Photo Source: https://www.treehugger.com/things-you-should-start-adding-your-compost-pile-4858579
Curious about composting? The general rule of thumb is anything that comes from the ground can return to it. However, the specific rules, ‘correct’ equipment, and typical timeline can be confusing. Daunting even, especially when done at home. Luckily, the May Go Green Illinois meeting was all about food scrap composting! If you missed the presentations, check out the Go Green Illinois YouTube page for a recording of the meeting.
In the meantime, here are some compost-friendly meal ideas that will help you and the soil get essential nutrients. Given the notion that ‘what comes from the earth can return,’ most fully compostable meals involve primarily fruit and vegetables. Otherwise put, compost-friendly meals are typically also vegetarian or vegan, which innately suggests that they hold many health benefits for the consumer on top of eventually returning nutrients to the soil. Leftovers or scraps from preparing the following easy and customizable dishes can be composted:
1. Salads. Without meat or dairy products, salads can still be delicious! Whether fruit or vegetable based, consider utilizing a base other than lettuce or leafy greens. For instance, a tomato, pepper, chickpea, and onion salad is a great option. Grains such as rice or quinoa make a good base or topping for a heartier salad, too.
2. Lettuce Wraps & Tacos & Sandwiches. Who doesn’t love a taco or burrito? Next time you are whipping up a vegetarian or vegan wrap, taco, or sandwhich, consider substituting your flour or corn wrap with lettuce leaves.
3. Smoothies. Though there is rarely any leftovers from a smoothie (at least for me) and different bases added may not be compostable, all of the non-blended fruit and veggie scraps from preparing one can 100% decompose.
4. Beans Over Beef. This does not mean serving beans on top of your next steak. Rather, it suggests substituting your next burger or lamb chop with a bean-based patty. Such patties can include beans (obviously), corn, beets, other legumes, and species, therefore providing a multitude of flavor options not possible with meat. (Check any packaging for dairy ingredients before composting.)
5. Potatoes. To quote my mother, “I have never met a potato that I did not like.” From homemade fries, baked potatoes, twice baked potatoes, stir fry, potato pancakes, and of course mashed potatoes, there are an infinite number of delicious, filling, and compostable (when not mixed with dairy) dishes possible from this wonderful vegetable. There are also a wide variety of different potatoes to try – sweet potatoes and different colors of potato can all add to a dish.
