Colorado Reader November 2018: Taste It, Don't Waste It! | Page 7

Tips for Home What can YOU and your family do at home? Check out these tips: Tip #1: Store it! - Research the best place for storing fruits and veggies. Sometimes it’s outside the fridge, like with potatoes. Keep spuds in a cool, dark place. Tip #2: Wash it when you use it! - Wash fruits and vegetables just before you use them, not before you store them. This will help them stay fresh longer. Tip #3: Plan it! - Plan your weekly meals before going to the store. Tip #4: Eat it! - Plan an “eat the leftovers” night each week. Fruits and vegetables (also called produce) are the types of food wasted most often, accounting for 39 percent of wasted food. Dairy products are second at 17 percent, followed by meat at 14 percent. Do you like cooking? Guess what? Sometimes people throw away things that could be used to make a delicious dish. You can make yummy things to eat with potato peels, chicken bones, and brown bananas. With an adult’s permission and help, try this recipe! Kid Recipe - Baked Potato Peels Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Ingredients: • Potato peels • Butter or oil to lightly coat the peels • A pinch of salt • Seasonings (optional: dry herbs, black pepper, chili powder, etc.) Preparation tips: Before you peel the potatoes, be sure to wash them well. For crispy, crunchy peels, cut them thinner. For softer peels, cut them thicker. If there’s no time to bake the peels right away, put them in a bowl of water with a pinch of salt and refrigerate for up to one week. Spray or toss peels in a small amount of oil. One teaspoon of melted butter is enough to toss peels from six medium potatoes. Layer peels on a baking sheet and sprinkle with a little salt and/or seasonings. Bake at 450 degrees for 20-30 minutes. For crispier peels, bake about 30 minutes. For softer peels, bake about 20 minutes. Turn peels once during baking so they are baked evenly on both sides. Peels can be eaten with ketchup, ranch dressing, cheese, or sour cream. Be creative! www.GrowingYourFuture.com - 7