you time, money, and stress while helping you eat better and more nourishing foods that make you feel good. So let’s ditch the leftovers stigma and start enjoying delicious meals every day!
Transforming Leftovers with Creativity
One of the key secrets to embracing leftovers is to think of them as a blank canvas for your culinary creativity. Instead of simply reheating the same dish over and over, get inventive with how you transform those leftovers into exciting new meals.
For example, let’s say you have some leftover roasted chicken from last night’s dinner. Instead of just nuking it in the microwave, you could shred the meat and toss it with some mayo, celery, grapes, and seasonings to make a flavorful chicken salad. Serve it on a bed of greens or stuffed into an avocado half for a delicious and nutritious lunch.
Or, if you’ve got leftover rice, don’t just reheat it as is. Sauté it with some scrambled eggs, veggies, and a splash of soy sauce or sesame oil to create a tasty fried rice dish. The possibilities are endless when you start thinking outside the boring reheating box.
The more you practice this art of leftover transformation, the better you’ll get at it. And the more exciting and craveable your “leftovers” will become. Suddenly, those containers of sad-looking food in the back of your fridge will start to feel like a culinary playground, just waiting for you to work your magic.
Meal Prep for the Win
Of course, a big part of embracing leftovers is having a solid meal prep system in place. When you take the time to plan and prepare your meals in advance, you set yourself up for success when it comes to using up those leftovers in creative ways.
I’m a big believer in the power of meal prep – it’s truly been a game-changer for me. By cooking a few staple proteins, veggies, and grains at the beginning of the week, I have a ready-to-go foundation for a variety of meals. Then, when I have leftovers, I can easily mix and match those components to whip up something new and delicious.
For example, if I have leftover grilled chicken, I might toss it into a salad one day, use it in a stir-fry the next, or shred it to make chicken enchiladas later in the week. The key is having those building blocks already prepped and ready to go.
And don’t be afraid to double up on recipes when you’re meal prepping. Making an extra batch of something like chili or lasagna means you’ll have leftovers ready to go for quick, easy meals down the line. Just pop them in the freezer for a rainy day.
Meal prep might take a bit of upfront work, but the payoff is huge. Not only will you save time and money, but you’ll also be able to enjoy a variety of delicious, nourishing meals without the stress of cooking from scratch every single day. It’s a total game-changer, and the perfect foundation for embracing those leftovers with open arms.
Leftovers 2.0: Elevating the Everyday
So, what’s the secret to transforming your relationship with leftovers? It all comes down to mindset and creativity. Instead of seeing leftovers as a burden or something to be endured, start viewing them as a blank canvas for culinary exploration.
Think about the flavors and textures you enjoyed in the original dish, and brainstorm ways you can build upon them. Maybe that roasted chicken could become a tasty chicken salad, or those leftover veggies could be repurposed into a flavorful fried rice. The possibilities are endless when you open your mind to the potential of leftovers.
And don’t forget the power of meal prep. By taking the time to plan and prepare your meals in advance, you’ll not only save time and money, but you’ll also set yourself up for success when it comes to using up those leftovers in creative ways. It’s a true win-win.
So, the next time you open your fridge and see those containers of “old” food, don’t relegate them to the trash. Instead, channel your inner culinary artist and get ready to whip up something amazing. Your taste buds (and your wallet) will thank you.
