As nearly 70,000 people filled the stadium in Nevada to watch the Super Bowl this Sunday, we were thrilled to hear that the Food Recovery Network will collect the estimated 140,000 pounds of surplus food from the event to feed the food-insecure people in Las Vegas. But we can’t help but think about the additional 300 million people who will be tuning in across the nation, many also hosting or attending parties that often lead to extra leftovers and food waste.
So, whether you’re a sports fan or not – this weekend is the perfect reminder that it’s easy to use leftovers and prevent food waste at home! And we couldn’t resist sharing one of our favorite recipes that would make an ideal addition to your game-day feast.
What’s your leftover plan? When you create your menu, consider how you might use leftover meals or excess ingredients later. This gives you the opportunity to adjust your preparation technique so it’s more useful later. Are you a fan of chicken wings? Maybe prepare pulled chicken sandwiches instead so any leftovers can be turned into soup, casseroles, topped on salads, or even frozen for later use. Small adjustments to how and what you prepare can set you up for multiple successful meals!
Stay Flexible! If a recipe calls for something you rarely use and won’t use in its entirety, consider a substitution or omission. And if that ingredient is crucial to the dish, look up other recipes so you’ll use it all! Reference this helpful guide from the New York Times for ways to adapt in the kitchen.
Keep the party rolling!
When we hosted Friendsgiving for our volunteers, we encouraged people to bring Tupperware to take leftovers home! This small action means the host keeps only what their household can eat while sharing in the abundance. Invite friends to bring dishes or provide reusable takeaways as a thoughtful gift. Either way, you’ll enjoy having less in your fridge and knowing less food is going to waste.
Most leftovers are safe to eat only 3-4 days after preparation *if stored properly.* Thinking forward can help you immediately freeze or share items you know you won’t consume in that period. Review this article from Consumer Reports: Thanksgiving Leftover guide for proper food storage and handling tips.
People waste food at home because they don’t like how something tastes the next day – textures can change, or maybe you had your fill and crave variety. Whatever the reason, get creative and transform leftovers into something you will eat.
Did you know crudités or leftover veggie tray items can easily be transformed into a soup, frittata, or strata? Fried rice is another dish that you can easily adapt to include leftover ingredients of all kinds! Get inspired for the perfect ways to repurpose popular game-day meals from Food and Wine.
Or revisit our past recipes below for more adaptive ways to use leftovers!
We make a lot of meatballs in the Second Chance Foods kitchen. They’re easy to make, travel, and keep well, and are enjoyed by all ages of our food recipients. Meatballs are also very adaptable – so you know we throw veggies whenever possible! So, if you want to try a new meatball or make an easy appetizer for Sunday, you’ll love these Jerk Turkey (or Chicken) meatballs. Serve them as a main course over rice or reduce the size for a crock pot treat.
Though we wish we could supply food to everyone in need, Second Chance Foods cannot provide meals or groceries directly to individuals. Our solution is to collaborate with existing programs in the community and supplement their food with our meals and groceries. If you or someone you know is in need of assistance, please refer to our resource page here for our partnerships and local options.
120 Marvin Ave
Brewster, NY 10509
Volunteer Questions contact Volunteer Coordinator Melissa Paladino 845-723-1309
For all other questions please contact us at 845-723-1315
