good food on a budget
Makers of the Jennie-O® Brand Share New State-By-State Consumer Insights on All Things Thanksgiving
National study reveals new data about Thanksgiving prep, trends, preferences for upcoming holiday
WILLMAR, Minn. /PRNewswire/ — The makers of the Jennie-O® turkey brand — a trusted brand for turkey products around the world — today announced its 2024 Thanksgiving survey results, where each state was polled on their preparation methods, turkey preferences, preferred sides and much more. The survey, conducted by Talker Research for the Jennie-O® brand, polled 5,000 consumers across the U.S.
Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving is a beloved holiday and 70% of Americans polled said they have celebrated their traditions for more than 20 years. The three most cherished traditions are sharing meals together (65%), spending time with extended family or old friends (52%) and cooking together (27%).
Now, onto the survey results!
Preparation
- Most people take up to two weeks to plan and cook their Thanksgiving meal. Actual food preparation for this monumental eating occasion adds another three days, and five hours of actual cooking on the day of.
- The longest prep time awards go to the following states:
- Delaware: Average of 17 days guest-list planning and another 19 days of menu building
- Virginia: Spends almost 16 days picking guests (15.7) and nearly 17 days (16.6) on the menu
- North Carolina: Averages a little more than 17 days (17.4) on its menu alone
The Star of the Thanksgiving Table: Turkey (and a Surprise Guest)
- 66% of respondents prefer their turkey baked.
- To brine or not to brine? 63% said NO to brining.
- Oklahomans would rather their turkey be smoked more than any other state.
- While most Americans prepare their turkey the same every year, keeping with their traditions, more than 30% of Americans change it up every holiday season.
- In addition to a turkey, nearly 40% of Americans also like to have ham on the table with preferences being baked (68%), smoked (18%) and slow cooked (18%).
The Thanksgiving Table: Let’s Talk About Sides
- 61% of Americans believe that turkey is the star of the meal, while a little more than two in five respondents in Idaho (43%) and Kansas (41%) believe that the side dishes are the unsung heroes.
- The most popular sides: stuffing (77%), rolls/biscuits (66%), classic mashed potatoes (60%) and cranberry sauce (55%).
- Americans from the southeast also enjoy mac and cheese — Georgia at 62%, Mississippi at 58% and South Carolina at 55%.
Thanksgiving and Beyond
- Almost every American surveyed (96%) enjoys Thanksgiving leftovers:
- 44% use turkey in a sandwich
- 41% incorporate turkey into other meals
- 32% go on to recreate the actual Thanksgiving meal
- More than one in five (22%) would rather keep their leftovers for themselves than send some home with their guests
“Thanksgiving continues to be one of America’s most cherished holidays, bringing families and friends together to share meaningful moments and meals,” said Kim Anderson, senior brand manager for the Jennie-O® brand. “We’re committed to helping ensure your holiday meal is a success with our quality turkeys and our wide range of services and resources. From expert advice on turkey preparation to tools for every step of the process, we’re here to support you with any turkey-related challenge.”
Starting Nov. 1, Jennie-O consumer engagement experts will be on hand to help alleviate stress around holiday meal planning at the company’s 1-800-TURKEYS hotline, live chat on the Jennie-O® website, and even by texting “Turkey” to 73876. From advice on how to prep and cook a turkey, to recipes for side-dishes and how to use leftovers, consumers can reach out for real time support through Nov. 28, via the method that is most convenient for them. In the days leading up to the Thanksgiving holiday, Jennie-O specialists are available around the clock.
Consumers can also find helpful how-tos on their website including a calculator that tells hosts how much turkey to buy, full menus for Thanksgiving dinner and inspiring suggestions for preparing tasty leftovers. Jennie-O offers easy solutions for any holiday meal and are here to help make this year’s Thanksgiving the best yet.
For more information about all Jennie-O® turkey products, including recipes, nutritional information and where to buy, visit jennieo.com or follow the brand on social media at Facebook.com/JennieoTurkey and Instagram.com/jennieo.
