How to Make Meals Out of Leftovers

No one likes to waste food, but trying to figure out what to do with leftovers can prove to be challenging.

Moreover, how do you make meals that are both healthy and flavorful out of a mishmash of ingredients?

The following tips will help you make the most of your leftovers, so you can whip up meals and snacks with whatever happens to be laying around your kitchen.

Vegetables

It's hard to know what to do with that bag of celery you forgot to use or the odd cucumber that's going soft in your fridge. But most veggies can be easily used to make something delicious:

Smoothie. Juice your vegetables or blend them into a healthy green smoothie.

Soup. Instead of wasting your vegetables, combine them into a simple soup with some chicken broth and leftover turkey, beef or rice.

Pickled veggies. You can chop, boil and jar your leftover vegetables if you know the basics of pickling. This will ensure your veggies last a long time.

Fruits

Leftover fruit is also perfect for smoothies, but you can use it in the following ways, too:

Parfait. Make a fruit parfait out of greek yogurt, granola and leftover berries or other types of fruit.

Frozen yogurt. You can easily blend together Greek yogurt, fruit and a little bit of a sugar alternative (like stevia) in the blender. Pop it into the fridge and in a few hours you'll have frozen yogurt.

Ice pops. Make frozen popsicles out of fresh fruit and just water. Add a little sweetener if desired.

Bread

A stale loaf of bread can be easily turned into something useful:

Breadcrumbs. Using just an oven and a food processor, you can turn a loaf of bread into breadcrumbs. Season them however you like and store them to use later in recipes.

Croutons. You can also season bread, slice it into cubes and bake it into delicious crutons for salads or soups.

Eggs

Leftover eggs can be used in a variety of ways:

Protein pancakes. Combine one egg with two tablespoons of protein powder and one tablespoon of cottage cheese (add a little water if it's too dry). Stir to combine and fry up like a pancake. You can also add cinnamon and a little sweetener or top with a nut butter for more flavor.

Meringues. These egg-based cookies are usually low in calories and carbohydrates. Make them with leftover fruit, cocoa or fresh lemon.

Quiche. A quiche will use up a fair amount of eggs and it's something you can eat cold or hot, freeze for later or take on the go.

Lean Meats

Leftover proteins like chicken and turkey can be easily combined into healthy and hearty meals.

Salads. Cube and toss leftover chicken into a salad with your favorite ingredients. Make several ahead of time to have lunch for the whole week.

Chili. Leftover turkey is delicious in a big pot of chili (and it's healthier than using beef).

Wraps. Fill lettuce leaves with leftover deli meat and a piece of cheese for an easy and quick snack.

Source: Greatist