One of the best ways to minimize grocery store trips and reduce food waste is to cook with what you already have on hand.To do this, knowing how to substitute ingredients in your recipes is essential. This article offers several snack ideas that are easy to bring along for your favorite winter activities.

No-Bake Energy Bites

– 1 ½ cups of oats or almond flour
– ½ cup of nut butter (peanut, almond, cashew, sunflower, etc.)
– ⅓ cup of maple syrup, date puree, or a smaller amount of honey

Here are some flavor ideas to add to this base mixture. Simply adjust the quantities to your taste!

– Dark chocolate chips and seeds (chia, hemp, flax, etc.)
– Cocoa powder
– Frozen raspberries + white chocolate chips
– Shredded coconut

Gourmet Granola

Granola is a great source of protein for long-lasting activities. It’s perfect for snacking on the go or adding to your cereal, yogurt, oatmeal, or favorite breakfast bowl.

Here’s a base recipe:

– 3 cups of rolled oats
– 1 cup of nuts (almonds, walnuts, coconut, etc.)
– 1 cup of mixed seeds (pumpkin, sunflower, pecans, sesame, hemp, chia, etc.)

Drizzle the mixture with a bit of olive oil and maple syrup, add a pinch of salt, and sprinkle cinnamon to taste. Mix well and bake at 325°F for 30 minutes, stirring every 5 minutes. Once baked, add dried fruit to taste (raisins, cranberries, blueberries, apricots, dates) and store in an airtight container.

“Clean-Out-the-Fridge” Fruit Rolls

A favorite zero-waste snack loved by kids (and grown-ups!), homemade fruit rolls are surprisingly simple to make. Just blend any fruit you have on hand (overripe ones are welcome!) with applesauce in a 2:1 ratio, then strain the mixture to remove excess water.

Spread the mixture onto a baking sheet and bake at 175°F for 3 to 4 hours, until the texture is dry to the touch. Once cooled, cut into thin strips and roll them up for an easy, portable snack whenever hunger strikes!

These flexible and versatile recipes will help keep your energy up without wasting a thing!

If you try a recipe, feel free to share your results with us in the the zero-waste community! to inspire others!

Happy cooking!

Food Waste Expert

Stéphanie Tremblay

In love with nature, Stéphanie combines her interests in the environment and food in order to raise awareness of the importance of their food choices. Her professional training and experience in environmental education make her a knowledgeable speaker who conveys her passion with enthusiasm and positivism. In her spare time, she can be found in her garden or in the forest, gathering wild edible plants.

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