Thanksgiving meals are typically hearty, with plenty of turkey, stuffing, and potatoes to last for days after the celebration.  Interestingly, more than two-thirds of Americans enjoy Thanksgiving dinner leftovers more than the original meal.  A survey of 2,000 people who celebrate Thanksgiving found that nearly 70% believe a sandwich made of leftovers the day after tastes better than the meal itself.   Just under half (49%) feel that the main course makes the best leftovers, while 23% prefer the side dish leftovers.   After the initial meal, 35% of respondents usually eat leftovers for five days or more.   Creating an old-fashioned “leftover” plate was the most popular (63%) way to repurpose the food, while 38% opt for a “franken-sandwich” or casserole.  Thanksgiving dinner preparation with the intention of having leftovers is done by 72%, and 56% are disappointed with the holiday if there are no leftovers.   Despite the strong appreciation for leftovers, eight pounds of Thanksgiving food still ends up in the trash annually.  Out of the respondents, 64% said sustainability is important to them during Thanksgiving.   For a sustainable celebration, experts recommend trying to reduce food waste and the use of single-use plastic. 

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