Mindy Chung

5 Ingredients to Start Your Own Scrappy Kitchen

updated on February 3, 2023 by Mindy Chung

Who always feels guilty throwing away food scraps? Like not the gross, moldy bits, but potatoes that have grown eyes, or spinach that’s just a *smidge* too wilted? While composting may be the first thing most people consider when trying to reduce their food waste, it’s not always a realistic option if you live in smaller spaces or live in an area with limited resources.

That’s why I love the “scrappy cooking” series created by Carleigh AKA @plantyou on Tiktok.

Carleigh’s created a whole movement unconventionally repurposing the odds and ends we don’t quite want to waste in our kitchen, but also don’t want to necessarily eat either.

And while I’m all for a Tiktok binge, I’ve decided to save everyone some time and make a list of a few common groceries that I’m sure most, if not all, of us would love to repurpose the food scraps from!

how to repurpose food scraps

Potato, Po-tah-do

While the pronunciation of this spud may be the subject of heated debate, its versatility in the kitchen is not. If you happen to peel your potato—and want to cut down your food waste—you can either season and crisp them up into potato skins or freeze them in a bag of scrapes that you can boil into veggie broth later on.

If, however, your potatoes have grown too many eyes for safe consumption, you can cut them up and propagate them in a small container of water or soil to grow your own plant (space permitting)!

Onion

Cutting an onion may make you tear up, but the thought of wasting them doesn’t have to! Like potatoes, onion scraps can be saved and frozen to make a veggie broth, or you can propagate the ends in a small jar to grow your own plant.

For a fun DIY at home, you can also boil down the skins into a natural dye for fabric! Depending on the kind of onion and fiber you’re using, you’ll get anything from a pale yellow to bright orange or even pink.

Green Onion

Green onions are one of those great plants you can grow in the smallest of spaces. If you save the bulb end, instead of throwing them away, you can stick them in a jar and they’ll keep growing so you can snip a little to cook or garnish with here and there.

To reduce food waste, if you find yourself with too much green onion, you can freeze them to be used fresh later, or dehydrate them in your oven to use as a seasoning like oregano or thyme.

Lemon

It always feels like such a waste to have to throw lemon rinds away. Never again. Depending on what you’re looking for, you can make pickled lemons to top your salads, cocktails and more. For a sweeter twist, you can mix with an equal amount of sugar to create lemon cheong for a fantastic tea to fight off the winter chill. You can also dry your rinds and grind them up to make a lemon powder for cooking!

Or, for a non-edible zero-waste solution, you can mix lemon and vinegar to create an all-purpose household cleaning spray. The possibilities are endless.

Carrots

Did you know you can eat carrot tops? Carrot tops and parsley are actually in the same veggie family, and you can use them much in the same way. Blend them into sauces or mix into a salad and reap the same nutritional benefits!

You can also freeze any carrot scrapes to add to a veggie broth, or propagate the tops to begin growing your own carrots. And if you have just the skins, you can crisp them up in the oven for a vegan alternative to bacon (yum).

What do you do with your food scraps?

The Realities of a Microplastic World

updated on May 24, 2023 by Mindy Chung

I don’t know if anyone else has seen that papaya seed cleanse on TikTok, but the sudden realization that the majority of us have some sort of parasite in our bodies gives me the willies. No one wants to think about creepy crawlies just swimming around in our gut, let alone worms. But what I think many people don’t realize is that the scary invader du jour isn’t a living critter, it’s something else entirely—microplastics in humans.

What are microplastics, and are they found in humans?

They’re exactly what they sound like—small particles of plastic that are created from the breakdown of larger bodies of plastic. For something to officially qualify as a microplastic it has to be less than 5 millimeters long. And while it seems like something that small wouldn’t be able to cause any real harm to us as humans, their size means that they can infiltrate our bodies, raising concerns about the potential for damage to our cells.

As we all know, plastics aren’t readily biodegradable like paper or wood. They take decades, if not centuries, to break down into harmless molecules. And as terrifying as it may be, scientists have recently found microplastics in people’s lungs and blood. The implications of this discovery are pretty grim—having a foreign object floating around your circulatory system, and lodging in different body parts, can cause irritation which can then lead to inflammation. While there’s no hard evidence yet for how this inflammation can affect us in the long term, there has been extensive research into the toxins present in plastic that overlaps with research into the link between lung disease, asthma, and cancer and exposure to environmental pollutants.