About Jennie-O
For over 80 years, the Jennie-O® turkey brand has been helping consumers live well by eating well. As the category leader, Jennie-O® turkey is the trusted brand for quality turkey and a source of expertise. The company provides a full portfolio of delicious, nutritious turkey proteins and inspiration for everyday meals or special occasions. Known for our bright green awning evoking the nostalgia of a local farmer stand, our round logo with a touch of yellow and our distinct name from our founders’ daughter, Jennifer, the Jennie-O® turkey brand has the right amount of small-town friendliness paired with leading company expertise and quality. For more information, visit jennieo.com.
SOURCE Hormel Foods Corporation
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good food on a budget
A Leftover Loss: How Americans are Wasting Food and How to Break the Habit
Leftover Loss: Leftovers are getting left behind, even as Americans have good intentions about eating them. In fact, there’s likely a container sitting in your refrigerator right now.
A Leftover Loss: How Americans are Wasting Food and How to Break the Habit
(Feature Impact) Leftovers are getting left behind, even as Americans have good intentions about eating them. In fact, there’s likely a container sitting in your refrigerator right now.
To help families tackle this everyday challenge, Frigidaire’s new AI-powered recipe assistant, Frankie, helps transform ingredients already in your fridge into fresh meal ideas. New research from Frigidaire shows just how widespread the leftovers dilemma has become: While 86% of survey respondents say they like or love leftovers, 74% admit they toss them out at least once a week. It adds up: According to the USDA, the average American family of four wastes roughly $1,500 annually on uneaten food.
Despite having ready-made meals in the fridge, many Americans are opting for convenience. The research found that 90% of Americans admit to having chosen takeout, delivery or a drive-thru, even when they knew a perfectly good meal was waiting in their fridge.
Common Reasons for Wasted Leftovers
More than 50% of respondents said the No. 1 reason they throw out leftovers is simple: They forgot about them. Food gets pushed to the back of the fridge, effectively disappearing until it’s too late, leading to concerns about freshness and food safety.
Waste Feels Personal
Respondents say their intentions are good, with 64% claiming to save leftovers to reduce food waste and 52% aiming to save money. In fact, 40% say finishing leftovers feels more rewarding than cooking a meal from scratch or ordering takeout.
Still, good intentions aren’t good enough. Leftovers are still forgotten and thrown out, often leaving people feeling guilty. With grocery prices and dining costs climbing, 70% say food waste now feels more frustrating or guilt-inducing than it used to.
Make the Most of Leftovers
Visibility plays a key role in reducing waste. More than 37% of respondents say better fridge organization – simply being able to see leftovers – would help them waste less. However, remembering leftovers is only part of the solution.
That’s where Frankie, Frigidaire’s AI-powered recipe assistant, comes in. Designed to help families make the most of what’s already in their refrigerators, the tool generates personalized recipes using ingredients users already have on hand, including leftover meals. Simply enter what you have on hand, along with preferences like cuisine type, number of servings and available cooking time, and it generates step-by-step recipes in seconds. The result is less food waste, more delicious meals and greater value from every grocery trip.
To learn more about AI-powered meal solutions, visit Frigidaire.com.
SOURCE:
Frigidaire
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Recipe of the Week
Pack Pasta Salad in a Jar for a Taste of Summer in School Lunches
When students open up their lunchboxes in the cafeteria, it’s fun to be greeted with something bright, colorful and fresh. Pasta salad is a summer picnic staple, but once the weather starts to cool and kids head back to school, there’s nothing to say you can’t send a taste of summer with them.
Pack Pasta Salad in a Jar for a Taste of Summer in School Lunches
(Feature Impact) When students open up their lunchboxes in the cafeteria, it’s fun to be greeted with something bright, colorful and fresh. Pasta salad is a summer picnic staple, but once the weather starts to cool and kids head back to school, there’s nothing to say you can’t send a taste of summer with them.
The beauty of pasta salad is it’s totally customizable, ideal for eating cold and easy to make ahead of time. That means you can spend the evening before school dishing up jars then pop them in the fridge for a quick morning grab-and-go lunchbox filler. Adults in the household can take one to work while kids have their own at school – and if anyone wants a different dressing or no olives, it’s an easy accommodation.
