5 Surprising Uses for Fruit and Vegetable Peelings

 

 

 

There is no act too small in the movement to minimize food waste.   

 

Unknown to many is the potential of peelings to go from being discards into useful, sustainable byproducts. It’s crucial to take note that these fruit and vegetable skins and trimmings contain beneficial antioxidants, phytochemicals, fiber and a long list of vitamins. For some vegetables and fruits, the peels are even more nutritious than the flesh. 

 

So, take a step back next time you find yourself peeling fruits and vegetables and throwing all those skins away. Here you will find easy ways to reuse and repurpose those peels at home. 

 

🍊 Soak in Fragrant Citrus Oils 

Save your fresh orange, grapefruit, lemon, lime, and clementine peels to toss into a hot bath. The water draws the naturally occurring essential oils out of the fruit peels, creating a spa-like aromatic retreat that makes you feel invigorated and refreshed. 

 

🍎 Cook up Apple Facial Toner 

Fresh produce is full of vitamins that nourish your body on the inside and they can do the same when applied outside your body as well. 

 

🍋 Make Natural Spray Cleaner 

If you’re looking for a way to cut back on commercially prepared household cleansers, try creating your own from vinegar, water, and fruit peels. It’s easy to put together in just a few minutes—and with your favorite produce leftovers, you get a fresh, clean scent. 

 

🍑 Create Homemade Potpourri 

Choose a favorite decorative bowl and fill it with cinnamon sticks, pinecones from your yard, and dried fruit peels from a few apples, oranges, or lemons. Just remember to use a food dehydrator or a low oven temperature to dry out the food scraps before assembling your potpourri. 

 

🍌 Prep a Veggie Face Mask 

Convert the antioxidant-rich pulp into a body scrub by mixing in coarse raw sugar granules, olive oil, and honey—or you can use chilled food scraps as-is directly on your skin. All you have to do is apply your mixture, soak for 10 minutes, and then rinse away. To avoid clogging the shower drain, save this idea for a summer day when an outdoor rinse with the garden hose will feel refreshing. 

 

 

At The EcoFairy, our goal is to help you build a more sustainable life by offering you a line of reusable products. We offer products that last and that will help you reduce the amount of plastic you use.    

More info on our website: https://www.theecofairy.com 

 

 

 

 

 

Leave a comment

Please note, comments must be approved before they are published