Unfortunately, our bodies can’t just rid themselves of these minuscule menaces; in fact, because of their size, our current water treatment facilities are unable to remove all traces of microplastics. That means they can filter into our water supplies, and already have made their way into our oceans and aquatic life.

Now, many of us know that the reason we don’t eat copious amounts of fish is because too much fish = heavy metal toxicity. And while that’s a very real and dangerous repercussion of eating too much salmon, microplastics have begun to emerge as a competing pollutant that threatens animals and the environment alike. While this may be the final straw that has some of you swearing off fish, that may not be enough to stop microplastics from filtering into your daily life.

where are microplastics found?

Microplastics can be found in consumer goods like cosmetics and synthetic clothing. For example—the microbeads in face washes and toothpastes are a kind of microplastic. (While the US passed The Microbead-Free Waters Act in 2015, it’s only one of a handful of countries that’s taken any sort of action to slow and stop the use of microbeads in consumer goods.) Sustainable clothing brands like Girlfriend have begun selling microfiber filters in an attempt to capture them before they leak from your washing machine to water streams.

The truth is that there isn’t enough research into the long-term effects of microplastics on the environment, and human life, to officially announce that they’re bad for us. But common sense dictates that you understand if a foreign object finds its way into your body, it’ll eventually wreak havoc because it’s not supposed to be there. Especially when they’re infiltrating the water we drink, the fish we eat, and the cosmetics we use.

Studies take years, even decades, to come up with irrefutable proof of danger to human life. So, while we wait for scientists to hash out how exactly microplastics are affecting our health, we can educate ourselves on their presence, and become mindful consumers that are aware of this stealthy pollutant, and how it affects everything from our oceans to our insides.

How Mushrooms are Dominating the Sustainability Movement

updated on May 24, 2023 by Mindy Chung

If you read my last blog, you know that mushrooms are currently the “it girl” when it comes to popular supplements for holistic health. Sold in a range of products—teas, coffees, and pills—they can help boost your immunity, boost mental clarity, and even help lower your cholesterol. Mushrooms are a wellspring of benefits, and it’s about time they get their time in the spotlight.

And while these perks alone make them a fantastic addition to anyone’s diet, mushrooms have a surprising versatility that allows them to go far beyond just supplements.

Mushrooms and sustainability

The benefits of mushrooms aren’t limited to just vitamins and minerals. In fact, as more innovators have looked at alternative materials for a sustainable world, mushrooms have become an adaptable source for production in packaging, fashion, and even construction.

So, as a fangirl of our fungi friends, I thought it only right to elaborate on some of the amazingly unique ways we’ve utilized mushrooms in the modern era.

Vegan Leather

While there are some mind-boggling alternatives to leather on the market now, (hello, cactus?!) mushrooms have proven to be a worthy competitor because of their short turnaround rates and minimal space needs. Although they’re currently only being produced on a smaller scale, mushroom leather has already been used in retail by big names like Stella McCartney and Adidas for womenswear and footwear respectively.

(For our eco-conscious fashionistas, our blog on innovative fabrics is a great place to get some ideas for materials to look out for when shopping for a more sustainable wardrobe.)

Fun(gi) Packaging

There’s been a big uptick in consumer demand for biodegradable and recycled packaging in the last decade or so. Smaller companies, who have more control over what materials they use and are impacted more heavily by their buyers’ preferences, have been able to match this demand and incorporate sustainable sourcing into their business model. But it’s been hard for larger corporations to phase out single-use plastic because of the sheer volume of demand.

While one might shrug and just assume the mega-brands of the world will never change, Ikea has shown that using mycelium packaging is possible. They’ve started to replace Styrofoam with fungi, and have even pledged to phase out plastic packaging by 2028. They’ve proven that size doesn’t matter when it comes to switching to sustainable practices. However, I’m sure for most companies, profit is what rules those decisions.

Greener Building Blocks

“Mycotecture” is a way of turning mushrooms into renewable, natural building bricks that are twice as strong as concrete. They’re fire-resistant and lightweight, and can reduce the waste created from growing edible mushrooms by using the leftovers after harvest to build these bricks. While there’s been promising results in early research, fungi bricks still have a lot of testing to pass before they can be used in residential and commercial building.

