The Best Bit Of The Humble Broccoli, A NZ Family Favourite, Is Currently Being Thrown Away In Staggering Amounts

The best bit of the humble broccoli, a NZ family favourite, is currently being thrown away in staggering amounts. LeaderBrand’s Richard Burke says each year, more than 282 tonnes of broccoli stems end up in household landfill waste. He says this is a staggering amount of waste and a huge waste of money. Broccoli stalks are edible and they taste great and a third of us are throwing them away! Food scraps make up almost half the weight of the average Auckland household’s rubbish with new figures showing New Zealanders throw out more than $3 billion worth of food each year – more than $1,500 per household per year. Richard Burke suggests eating every part of the vegetable that you’ve bought makes financial sense. And 5 + A Day – the charitable trust committed to increasing the consumption of fresh fruit and vegetables agrees. Team leader at Plant and Food Research, Dr Carolyn Lister says broccoli stems are just as important as the head, or floret of the plant. They provide valuable nutrients such as vitamin C, to support immunity, and folate to help the body form red blood cells and dietary fibre which keeps you feeling full for longer.”