Food waste is at an all-time high these days. Many of us live in a society of excess, where throwing away leftover food is commonplace. How many times have you opened your fridge only to find a forgotten head of broccoli, an over-ripe pear or a mushy red pepper? Unfortunately, this happens to the best of us. But with the high food prices and the amount of people that go hungry each day, there’s no excuse for throwing anything edible away.

Here’s a simple and tasty solution: soup! Once a week, peek into your fridge and look for the fruits and vegetables that are nearing their end. Rinse and chop the produce and put them into one freezer-safe bag. Then when you are short on time and need dinner in a hurry, take out your frozen vegetables and make a nice warm pot of soup.

Here’s how: Add olive oil to a deep pot, followed by the bag—yes, the entire bag—of frozen veggies. Let the veggies sauté about 10 minutes, and then give everything a good smashing with a wooden spoon. Add a can of cannellini beans or cubes of firm tofu and about 10 cups of water. Then season with salt, pepper and mushroom seasoning. Simple. Even better than it being delicious is the fact that it’ll be ready in just a few minutes, and nothing—yes nothing—will be wasted.

Remember, cooking doesn’t have to be a long process. Think about the ingredients you already have on hand. What can you use? Chances are, there’s something in your fridge, freezer, or pantry that will give you a good shortcut. And soup is always a good way to use up leftovers—simply add leftover sautéed veggies, leftover rice or pasta, and even leftover chicken or fish into a pot of boiling broth or water. Chances are, if you enjoyed your dinner the night before, the leftover soup will be even tastier. Better yet—that lonely head of broccoli won’t get pushed to the back of the fridge. So sit back and enjoy your warm bowl of soup while you reflect on the extra time you gained by not having to create a new meal. Aah. Dinner served!

Looking to follow a recipe?

Check out our recipe section for soups galore!

Join Us: January 15-22, 2023!

Grand Master Lu holds four seasonal cleanses throughout the year to help you transition—body, mind and spirit—into the coming season. Keep an eye out for our warming, Qi-enhancing Winter journey from January 15-22, 2023.