Image source, Ysgol Gyfn Jimraag Penwedigh
- author, Rowena Hoskin
- role, BBC News
Have you ever looked in your fridge and ended up throwing out food you didn’t know how to use?
A recipe book detailing how to use leftovers has won students from Ysgol Gyfn Gymraig Penwedigh in Aberystwyth top prize in the UK Youth Enterprise Competition.
Their bilingual book, Sbarion – Datrysiad i Wastraff [Leftovers – A Solution to Waste] As a result, the Year 10 and 12 teams have also qualified for the European Finals in Sicily next week.
The book features 20 recipes, many of which can be adapted using ingredients you have in the back of your fridge or cupboard, such as making carrot gnocchi with leftover carrots.
What to do with stale bread? Try bread cookies, but don’t forget the chocolate.
One student, Eila, said the students chose a combination of “family recipes” and other recipes that they “thought were interesting,” and then came together for a “big sleepover” to cook all of the dishes they’d chosen.
“I think that was one of the highlights of the year,” she said.
What are their favorite recipes?
Making potato chips out of potato skins “takes something you would definitely throw away and turns it into a snack you can pop in the oven in five minutes.”
Ayla said the recipes can also be adapted or act as “templates for things you can add to yourself.”
“Some of the recipes call for things like green peas, but you can easily substitute any vegetable or whatever ingredients you have on hand.”
The group of eight students formed in September last year and decided to develop a product that tackles food waste, considering its environmental and economic impact when applying for a UK Young Enterprise Business.
When we waste food, we also waste the energy and water required to grow, harvest, transport and package it.
When food ends up in a landfill and rots, it releases methane, a greenhouse gas that contributes to global warming.
Megan, another member, said seeing the statistics made her want to “create a solution.”
The recipe book is available at farmers’ markets, primary schools and Siop Inc in Aberystwyth, which is now stocking it for the second time.
The team founded a company called Llanw. [Tide] Eira said the piece captures the “beauty of our hometown” and “reflects the demographic of people involved in team building.”
They filmed cooking videos that can be accessed via a QR code included in the book.
“Along with being bilingual, we felt that would really make our products stand out on the shelves,” Megan says.
They beat 13 other finalists to win two awards: “Best Technology and Innovation” and “Company of the Year.”
So far 55 copies have been purchased, and Megan said it “feels very special”.
To raise funds for the project, they made and sold hair scrunchies, Christmas cards and decorations, and partnered with local businesses.
The young people said they learned a lot from the experience.
“I want to run my own business in the future,” Nera said.
The company is preparing to take on European companies in the final round on July 3rd.
Whatever the outcome, Megan said she would be “very proud to be representing Wales on such a big stage.”