Meat Alternatives

I think we’ve all seen those scallops made from oyster mushrooms. Or the shiitakes used as burger patties. Mushrooms have always been a solid choice for vegetarian alternatives because of their meatier texture and umami flavor, but what I don’t think some people realize is that there are brands now that make “official” mushroom meat products.

Eat Meati was founded in Colorado in 2016 and sells vegan steaks and cutlets made from mycelium. It’s kind of unbelievable how realistic their products look but unfortunately, for most vegans and vegetarians, buying their products is a bit difficult at this stage in the company’s growth. While they distribute to store in Colorado and Arizona, the only way to buy online is to sign up for notifications and cross your fingers that you’re one of the few folks they send a small batch to each month.

Have you heard all the buzz about mushrooms and sustainability? Which gives you the most hope for a more environmentally friendly future?

6 Powerhouse Mushrooms to Add to Your Diet

updated on July 4, 2022 by Mindy Chung

I don’t know why, but talking about mushrooms always makes me giggle. Maybe it’s because when you mention mushrooms people seem to imagine hippies, and tie-dye, and lots of fringe. They think that you’re going to tell them a story about transcending the universe or limping through a bad trip. But with the rise in holistic health and natural supplements, mushrooms have taken on a whole new purpose and image in the public eye.

Curiosity and experimentation have driven a new interest in the health benefits of non-psychoactive mushrooms; they’ve been shown to help with anxiety, stress, and even sleep. And while I can’t choose the best mushroom supplement for your personal needs, this guide will help you decipher which mushroom has the kind of benefits you’re looking for. Here are the 6 most common mushrooms you’ll find today, and what they’re supposed to help with.

best mushroom supplement for health + what they do

Cordyceps for energy

These mushrooms are known for helping your body oxygenate more efficiently. That means better blood flow, and in turn, more energy. Cordyceps are a great choice for athletes or anyone prioritizing their physical health. They’ve been shown to improve performance, speed up recovery time, and may also help with libido. So, whether you’re trying to work up a sweat in the gym, or in the bedroom, this mushroom has got your back.

Lion’s Mane for the brain

One of the most potent medicinal mushrooms, lion’s mane is a fantastic aid for mental clarity and cognition. Full of antioxidants, this hairy mushroom boosts immunity while lowering anxiety. It helps to create calm focus, promotes memory retention, and is great for anyone who needs help studying. It’s amazing for brain health because it fosters and promotes nerve growth and preservation, which can help prevent neurological diseases like Alzheimer’s later on in life.

Reishi for your mood

I feel like out of all the mushroom supplements, reishi has been dominating center stage the last few years. It’s no surprise when you consider its calming effects; in a world that’s full of stressful situations, I’m sure everyone could use some help relaxing now and then. The effects of reishi can also help with depression and sleep as it boosts and stabilizes your mood via the powerful antioxidant, triterpene, it contains. So if you’re looking for something to help you wake up a little happier every day, or maintain your mood throughout the day, reishi may be just what you need.

Turkey Tail for immunity

I always think this is such a funny name, but if you’ve ever seen a fresh turkey tail, you’d know the moniker is pretty accurate. This striped and fan-shaped mushroom has been studied for its cancer-fighting properties, and contains a compound called polysaccharide-K (PSK) which is known to stimulate the immune system. Turkey tail is so effective it’s used in Asia as a supplement to cancer treatments, and is being studies for its potential to slow tumor growth. This mushroom is a great choice for anyone who is particularly conscientious about their physical health and wellness.

Chaga for aging

While every one of these mushrooms is a great source of antioxidants, chaga is a particularly great choice for combating oxidative stress, which is known to cause skin aging. Its anti-inflammatory properties mean that it can also help with feeling old, and not just with physical signs of aging. This is a great choice for someone who may be a little older, who wants to look as youthful as they feel.

Shiitake for cholesterol

A common edible mushroom used in a variety of cuisines, shiitakes make seem more like an average joe in comparison to the other fungi on this list. But while the delicious umami-flavor may be what initially attracts you to this mushroom, shiitakes are actually also known to promote heart health and lower cholesterol. They contain eritadenine, a compound that inhibits an enzyme that can contribute to the production of cholesterol, as well as sterols, which block cholesterol absorption in your body. So, if you’re looking to switch out the Cheerios or Special K for something less sugary, shiitakes may be something you’d like to add to your diet.

