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Gourmet Garbage

My wife created this great expression one day, when we were filling our trash bags for collection. We had clam shells, lobster shells, shrimp shells and shells from mussels. Gourmet Garbage.  

Just for now, let's drill down and think about the idea of gourmet garbage. Basically, it's trash that speaks for the food that you eat. In our case, it showed that we ate quite a bit of shellfish. What else would be in gourmet garbage? Well, how about  skins, peels and stems from fresh vegetables? How about peels and rinds from fresh fruits? Or even shells from escargot.

Pizza boxes, boxes that held frozen prepared dinners, or boxes used to make mac and cheese are, in my opinion, not gourmet garbage. They also speak of a diet that's high in fat and sodium.

Sometimes we don't eat shellfish. Sometimes we have bones from lamb chops or the occasional T-bone steak. Sometimes it's the frame or skeleton from fin fish. Or even the shells from pumpkin seeds or peanuts. . .Or the shells from edamame beans. You get the idea.

The point is, that the better and more healthfully you eat, the more gourmetlike your garbage will be. Strive to produce the snobbiest, most gourmet garbage on your block!

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