Mindfulness in the Kitchen: How Being Mindful When Cooking Can Save You Money! by Chef Gigi

We hear the word "mindful" everywhere. Did you know we can also apply mindfulness in the kitchen? How you ask? Reducing food waste is a good start. One of my dynamic culinary colleagues, Chef Alison Mountford, founder of Ends and Stems in San Francisco, Calif., taught me to repurpose everything and to strive for a 100 percent no-food waste in my own kitchen.

Below is one of the tips I decided to use, and I am committing to becoming more mindful in my daily cooking life. Chef Allison will be featured LIVE on 30Seconds Food, so make sure you catch her (more information coming soon!). She can teach you how to save money on your family food budget – and that is always welcome!

My Mindful Kitchen Tip of the Day: When there's nothing left of that wedge of Parmesan but the rind, toss it in the fridge in a resealable plastic bag. The next time you're making soup or Bolognese, drop the rind into the pot and let it simmer. It will add great umami and depth of flavor and you have just saved a chunk of change!