Have you ever tried a mushroom supplement?

Your Guide To Vegan Leather… That’s Actually Sustainable

updated on September 9, 2023 by Mindy Chung

Why is it that when a tall, dark, and handsome stranger is introduced in a romance novel they’re always described as smelling like leather? Sure, society’s taught us to associate the animal-byproduct with luxury and masculinity, but even if you know it’s not all that, you might wonder if leather alternatives are actually sustainable.

Truth is that innovators in the industry have been working hard to come up with a handful of alternative sources for leather, and they’re a lot better than they used to be! While PVC and PU leather used to be popular choices, sustainability demands have driven interest and research into vegan leather made from plants and vegetative life forms, not plastic. So here’s a fascinating list of all the crazy, delightful, and beautiful ways industry disruptors have been changing the leather game:

Sustainable leather alternatives that aren’t made made from plastic

Piñatex Pineapple Leather Alternatives

Created and distributed by Ananas Anam, Piñatex is the brainchild of Dr. Carmen Hijosa.

This vegan leather solves a huge problem with agricultural waste in the Philippines; it takes the leaves left over from pineapple harvesting and repurposes them into a leather-like material that can be used in fashion, accessories, and upholstery. According to their website, Ananas Anam use GOTS certified pigments to color their materials (yay!) but also uses a PU transfer coating to create one of their offshoot materials, Piñatex Performance (boo).

This sustainable leather alternative has been used by big names like Hugo Boss, H&M and Hilton, and the company that produces Piñatex, Ananas Anam, is actually a Certified B Corporation now!

Banbū Bamboo

Produced by Von Holzhausen for their own bags and shoes, Banbū can also be bought by other companies looking to branch into a sustainable leather goods centered business.

Bamboo is one of the most regenerative plants on Earth; that’s why we keep seeing more and more goods made from it. According to Von Holzhausen, Banbū is biodegradable, recyclable, and uses 33% less carbon than normal leather.

Mylo Fungi Leather

Made from mycelium (a.k.a. mushrooms) Mylo was engineered by Bolt Threads, and is described as “Magical thinking meets radical intention.”

Mylo is described as bio-based, and verified vegan during its growth process. The mycelium used to make Mylo grows in just two weeks in a base of sawdust and organic materials. All by-products of the process are composted, and Mylo is made into leather with what Bolt Threads refers to as “Green Chemistry principles.”

Because Mylo is so new, the company expects to have real values and numbers on its environmental impact in 2022, but lacks proof of its sustainability just yet. Regardless, the fungi-based leather alterative has already been used by companies like Adidas, Lululemon, and Stella McCartney in a range of consumer goods. It’s definitely one to watch!

SCOBY Kombucha Leather

Okay, I’m going to be honest. I discovered Scoby leather on Tiktok. It was being made and used by a small creator who had a whole process for making accessories for personal use.

As far as I can tell this is more of a small-time, underground, leather alternative; while you can buy Scoby goods online, they’re all from small business owners. That’s probably because there’s some kinks in its viability—Scoby leather is not waterproof so it needs a sealing process which can bring down its sustainability and durability.

Research is on track to explore if this vegan leather can be mass-produced, but for now if you want a choker made from Scoby you’ll have to buy from a small business (oh no 😉).

Desserto® Cactus Leather

One of the materials I’ve seen blow up the most in recent times, Desserto®’s cactus leather has been making waves in the leather goods industry.

Created by Mexican entrepreneurs, Adrián López Velarde and Marte Cázarez, Desserto® is made from nopal (a cactus) and first showcased in 2019 in Milan. The pair chose cactus because of its role as a natural carbon sink and soil regenerator. Desserto® is USDA Organic certified and 50% of their processed harvest is repurposed into feed stock to repurpose and reduce their by-products.

Desserto® is currently only used by larger companies like Fossil and Mercedez-Benz because of its minimum order requirements, but hopefully that changes as cactus leather becomes more accessible for everyday consumers.

