The Art of Leftover Living: Eating Well, Waste Less

Jan 6

Lifelong friendships that survive the test of time, distance, and countless life changes are truly a blessing. One of those friendships for me is with Brenna, who I met 17 years ago when we were both figuring out adulthood. I have to admit—she had it way more figured out than I did back then... and she still does! I'm not afraid to admit it!

You might recognize Brenna's name from my past posts—she’s the amazing woman behind BNT Journey on Instagram and YouTube. Over the years, Brenna and I have shared a natural connection, but it’s grown even stronger as we both embraced a more sustainable lifestyle. It's not just about saving money, but also about living intentionally, protecting the environment, and creating a more peaceful life.

This past weekend, we had a massive snowstorm (our third largest snowfall in history, to be exact). With the storm keeping me housebound, Brenna and I took the opportunity to catch up on the phone. During our chat, she mentioned a “budget freeze challenge” she and her family want to try. The challenge is simple: no unnecessary spending, with a few exceptions like personal hygiene products and dairy. Unknowingly, Brenna has now challenged me to take on the same challenge—and I’m actually excited about it! Be sure to check out BNT Journey on Instagram and YouTube, as Brenna will be sharing more about it soon.

Since I couldn’t leave the house this weekend and couldn’t drive due to the weather, I dove deep into researching and preparing for the budget freeze challenge. I wrote down my “why,” brainstormed ways I’d rather use my funds, and created actionable steps to make the challenge feel sustainable (without being overly rigid). When I become too rigid, I tend to rebel against my own plans—so I’m keeping things flexible and fun! I also spent time studying gardening and food preservation (since my garden is expanding this year) and thinking about creative ways to use leftovers. As someone who’s never been a big fan of leftovers, this is a big deal for me!

I even got back into sewing, something I haven’t done in years. And on top of that, I cleaned and reorganized my storage room, sorting things into piles to keep, donate, sell, or toss. It was a daunting task, but it felt so rewarding to declutter and better see the things I already have—so I wouldn’t end up buying more than I need.

Now, let’s get back to the title of today’s post: leftovers. With the snowstorm keeping me indoors, I had to get creative with what I had on hand.

On Saturday, I had a couple of neighbors swing by for a fun game night. With only about 30 minutes' notice, I scrambled to make something to eat. I’ve always believed that when people come over, you should offer something to drink and eat, so I quickly whipped up a few dishes using leftovers and ingredients I already had in my kitchen. Earlier that day, I had made a no-knead herbed bread (a small victory since I’m not a natural baker!). Using that bread and a few leftover ingredients, I made:

Roasted Red Pepper and Avocado Grilled Cheese Sandwiches
Creamy Avocado Bruschetta Crostini

I also had a holiday gift of assorted nuts, which I placed in some beautiful porcelain dishes for easy snacking. It wasn’t a fancy spread, but it felt homemade and thoughtful.

Come Sunday, I was running on little sleep, so I just had leftovers for breakfast and lunch. But for dinner, I was craving something fresh, so I turned into a “Chopped Champion” and used what was available in my kitchen to create a delicious meal. Here’s what I made:

Herbed Basmati Rice (Instant Pot, with homemade bouillon)
Deconstructed California Roll Cucumber Salad (minus avocado and crab, as I was out of both!)
Korean Beef with Sautéed Green Beans (using what was in the freezer and fridge)

I love that I made a big batch of rice, which I can use for other meals later in the week. And the Korean beef is just as delicious (if not better) the next day. It felt like takeout—but without the extra delivery fees (and minus the crab rangoons, which was a little sad).

The moral of this story? If you, like me, don’t particularly enjoy leftovers but want to live more sustainably, there are plenty of creative ways to repurpose food. You can watch shows like Leftover Takeover (or whatever it's called!) on Netflix or explore YouTube and Masterclass for helpful tips on how to use food in fun, inventive ways. The key is to keep trying and to make it fun by changing your mindset.

If you’re interested in joining us for the budget freeze challenge, we’d love to have you! It’s all about learning, growing, and living intentionally.

As always, thank you for joining us on our journey to embrace the quiet comforts of life!