Did you know that strawberry stems – yes, the cute little green tops of the berries – are completely edible? Welcome back to My Ecokitchen where I showcase a delicious new low-waste recipes all month long for Earth Month! In case you missed it, we’re currently on Episode 4, which means I published 3 episodes before this – Episode 1 Carrot Tops; Episode 2 Spent Coffee; Episode 3 Watermelon Rinds. Knock yourself out!

Anyways, back to strawberries. Have you met anyone ever who DOESN’T like strawberries?! I mean, they’re SO cute, SO juicy, SO vibrant – there’s nothing not to like. And I’m not alone – strawberries & blueberries are among the most popular berries in the US and strawberries rank 3rd for ALL fruits produced in the US. This also means more waste. Fresh strawberries have one of the highest levels of waste of all fresh produce, with an estimated 64% of strawberries lost before they are ever eaten in the US. While we can’t change food systems overnight, what we can do as individuals is make some changes. Enter – strawberry stems. Let’s minimize that waste that ends up in our landfills by doing the simplest thing we can do – eat the stems. They’re completely edible and make for an easier eating experience, to be honest.

Some tips:

• Try to buy organic, so you know that there are not any harmful chemicals or pesticides that your berries have been treated with.
• Wash your berries thoroughly – I like using a mix of water and white vinegar and soaking them.
• Make sure to thoroughly dry your berries before storing them in an oxygen release container like this.
• Try eating your berries within the week you’ve purchased them.

Now, onto the easiest recipe in this series – my Strawberry Stem Smoothie. Packed with nutrients, flavor and will keep you full all day!

Strawberry Stem Smoothie Recipe: 

(serves 1)

• 1 cup of strawberries – quartered with stems
• 1/2 cup strawberry coconut yogurt
• 1 tbsp ground flaxseed
• 1 tbsp coconut sugar (or to taste)
• 1 sprig of fresh mint leaves
• 1/4-1/3 cup unsweetened plant mylk

1. Blend in a high power blender until super smooth. I recommend using a Magic Bullet, Vitamix or Ninja to make sure everything breaks down.

2. Pour into a tall glass, garnish with strawberries and mint. Enjoy!

Tune into Episode 5 of My Ecokitchen dropping this week!