Food
Americans say they love leftovers. So why do they keep throwing them away?
(Tiffany Miller) There is a container in your fridge right now. You know the one. It has been there since Tuesday, quietly waiting for its moment. It’s not coming. By Sunday, you will throw it out with a small, familiar sense of guilt. According to new research from Frigidaire, this cycle is basically the national experience.
Americans have good intentions when it comes to leftovers—at least in theory. Eighty-six percent say they love or like them, and half say they sometimes enjoy leftovers more than the original meal. One in three Americans even proudly calls themself a “Leftover Legend,” the type who genuinely believes yesterday’s meal is tomorrow’s treasure.
Yet, leftovers are still getting left behind. Nearly 3 in 4 U.S. adults (74%) say their leftovers are thrown away at least once a week. According to the USDA, the average American family of four loses $1,500 each year to uneaten food.
What’s more, 9 in 10 Americans (90%) say they have chosen takeout, delivery or a drive-through even though a perfectly good meal was waiting at home. Fifty-eight percent of Americans have ordered delivery while leftovers sat 10 feet away. They looked at their fridge, considered what was inside, and made other plans anyway.
More than half of Americans (52%) say the number one reason they throw out leftovers is simple: They forgot. What gets pushed to the back of the fridge—behind condiments and half-empty jars—effectively disappears. This then leads to the second leading cause for tossing leftovers: 40% of Americans say they do this because they worry about food safety or freshness, which can be driven by confusion around food date labels. Out of sight, out of mind, out of the fridge and into the trash.
When waste starts to feel personal
The disconnect is striking, especially as Americans overwhelmingly say their motivation for saving leftovers is rooted in smart, intentional habits, like trying to avoid food waste (64%) and saving money (52%). Four in 10 even say finishing leftovers feels more rewarding than cooking a brand-new meal from scratch or ordering takeout.
Yet, food still gets forgotten and thrown out, often leaving consumers feeling guilty—and lately, that guilt feels more expensive. With grocery bills and restaurant tabs climbing, 70% say food waste now feels more frustrating or guilt-inducing than it used to.
Helping leftovers finally get their moment
So what actually helps turn intention into action? Visibility, in part. More than a third of Americans (37%) say better fridge organization and simply being able to see what is in there would do more to reduce leftover waste than anything else. But remembering leftovers is only half the battle. The next challenge is what to do with them.
New AI tools are starting to close that gap, helping people turn what’s already in their fridge into meals they actually want, with recipe ideas and step-by-step guidance based on what they have on hand. The goal is to make leftovers easier to use before they become another container pushed to the back of the fridge.
Because when leftovers are visible, and even a little inspiring, they get eaten.
Methodology
Ruder Finn, on behalf of Frigidaire, commissioned Atomik Research to conduct an online survey of 2,000 adults throughout the United States. The margin of error is +/- 2 percentage points with a confidence level of 95%. Fieldwork took place between March 20 and March 24, 2026. Atomik Research, part of 4media group, is a creative market research agency.
SOURCE:
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Food
Add 2 Key Nutrients You Might Be Overlooking with an Easy Avocado Recipe
While everyone is talking about protein these days whether watching their weight or managing type 2 diabetes, fiber and healthy fats are nutrients many people are overlooking. One food that makes it easier to invest in your health, according to nutrition experts: avocados. Try this recipe for Avocado and Blueberry Chia Pudding for your next breakfast or snack.
Add 2 Key Nutrients You Might Be Overlooking with an Easy Avocado Recipe
(Feature Impact) While everyone is talking about protein these days whether watching their weight or managing type 2 diabetes, fiber and healthy fats are nutrients many people are overlooking.
The latest reports show most Americans already meet or exceed recommendations for protein while nearly all (about 95%) do not eat enough fiber, and many people consume too much saturated fat versus unsaturated fat, according to the 2025 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee. Prioritizing ways to get more fiber and healthy fats on your plate could be key to managing weight and type 2 diabetes goals this summer.
One food that makes it easier to invest in your health, according to nutrition experts: avocados.
A growing body of research and materials from Avocados – Love One Today, a science-based resource, suggests fresh avocados offer weight management benefits, help with type 2 diabetes management and are good for blood sugar management. Avocados uniquely contain fiber and healthy fats in each nutrient-dense bite, which slows digestion, helping you feel satisfied and fuller longer.
To explore evidence-based avocado nutrition information, along with practical tips and easy recipes, visit Avocados – Love One Today, a leading resource for avocado nutrition information. Try this recipe for Avocado and Blueberry Chia Pudding for your next breakfast or snack.
Watch video to see how to make this recipe!
Avocado and Blueberry Chia Pudding
- 1 1/2 cups plain, unsweetened soy milk (or milk of choice)
- 1 ripe, fresh avocado, halved, pitted and peeled
- 3/4 cup frozen blueberries
- 1/2 cup unsweetened vanilla Greek yogurt
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup
- 1/3 cup chia seeds
To Serve:
- 1/3 cup granola
- 1/3 cup fresh blueberries
- 1 kiwi, chopped
- 1/2 fresh, ripe avocado, halved, pitted, peeled and chopped
- In blender, puree soy milk, avocado, blueberries, yogurt and maple syrup until smooth. Pour mixture into storage container or bowl and add chia seeds. Whisk well to combine. Cover with lid or plastic wrap and refrigerate 4 hours or overnight, until thickened.
- To serve, divide into bowls and top with granola, fresh blueberries, kiwi and avocado.
Notes: Use any milk (dairy or non-dairy) that you prefer in pudding. Use fresh blueberries or conventional frozen blueberries. Other topping options include: nuts, seeds, hemp hearts, sliced banana or strawberries, or nut butter.
