Skip to Main Content

No Scrap Left Behind

My Life Without Food Waste

Published by Health Communications Inc
Distributed by Simon & Schuster

About The Book

The story of a mother’s quest to end her family’s food wasteand all the blunders that came with it.

Teralyn Pilgrim had no idea the environmental and economic impact of food waste, or that she could save $100 a month by being waste free. But when a story of hungry children fills her with unbearable guilt, she decided to make a change to the way her family approached mealtime. Despite finicky kids and a skeptical husband, Pilgrim turned her feelings of guilt into action and created a zero-food waste kitchen.

Pilgrim began her journey by defining food waste with Rule #1: the Hungry Kid Test—would you throw something edible away with a hungry child watching? If the answer is yes, it can go in the compost. If the answer is no, then it’s time to get creative.

Narrating her trials and errors—emphasis on errors—Pilgrim invites readers to her table where leftover food is a personal challenge to reduce waste, save money, and guard against squandering natural resources. Things get tricky when she discovers a five-year-old fish in her freezer, accidentally buys the grossest fat-free cookies in the world, and finds her dog is as picky as the kids. Addressing myths about how being waste-free is too hard (it’s not) and whether expiration dates mean anything (they don’t), Pilgrim teaches readers clever ways to be resourceful while also offering a broader look at why food waste matters and the global effects of this massive problem.

Both a resource for families and a call for worldwide change, No Scrap Left Behind offers nine-step program and hundreds of food-related tips to help readers find their own way to sustainable living, trim the grocery bill, and effect change...starting in their own kitchens.

About The Author

Teralyn Pilgrim is the author of Don’t Dance on the Toilet and Other Things I Never Thought I’d Say to My Kids and The Heart Project Challenge Book. She has an MFA in Creative Writing from Western New England University and a BA in English from Brigham Young University. 

Product Details

  • Publisher: Health Communications Inc (September 17, 2024)
  • Length: 368 pages
  • ISBN13: 9780757325168

Browse Related Books

Raves and Reviews

“Cooking at its best is an act of conscious love, for the people we feed but also the source of our ingredients, the earth, the sea. Like Teralyn, we're at our best as cooks when we're present, engaged and respectful of every morsel life gives us."
—Michael Smith, chef and author of Real Food Real Good

“When you stop wasting food, you save time, save your money, and help the planet. Teralyn Pilgrim’s book will guide you to do that in simple and easy steps.”
—Selina Juul, founder of the Stop Wasting Food movement

Resources and Downloads

High Resolution Images