Regional grilling differences reveal America’s appetite for new flavors

Kraig Pakulski 0 27 Article rating: No rating
Regional grilling differences reveal America’s appetite for new flavors

 

Backyard grilling remains one of America’s most cherished culinary traditions. But while the rituals of outdoor cooking haven’t changed much, the flavors Americans are bringing to the grill are evolving.

A new YouGov survey conducted on behalf of Kikkoman Sales USA, Inc., soy sauce manufacturer and creator of bottled teriyaki, reveals that while consumers continue to rely on familiar grilling techniques, many are increasingly interested in experimenting with globally inspired flavors. The findings suggest Americans aren’t replacing grilling traditions—they’re expanding them, with teriyaki emerging as one of the most appealing internationally inspired flavor profiles.

Although regional and generational differences exist, Americans across the country share an interest in bringing new flavors to familiar grilled foods.

Outdoor Cooking Continues to Sizzle Across the Country

When the weather heats up, it’s time to bring out the sparklers, make s’mores, play a favorite party music mix, and fire up the grill.

Whether it’s for a casual weekend get-together, a family reunion, a neighborhood cookout, or Labor Day, outdoor cooking remains deeply connected to these gatherings and celebrations.

Among Americans who grill or cook outdoors, the top three most common outdoor cooking occasions are family gatherings (43%), special events and holidays (40%), and weekends (39%).

Outdoor cooking participation remains strong across all regions and generations, with Midwesterners leading the pack at 74% and Gen Z at 75%.

While Americans share a love of grilling, their cooking habits and flavor preferences vary across regions and generations. Many consumers are balancing long-standing cooking traditions with a growing interest in exploring new flavors, cuisines, and culinary experiences.

Americans are Bringing New Flavors to the Grill

Among outdoor cooks:

  • 66% prefer using cooking techniques they already know.
  • 59% want to experiment with different grilled food flavors.
  • 54% want to explore different cuisines and flavors when eating grilled foods.

Consumers are Balancing Tradition with Experimentation

Confidence behind the grill is fueling experimentation with new cuisines and flavors. The interest in experimentation is reflected in the flavor profiles Americans want to bring to the backyard grill. While traditional barbecue remains popular, globally inspired flavors are increasingly becoming part of outdoor cooking routines.

Global Flavors Are Heating Up the Grill

At 74%, American BBQ is the leading flavor that consumers enjoy; however, flavor exploration is expanding beyond traditional barbecue profiles. Americans expressed interest in trying a variety of grilled food flavors in their outdoor cooking, with leading flavors being Mexican and Latin American at 57%, Mediterranean at 47%, and Japanese/teriyaki at 44%.

While Japanese/teriyaki flavors rank among the most popular internationally inspired grilling flavors, women are more likely than men to express interest in these flavors (47% versus 41%), and Millennials’ inte

7 risk management best practices as regulatory pressure intensifies in 2026

Kraig Pakulski 0 30 Article rating: No rating
7 risk management best practices as regulatory pressure intensifies in 2026

 

With increasing reliance on interconnected systems, cloud services, and technologies like AI, organizations are operating in environments where trust must be continually validated. According to the most recent Vanta State of Trust Report, 77% of organizations say their stakeholders demand verified proof of compliance.‍

This increase in regulatory scrutiny puts mounting pressure on operational teams and board members to maintain continuous risk visibility. Traditional approaches like fragmented, point-in-time risk management and manual oversight are now a business liability, as the organization must justify the decisions on how it treats or responds to risks consistently.‍

This guide explores how risk management and regulatory pressure are two sides of the same coin. It covers:

  • Four shifts in the current risk and regulatory landscape
  • Seven best practices to help your risk management program keep up

Why regulatory pressure is intensifying now

Regulatory pressure is intensifying because the risks organizations face aren’t limited to one or two functions but span multiple domains, including enterprise, IT, operations, and privacy. A single exposure can impact business units, teams, systems, and processes, and is harder to contain without an “always-on” risk management approach. The consequences of security incidents are also severe, including operational disruptions, sensitive data breaches, and legal exposure.‍

As a response, regulators now require organizations to shift from reactive risk management to proactive, continuous oversight. Teams are responsible for addressing threats as they appear instead of waiting for incidents to happen or audits to surface gaps.‍

There are four key areas of the evolving regulatory expectations:‍

  1. Leadership accountability and mandatory incident reporting
  2. Expansion of global data and privacy protection laws
  3. Stricter operational resilience requirements
  4. The rise of AI governance and regulations

1. Leadership accountability and mandatory incident reporting

Under many new and emerging cybersecurity standards and regulations, you’ll see a shift from organizational and group responsibility toward personal accountability. In particular, organizational leaders, such as board members, can be directly held liable for non-compliance, failures in risk oversight, and incident response.‍

This is particularly evident in regulations such as NIS 2 and the Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA)—the latter applies primarily to financial institutions and critical ICT (Information and Communication Technology) service providers. Both impose stricter oversight and penalties for non-compliance. NIS 2, for instance, allows Member States to

Trump Accounts: Not the only investment option for your kid’s future

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Trump Accounts: Not the only investment option for your kid’s future

 

The Trump Accounts, which are designed to save for American children’s futures, can be a good start. But what if your family isn’t eligible for it, or you can’t get the $1,000 deposit that jumpstarts it? Luckily, there are options you can use either alongside or in lieu of the program if your family simply doesn’t qualify. In this article, Finder shares what you need to know about Trump Accounts and other investment options.