Have you heard of these vegan leather alternatives? Let us know any other innovations you’d add to this list.

5 Vegetarian Food Brands That Focus on Sustainability

updated on May 24, 2023 by Mindy Chung

Does anyone else remember the absolute hullabaloo that accompanied the launch of the Impossible burger? (While I love that a convincing vegetarian-friendly alternative was created, the whole fake blood thing weirded me out.) Its introduction ushered us into a whole new chapter of consumerism around vegan and vegetarian food brands; suddenly, fast food chains like Burger King and Taco Bell were clamoring to jump on the bandwagon.

Truth be told I was never particularly interested in vegetarian alternatives growing up. I liked burgers, and steaks, and fish sticks; but a few years ago I got the Big Ick, and meat became unpalatable. I started exploring brands that I’d always seen but never tried, and in the process fell in love with companies like Boca and Quorn. (Which in turn made me try vegan cheeses and ice creams, but god I love dairy.)

And while the convenience and accessibility of these brands makes them appealing, constantly striving for a more sustainable lifestyle means critically assessing the invisible impact they may be having on the environment. You have to ask about production, and ask, what kind of packaging do these vegetarian food brands use? Are they recyclable, compostable, or made in some way to combat plastic-waste? What other sustainability efforts are they making?

Because, while going vegan may be better for the environment in comparison to the eating cows and chickens, if everyone is greenwashing their packaging, are we really making a difference?

eco friendly vegetarian food brands

That’s why I wanted to highlight companies I found to be going above and beyond simple performative gestures. So here’s a list of brands doing their part to build a business model that factors in sustainability and eco-friendly manufacturing!

No Evil Foods

While brands like Impossible and Beyond are dominating the plant-based meat alternative market, grassroots companies like No Evil Foods are pioneering the way to eliminating plastic and packaging waste in their products. No Evil Foods uses compostable materials, and is the first company to achieve a plastic-negative plant meat.

Tache

I think one of the most horrifying millennial revelations was finding out how bad almond milk actually is for the environment. And while I have a particular soft spot for oat milks in particular, I may have to try Tache to support a female-founded company that emphasizes sustainability with its less-impactful pistachio milk and recyclable packaging.

Urban Remedy

A Certified B Corp food company, Urban Remedy offers meals, snacks, and juices made in partnership with local farmers. They package in BPA-free bottles and containers that are recyclable, and upcycled 300 lbs. of organic pulp into Urban Remedy products in 2021.

Follow Your Heart

The creators of Vegenaise, Follow Your Heart has been striving for sustainability since its creation in 1970. They’re the first plant-based manufacturing facility in the US to achieve Platinum Level Zero Waste Certification by TRUE certification, and divert over 98% of their waste from landfills through recycling, composting, etc. Their dedication to sustainability has led them to continually prioritize solar power at their manufacturing plants, and they have over 2,000 panels creating over 300,000 kWH of green energy per year.

So Delicious

If you’re unlucky enough to be lactose-intolerant, chances are you’ve enjoyed one of So Delicious’ many dairy-free products. And while they’re already doing a stellar job expanding their products to include different alternative sources like oat, cashew and coconut milk, So Delicious has also dedicated itself to being a fully recyclable, reusable or compostable company by 2025. They currently use recycled paperboard and fiber in their packaging, and are also eco-conscious with where they source their ingredients from.

What other vegan or vegetarian food brands would you add to this list?

Mindy Chung

how to repurpose food scraps

Potato, Po-tah-do

Onion

Green Onion

Lemon

Carrots

What are microplastics, and are they found in humans?

where are microplastics found?

Mushrooms and sustainability

Vegan Leather

Fun(gi) Packaging

Greener Building Blocks

Meat Alternatives

best mushroom supplement for health + what they do

Cordyceps for energy

Lion’s Mane for the brain

Reishi for your mood

Turkey Tail for immunity

Chaga for aging

Shiitake for cholesterol

Sustainable leather alternatives that aren’t made made from plastic

Piñatex Pineapple Leather Alternatives

Banbū Bamboo

Mylo Fungi Leather

SCOBY Kombucha Leather

Desserto® Cactus Leather

eco friendly vegetarian food brands

No Evil Foods

Tache

Urban Remedy

Follow Your Heart

So Delicious

photos by Charity