Introduction
Leftover lunchbox food can be a waste of money. But with a bit of creativity, you can transform those stale wraps or crushed crisps into delicious meals for the whole family. Here are three savvy ways to use up your leftovers and save some cash.
It's a Wrap: Homemade Tortilla Chips
If you have some leftover wraps, don't throw them away. Instead, turn them into homemade tortilla chips. Preheat the oven to 180-200C, brush both sides of the tortillas with oil, and cut them into triangles. Bake them in a single layer on baking sheets for 6-8 minutes, then sprinkle them with salt. Serve them on their own or with dips for a quick and tasty snack. For a more substantial meal, pile the cooked chips onto a baking dish and add chopped fresh tomato, soft cheese, chopped red onion, and spicy tinned beans. Pop them back in the oven for five minutes and serve as DIY nachos.
Crispy Crackers: Tasty Coating for Chicken or Fish
If you have uneaten packs of crisps or crushed ones at the bottom of a school bag, don't let them go to waste. Use the crumbs to make a tasty coating for chicken or fish. Dip the chicken chunks in seasoned flour, then in whisked egg, and finally in crumbled crisps. Fry them in oil or your air fryer and serve with mayo or ketchup. It's a simple way to add a crunchy twist to your favorite proteins.
Apple Turnovers: Transforming Lingering Apples
Don't let the apples lingering in your lunchbox go bad. Soft apples can be used in smoothies, pickles, chutneys, or even added to a curry. You can also stew old apples to make apple sauce or use them in a crumble. Another option is to slice up an apple after quickly cooking it in boiling water, freeze it in a single layer, and then pack it into bags once frozen. These frozen apples can be used to make apple cake or apple sauce, giving your desserts a fruity twist.
For more ideas on how to use up leftovers from your lunchbox, visit lovefoodhatewaste.com.
