Majority of Americans turn to social media for mealtime inspiration

In today’s fast-scrolling world, what’s connected your sheet mightiness conscionable dangle connected what’s connected your feed.

A caller study of 5,000 U.S. adults recovered 77% of Americans now make mealtime decisions based connected what’s trending online. And galore judge fries are astatine nan apical of galore trends.

Commissioned by McCain and conducted by Talker Research reveals that for many, nutrient contented isn’t conscionable intermezo — it’s inspiration. 

The canvass recovered that astir everyone (93%) regularly encounters nutrient connected societal media, and food-related posts dress up almost 40% of their feeds. More than half (58%) person saved capable viral recipes to capable a cookbook of their own.

Platforms erstwhile known for creation challenges and memes are now location to amateur chefs and late-night snackers. From discovering cooking hacks (56%) to exploring caller dishes (44%) and prepping their first viral meal, nan room has officially gone digital. 

One standout prima for galore are loaded fries — 72% of Americans who find viral recipes online opportunity they’ve seen this decked-out crockery online, and millennials beryllium particularly devoted (76%).

Other viral staples, for illustration Caesar crockery pinch fries — a.k.a. the now-iconic “Girl Dinner” — and espresso martinis person besides etched themselves into nan societal nutrient canon (30% and 17%, respectively). Pairing martinis and fries are besides a deed for 8% of respondents.

But it’s fries that reign ultimate successful shareability and viral potential: 69% of respondents opportunity fries are nan astir apt to rustle up online, beating retired chickenhearted (67%), pasta (63%), and pizza (62%).

“Food contented is truthful celebrated because it’s a imaginative outlet and a shared language,” said Tracy Hostetler, vice president marketing, North American Potato. “Fries are nan cleanable canvas — they’re familiar, flexible, and loved by everyone. That’s what makes them truthful viral and truthful unifying.”

The study besides recovered nutrient civilization coming is astir much than what looks bully connected surface — it’s astir connection.

Six successful 10 Americans opportunity they regularly stock nutrient pinch friends successful person, and astir half (47%) besides walk on recipes aliases nutrient contented digitally. 

Fries again return halfway stage, nearing nan apical nan database of favourite shareable foods — 2nd only to pizza (71% and 73%, respectively). Chips, wings, and dips information retired nan table.

For nan 6% of group who bask a small chat complete chow — aliases “this and yap” — fries (72%), pizza (61%), and chips and dip (61%) were go-to favorites. Respondents opportunity this is because fries are easy to emotion (66%), difficult to reason pinch (56%), and astir intolerable to defy (44%).

Of course, moreover shared snacks travel pinch their ain codification of conduct. Sixty-eight percent enforce a nary double-dipping rule, while 43% work together that asking earlier grabbing nan past fry is ineffable etiquette.

“Whether you’re swapping fries from nan aforesaid handbasket aliases trading viral recipes successful nan group chat, nutrient connects us,” added Tracy. “Fries are a nutrient that induce everyone to nan array — whether that array is beingness aliases digital.

“From ‘girl dinner’ spreads to Friday-night ‘this and that’ hangouts, nutrient civilization is evolving—and fries are astatine nan halfway of it all. McCain is proud to substance these moments of togetherness pinch fries that are made to beryllium shared, remixed, and loved.”

Survey methodology:

Talker Research surveyed 5,000 American adults, pinch 100 respondents from each state; nan study was commissioned by McCain and administered and conducted online by Talker Research betwixt May 28 and June 5, 2025.