Be a pumpkin-eater

The United States produces about 1.5 billion pounds of pumpkins a year, an estimated two-thirds of which end up used as decorations, before being sent to the landfill. Give a pumpkin a second life by eating what’s left. The seeds, roasted and seasoned to your taste, make a snack high in zinc, copper and protein. As for the flesh, the Internet abounds with recipes ranging from pumpkin Sloppy Joes (at www.onceamonthmeals.com) to milkshake and pickled rind recipes (www.thedailygreen.com). Take advantage of discounted pumpkins after Halloween to experiment with more—and if you’re hopeless in the kitchen, at least compost your pumpkin.