November 2024

Wasteful Nation:

I was in Dallas on Thanksgiving eating breakfast before going to Jerry’s World and seeing the Dallas Cowboys play. A day of firsts for Blake and I. We were at the AT&T Stadium and saw the Cowboys win in person! In the morning, we ate breakfast at the hotel, they had a buffet, or you could order something off the menu. We haven’t eaten buffets in forever so Jodi, Blake and I ordered off the menu like a few other people in the restaurant.

I noticed something as we finished eating, within my range of sight all the plates for the buffet goers had a lot of food left on them when they got up to leave. The sheer amount of food left on those plates was crazy. The exact opposite was true for the plates of the people who ordered off the menu, there was hardly anything left. Our three plates were completely cleaned. Here’s the reality in numbers:

In the United States, approximately 30–40% of the food supply is wasted annually, equating to about 133 billion pounds and valued at $161 billion, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). This waste occurs at various stages of the food supply chain, including production, processing, retail, and consumption.

I know at home we have wasted more food than we should so I was wondering what could be done. First, “best before dates” aren’t deadlines they’re just the food manufacturers estimation of “peak quality” not its safety. It does not mean the food is unsafe to eat after that date unless spoilage is evident (e.g., mold, off-smell, or unusual texture). The Buresh family will be wasting less food after clarifying this fact. Too Good to Go is an app and a certified B Corp social impact company, on a mission to inspire and empower everyone to fight food waste together. Although there is not a lot of participation in the Des Moines area, Whole Foods, Krispy Crème and Pizza Ranch are participating. Let’s hope this grows! In the app, Whole Foods has Hot Bar Food and Bakery Surprise bags at heavily discounted rates.

The buffet problems come down to individual choice so there aren’t a lot of fixes unless all of us decide to be better. My one idea is smaller plates, meaning less food or at least you will have to work harder by getting up more often. Another idea, not for buffets but for menu items. Even if it’s not a buffet, the size of meals, the quality of fries, a 3000 calorie salad REALLY? I have thought this for years, restaurants should offer ½ portion options at a small savings. This would allow the average person to order more in conjunction with their appetite vs. a predetermined size. Then I read this in James Clear’s 3-2-1 Newsletter:

“1 Question For You:

We undervalue health if we have not recently experienced illness.

We undervalue wealth if we have not recently experienced poverty.

We undervalue kindness if we have not recently experienced cruelty.

What might you be undervaluing right now?” – James Clear

What if we all experienced starvation at some point in our lives; might we act differently?

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A Good Story:

I recently read a good story from Sahil Bloom’s Newsletter, Curiosity Chronicle: The Lucid Fallacy, Happiness as a Decision, & More.

Question to Find More Happiness: How Can You Decide to be Happy Today?

A story from Bloom’s Newsletter:

The 92-year-old, petite, well-poised and proud lady, who is fully dressed each morning by 8am, with her hair fashionably coifed and makeup perfectly applied, even though she is legally blind, moved to a nursing home today.

After many hours of waiting patiently in the lobby of the nursing home, she smiled sweetly when told her room was ready.

As she maneuvered her walker to the elevator, I provided a visual description of her tiny room, including the eyelet sheets that had been hung on her window.

“I love it,” she stated with the enthusiasm of an eight-year-old having just been presented with a new puppy.

“Mrs. Jones, you haven’t seen the room…”

“That doesn’t have anything to do with it. Happiness is something you decide on ahead of time.”

I took this to heart and realized how many times my expectations or reactions affected my mood when all I had to do was realize that I had the choice and the power to be happy no matter what.

A week or so later this concept got reinforced by Seth Godin in his blog post titled Clear Ice.

“I love Zamboni machines.

They’re ungainly, they’re slow but they’re also majestic. Like an elephant for ice hockey.

After each period, when the ice is chopped up by play, the Zamboni rolls out and leaves behind a sheet of perfect ice. Cold, smooth and untouched.

It’s useful to acknowledge that the same service is offered to each of us, every night. We wake up in the morning with a freshly smoothed-over day in front of us.

Our intentions determine our first few moves, the way we’ll engage with today’s ice. And those moves often lead to the next ones, and on and on, until the day is over.

Add up enough clear ice days and the pattern becomes set.”

This idea reinforces that we have the ability to choose our mood.

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Grateful & Thankful:

As we reflect on this season of gratitude, I want to take a moment to express how thankful I am for all of you—our incredible team, loyal customers, and supportive community. At Buresh Home Solutions, we’re more than just a business; we’re a family, and your trust and support mean the world to us.

We are truly grateful for the opportunity to help make your homes better, safer, and more beautiful. It’s an honor to be a part of your journey.

Thank you for choosing us and allowing us to do what we love. Wishing you all a warm and wonderful holiday season!