What a waste...
As Dink Cuisine continues to evolve, I’ve been fascinated to learn which of our messages are resonating most - and why! It turns out that many of our followers prefer recipes for two to minimize food waste.
A few years ago, my frustration with “standard recipes for four” reached a boiling point. Ever the obedient soldier, I’d follow these recipes to a tee, only to lament the addition of another food storage container, packed with leftovers, that I’d feel pressured to eat.
There’s something fundamentally uncomfortable with this scenario. Why are we cooking so much? I don’t mean why are we cooking so frequently. I literally mean why are we cooking so much?
Not all of us have big families to feed. Many of us are single, childless by choice, empty nesters, widowed - not to mention health conscious. It’s not lost on us that preparing our favorite recipes is a zero-sum game. We eat a portion or two. The other portions generally end up in the trash.
Simply put, a decision to make a recipe that feeds more people than are in your household may cause you to overbuy, leading you to overcook, and potentially overeat - or just as bad, throw food away. Sadly, this systemic behavior has far reaching consequences well beyond our local landfills. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), food production is responsible for about a third of the world’s energy consumption and over 20% of greenhouse gas emissions.
Such is the evolution of Dink Cuisine. What started as a fun, catchy way for me to showcase some of my favorite savory recipes is evolving into an opportunity to influence culinary behavior, and advocate for more sustainable cooking practices. Grandiosity aside, change starts with me. There are two pork chops in the fridge - and I’m not counting on any leftovers!
XO
DINK stands for Dual Income No Kids - but you don’t have to be a dink to savor our food. We’re into recipes for two to minimize food waste, control portions, and savor every bite!
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