Who can open a Trump Account?

Trump Accounts officially launched on July 4, 2026. They’re tax-advantaged investment accounts for American children with a Social Security number (SSN), and they’re long-term retirement accounts.

Created under the “One Big Beautiful Bill,” the Trump savings accounts are technically an individual retirement account (IRA). Once the child turns 18, the account converts into a traditional IRA.

According to TrumpAccounts.gov, all U.S. children under 18 with a valid SSN are eligible to establish a Trump Account. Parents or legal guardians can open and manage accounts on behalf of their children, and once the kid turns 18, they get control over the funds.

To get the investment account, you must download the Trump Accounts app on either the Apple App Store or Google Play.

Who gets the $1,000 in the Trump savings account?

American children born between Jan. 1, 2025, and Dec. 31, 2028, get $1,000 automatically deposited in the account once established. The $1,000 is a one-time contribution from the U.S. Department of the Treasury.

Aside from just the $1,000, custodians of the account can add up to $5,000 per year.

How much can a Trump Account grow?

A Trump Account can grow quite a bit. As tax-advantaged accounts, and with the ability to contribute up to $5,000 per year, passive growth can add up.

With just the $1,000 deposit, assuming a conservative 7% annual return, a $1,000 deposit could grow to approximately $3,380 by age 18 without any additional contributions. Not too shabby for a contribution you didn’t have to fund.

Things to consider about the Trump savings account

The Trump Accounts are long-term retirement accounts, not specifically college education or traditional savings accounts. However, the child may be able to use the funds for things other than retirement.

Once the child turns 18, standard IRA rules kick in for the Trump savings account. This means withdrawals from the Trump savings account before age 59 1/2 usually come with income tax plus a 10% penalty — unless they are used for specific things.

According to the Trump Account site, the IRA’s funds can be accessed without penalty when the child turns 18 for qualified expenses. A few things are listed, like education and a first home purchase. Other than qualified expenses, withdrawals would be taxed at ordinary income rates.

Additionally, kids born before 2025 don’t qualify for the federal deposit of $1,000, so parents and guardians with older kiddos will have to fund the account on their own.

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How homeowners can prepare before hurricane season peaks

Kraig Pakulski 0 27 Article rating: No rating
How homeowners can prepare before hurricane season peaks

 

Live in a hurricane zone? The good news is that the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season (which spans June 1 to November 30) is anticipated to be milder than usual. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) predicts a 55% chance of below-normal activity, a 35% chance for a near-normal year, and a 70% probability of one to three major hurricanes.

But don’t let that create a false sense of security. Let’s not forget the devastation from Hurricane Helene, which struck the Southeast two years ago and caused 252 deaths and $78.7 billion in damages, proving to be the deadliest mainland hurricane to hit the U.S. since Katrina and one that caught many local residents by surprise.

If you own a home in a high-risk area, it’s natural to feel anxious or uncertain as hurricane season nears its peak. Thankfully, there are measures you can take to protect your loved ones and property. Read on for recommended steps from TheZebra.com to help you feel empowered and informed.

Know Your Risk

Determine if you’re in an area susceptible to tropical storms by doing some quick online research or checking your local weather sites. This is particularly important if you’ve moved to a new house in a different neighborhood, as even nearby locations can have different hurricane and flood risks based on various factors.

“Coastal zones have the highest risks of hurricane impacts from damaging winds and storm surges. Counties determine their own hurricane evacuation zones based on storm surge vulnerability mapping,” explains Mark Friedlander, senior director of media relations for the Insurance Information Institute. “While the boundaries are modeled using data provided by the National Hurricane Center, each county’s local emergency management office designates the specific zones and issues evacuation orders for those areas when warranted.”

Follow these tips:

  1. Learn if you’re in what’s considered a hurricane evacuation area by visiting your state or county’s official emergency management website and using their interactive “Know Your Zone” map to look up your particular street address. These zones are numbered or lettered based on your property’s susceptibility to a storm surge.
  2. Visit the National Hurricane Center Storm Surge Risk Maps site, which depicts storm surge flooding vulnerability based on location.
  3. Check out the NOAA’s updated Flood Inundation Mapping tool, which will cover nearly 100% of the U.S. population by late September of this year.
  4. Once you know your zone, monitor local news, register for county text alerts, or check platforms like Read more
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