Something in the refrigerator stinks.

Those are words that frequently come from my mouth after I peek inside our fridge. And, oddly, I have a difficult time locating the source. My wife does not have as sensitive of a sniffer as I have, and she typically says she can’t notice the smell. Our daughters can, though, and they go on a refrigerator-cleaning rampage once they notice the odor. And, more often than not, it is some garlic-saturated restaurant leftover in a to-go box that got pushed to the back of the refrigerator.

I don't recall this problem in my childhood home. I also don't recall food ever being thrown away. It was saved, reheated and served — and quickly. Every last morsel. Mom was not about to waste any food. Whether we liked it or not, leftovers were what was for dinner — and we knew better than to complain.

Did we get food poisoning? Oh, probably. We certainly got sick from time to time, much like most all of us do now, but we didn’t have to put a name or a cause or an expiration date to the illness. We simply “got sick.”

Meanwhile, food waste is a much bigger problem than most of us realize. In the United States alone, between 30-40% of the food supply goes to waste. Seriously. According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), this figure, based on estimates from USDA’s Economic Research Service of food loss at the retail and consumer levels, corresponded to approximately 133 billion pounds and $161 billion worth of food in 2010. Yikes.

Believe it or not, food is the single largest category of material placed in municipal landfills. And, unfortunately, much of this food could have fed families with hunger needs. In addition, as the FDA points out, the water, energy and labor used to produce wasted food could have been used for other purposes.

In May 2024, the FDA signed a formal agreement with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to renew their Federal Interagency Collaboration to Reduce Food Loss and Waste (FIFLAW). That’s a lot of initials, government red tape and bureaucracies, which typically results in not much getting done, but the intent seems good.

“The FDA is committed to achieving the goal of a 50% reduction of food loss and waste by 2030…,” FDA Commissioner Robert M. Califf, M.D., said.

The bottom line is that we all need to become better educated on the impacts and importance of reducing food loss and waste. And it starts in our own refrigerators.

Have a terrific Tuesday, and thanks for reading.

Shane Goodman
President and Publisher
Big Green Umbrella Media
shane@dmcityview.com
515-953-4822, ext. 305

See more of Shane Goodman's columns here.

Best Rum

1. Steel Drum Rum – Iowa Distilling Company

2. RUMCOQUI

3. Bacardi

TUESDAY TOUTS

Jamaican-West African bar and grill The Palms opened brilliantly on Ingersoll. The first week was bustling, with lines out the door at times. Staff was as well trained as at a rollout for a big chain that has done it a hundred openings before. And these guys are stepping up from farmers market status! The food was fabulous across the board. Their jerk chicken is as good as it gets, their candied sweet potatoes in coconut sauce, too. Cocktail service was of the highest level. The Palms bartenders make their own coconut cream from scratch for tropical drinks.  Hibiscus simple syrup is, too. And one day the busboy was Iowa State star running back Abu Sama, who is the owner's baby brother.

Brenda Trang, a war zone entrepreneur at age 8, is now offering “Cooking with Brenda Summer Camp” lessons for children 4-7, 7-10, 11-14. Classes in each of those age groups will be at Merle Hay Mall food court. $30 per child with discounts for more kids. Prizes are given, too. Reservations and dates - 515-865-7549. More about Brenda’s amazing life here. 

Habesha Ethio-Eritrean Restaurant opened at 3500 Merle Hay Road. I think Des Moines is having an international awakening on the food front.

CARS IN THE CITY
Buick Envision Avenir impresses

By Jackie Wilson

Even an auto manufacturer in business for 126 years needs to keep re-inventing itself to stay relevant with today’s technology-heavy cars.

Buick, part of General Motors, has been considered a luxury brand that manages to remain affordable.

The Buick 2025 Envision Avenir test drive was surprising, as I’ve never driven a Buick. Maybe like some of you, I envisioned the Buick to be a stodgy-grandparent type vehicle. Yet, this model ranks highly with other luxury compact SUVs in its class.  ...

Surviving and thriving
Local cancer survivors share their stories of strength and resilience.

By Becky Kolosik

As has been widely reported in recent months, Iowa continues to have the second highest age-adjusted rate of new cancers in the U.S. and is one of only two states — the other being Kentucky — with a rising rate, according to the Cancer in Iowa Report produced by the Iowa Cancer Registry (see full report here). An estimated 21,200 Iowans will be diagnosed with new, invasive cancers this year. Yet, with cancer screenings and improved treatment methods, more Iowans are joining the estimated 171,535 cancer survivors living in the state now.

Finding a calling after cancer
A cancer diagnosis can bring worry and anxiety, and people often start setting goals, making plans and thinking about the future. Linda Meyer knows that better than anyone else. After finding a lump in her breast, she immediately scheduled a mammogram.

“At that time, I was emotionally exhausted by all of the medical testing and the waiting,” she recalls. “Not knowing the bad news was, quite honestly, worse than the bad news.” ...

These celebrities were born on this date: Lionel Messi, Solange Knowles, Liana Ramirez, Darwin Núñez, Ariana Madix, JJ Redick, Mindy Kaling, Candice Patton, Erin Moriarty, Harris Dickinson, Minka Kelly

SUBMIT: Send your local birthday greetings and congratulatory notes to: tammy@iowalivingmagazines.com

The answer to the last riddle: What do you call an annoyed lobster? A FRUSTRACEAN

Today's riddle: Why aren’t astronauts hungry when they get to space? 

Have a guess? Email tammy@iowalivingmagazines.com

To advertise in the Daily Umbrella or Ankeny, Altoona or Bondurant Living magazines, contact:

Angela Ossian
Account Executive
Office: 515-953-4822 ext. 307
Mobile: 515-979-5585
angela@iowalivingmagazines.com

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