If you’re making this Pasta Salad in a Jar recipe as the main course instead of a lunchtime side, up the protein by adding beans, chicken or cubed cheese to keep kids energized for the second half of the day. Choose whole-grain or high-protein pasta for an extra nutritional boost, and pack in vitamins and fiber with plenty of crunchy fresh produce, from cucumbers and carrots to tomatoes and olives.
Find more school-day recipes at Culinary.net.
Pasta Salad in a Jar
Recipe adapted from Best of This Life
Prep time: 10 minutes
Servings: 1
Dressing:
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
- 1/8 teaspoon dried basil
- 1/8 teaspoon oregano
- 1/8 teaspoon parsley
- salt, to taste
- freshly ground pepper, to taste
- 1/4 cup canned chickpeas, rinsed
- 1/2 cup halved grape tomatoes
- 1/2 cup diced cucumber
- 2 tablespoons sliced Kalamata olives
- 1 cup cooked pasta of choice, cooled
- 1 cup chopped spinach
- To make dressing: In canning jar, combine olive oil, vinegar, basil, oregano, parsley and salt and pepper, to taste. Stir in chickpeas.
- Layer tomatoes, cucumbers, olives, cooked pasta and spinach over dressing.
- Refrigerate until ready to serve. To serve, flip jar over and lightly shake to combine dressing with other ingredients.
Photo courtesy of Unsplash
SOURCE:
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Food and Beverage
5 Tips to Make Hosting Easy and Fun
From celebratory parties to casual get-togethers, hosting is a wonderful way to bring people together, share laughs and make memories. Of course, planning and hosting can be quite a bit of work, so a little preparation can go a long way to ensure an enjoyable time for everyone, including the host.
5 Tips to Make Hosting Easy and Fun
(Feature Impact) From celebratory parties to casual get-togethers, hosting is a wonderful way to bring people together, share laughs and make memories. Of course, planning and hosting can be quite a bit of work, so a little preparation can go a long way to ensure an enjoyable time for everyone, including the host.
Follow these tips from the hosting experts at Bravo, makers of eco-friendly, high-performance paper towels, to plan your next gathering so it goes off without a hitch.
Keep the Menu Simple
Naturally, you want to make sure your guests are well-fed and happy, but trying to achieve a Michelin-star rating in your home kitchen is usually just a recipe for stressing yourself out. If you’re serving a meal, stick to some tried-and-true crowd-pleasers you can make in your sleep. Cook or bake in advance as much as possible so you’ll have less to worry about on the day itself.
Let Guests Know What to Bring
Good houseguests often enjoy contributing something, so make it easy for them – and yourself – by letting them know how they can help. You could ask one person to bring snacks, another to pick up beverages and a third to cover dessert. Potluck-style lunches or dinners are a great way to make sure everyone has enough to eat and drink while taking the pressure off just one person’s shoulders.
Have a Backup Plan
In case you’re arranging an outdoor get-together, remember the weather can betray you. Keep alternative plans on standby in case you need to move the party indoors. Tidy up your living areas and ensure there is enough seating for everyone attending. It doesn’t hurt to have indoor-friendly entertainment options available too – often, people are content to just sit and chat with one another, but depending on the crowd, classic party games can still be a hit.
Set Up Kids’ Zones
If you’ll be welcoming children to your home, provide one or two dedicated areas where they can safely play and enjoy themselves away from the rest of the action. Having an assortment of toys, games, coloring books, chalk, bubble wands and other sources of kid-friendly fun makes it easy for the whole family to have a great time.
Make Prep and Cleanup a Breeze
Keeping quality cleaning supplies on hand like Bravo paper towels means you can quickly wipe up spills and messes while you’re prepping. Then, after your guests depart, the strong, absorbent sheets make it easy to get your countertops sparkling again. They’re made with 75% curbside recycled paper and cardboard, making them sustainable-household-approved. Use them with water or your go-to cleaning solution before enjoying some well-deserved post-hosting relaxation in your fresh, clean home.
“Hosting can put paper towels to work, from quick countertop wipes to stuck-on foods and bigger cleanup jobs,” said chef and lifestyle expert Jamie Gwen. “Bravo has a clothlike feel that is soft on your hands, but it is still durable enough for scrubbing and strong enough to rinse and reuse.”
Find more smart cleaning tips at BravoTowel.com.
SOURCE:
Bravo
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