SOURCE:
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Food
Hellmann’s Calls the Plays for Game Day Food With New Football Campaign
Hellmann’s is kicking off football season with “Call for Hellmann’s,” a new campaign combining the language of the gridiron with burgers, chicken tenders and other game day favorites.
Football season is back, and for many fans, what’s on the table can be almost as important as what’s happening on the field.
Hellmann’s Kicks Off Football Season With New Game Day Food Campaign
Hellmann’s is leaning into that connection between football and food with “Call for Hellmann’s,” a new fall campaign built around burgers, chicken tenders, sliders and the familiar language of the sidelines.
Announced September 2, the campaign puts a football spin on game-day cooking, positioning Hellmann’s mayonnaise and flavored condiments as part of the playbook for tailgates, watch parties and Sunday afternoon spreads.
Turning Game Day Food Into a Football Play
The campaign takes familiar football terminology and applies it to another game-day ritual: deciding what everyone is going to eat.
Two advertising spots anchor the campaign.
In “Make the Call,” Hellmann’s Real Mayonnaise is paired with a classic burger, while “Chicky Tenders” features chicken tenders served with Hellmann’s Chipotle and Spicy varieties.
The commercials use coach-inspired direction, football language and original music influenced by classic football movies. The result is a combination of sports nostalgia, humor and plenty of food imagery.
“Football and food have always gone hand in hand and Hellmann’s has a natural place in so many of the dishes that fans reach for on game day,” Jessica Grigoriou, SVP Marketing, Condiments at Unilever North America, said in the announcement.
Grigoriou said the campaign is designed to have fun with language football fans already recognize while celebrating the foods and traditions that bring people together throughout the season.
Hellmann’s Heads to the Stadium
The campaign isn’t staying on television and social media.
Hellmann’s plans to bring its Manny Mayo mascot and food truck to several NFL stadiums during September and October, serving sliders while offering trivia, giveaways and other activities.
Scheduled appearances include:
- September 13 — MetLife Stadium
- September 20 — MetLife Stadium
- October 4 — Lincoln Financial Field
- October 11 — Gillette Stadium
The activation complements Hellmann’s existing football partnerships, which span both the professional and college games.
The brand has relationships with the New York Giants, New York Jets, New England Patriots, Philadelphia Eagles and Tennessee Titans, along with the Big Ten Conference and college programs including Alabama, Florida, Arkansas, Texas and Georgia.
Game Day Is Also Food Day
The campaign taps into something football fans have known for generations: watching the game is often a food event of its own.
Burgers, wings, chicken tenders, nachos, dips, sliders and sandwiches have become staples of football weekends, whether fans are tailgating outside the stadium or watching from the couch.
That makes condiments particularly easy territory for a food brand to connect itself with football culture. Rather than introducing an entirely new game-day tradition, Hellmann’s is putting its products into foods many fans are already preparing.
And the campaign arrives just as kitchens, grills and backyard patios across the country are getting ready for another season of football gatherings.
What’s on Your Game Day Menu?
Maybe it’s burgers hot off the grill. Maybe it’s a giant plate of wings. Perhaps your football tradition involves nachos, chili, sliders or a bowl of homemade dip that disappears before halftime.
Whatever your starting lineup looks like, Hellmann’s wants a spot on the roster this season.
The “Call for Hellmann’s” campaign will run throughout football season across national television, streaming platforms and social media.
For football fans, meanwhile, there is another important call to make:
What are we eating during the game?
Official Hellmann’s resources:
Hellmann’s Game Day Recipe Ideas
Hellmann’s Game Day Recipes
Hellmann’s Game Day Dip Recipes
Source: Hellmann’s/PRNewswire, September 2, 2026.
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Entertainment
M&M’S Brews Up ‘Practical Magic 2’ Movie Night Hype With Limited-Edition Amas Veritas Spell & Snack Packs
M&M’S is leaning hard into spooky-season nostalgia ahead of Practical Magic 2, teaming up with Warner Bros. Pictures on a limited-edition release designed for Halloween movie nights. The brand announced the M&M’S Amas Veritas Spell & Snack Pack, a collectible add-on built around the iconic “Amas Veritas” love charm from the original 1998 film—timed to the sequel’s theatrical release date: September 10, 2026 (in theaters only).
The pack features custom-designed M&M’S candies printed with eight whimsical symbols inspired by the original spell, plus an “extended verse” of four new symbols that the company says hint at mysteries in the sequel. The drop is positioned as part fan-service, part snackable merch—something you bring to a watch party, but also something collectors will want to grab before it disappears.
Availability is limited and online-only. The Spell & Snack Pack is offered exclusively atMMS.com/Practical-Magic as a gift with purchase when fans buy an M&M’S Milk Chocolate Fun Size Sharing Bag, while supplies last. In a nod to the film’s midnight vibe, there are two timed drops at 12:00 a.m. ET: September 3, 2026 and September 14, 2026.
To push the nostalgia even further, M&M’S is also partnering with actress Camilla Belle—who played young Sally Owens in the original film—to recreate her spell scene with an M&M’S twist in social content on Instagram and TikTok. For Halloween hosting, the brand also flagged seasonal staples rolling out nationwide, including its Fun Size Halloween Variety Pack and Halloween Blend options in both Milk Chocolate and Peanut.
Source
- PRNewswire / Mars, Incorporated press release (Sept. 2, 2026): “M&M’S® Brews Up Movie Night Magic This Halloween Season With Limited-Edition ‘Amas Veritas’ Spell & Snack Packs…”
Related links
- Limited-edition pack page: https://www.mms.com/Practical-Magic
- Mars, Incorporated: https://www.mars.com/
- M&M’S (main site): https://www.mms.com/
- Warner Bros. Pictures: https://www.warnerbros.com/
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