Samantha Leffler

Samantha Leffler
Title: Senior Food Editor
Education: New York University
Location: New York, NY
Expertise: Food trends, Restaurant industry trends, Recipes, Food news, Nutrition

Samantha Leffler is the senior food editor at RealSimple.com, covering all things food and nutrition-related. Prior to joining the Real Simple team, Samantha freelanced for Food Network, BuzzFeed, The Hollywood Reporter, Eat This, Not That!, and several other outlets. She was also the first Food Editor for Us Weekly, where she wrote way too many articles about what celebrities stock in their refrigerators. Samantha graduated from New York University's Tisch School of the Arts with honors. When she's not writing or editing, she can be found spending time with family and friends, traveling, or, more likely, watching Bravo on her couch.

Highlights

  • 10+ years of experience working as a writer and editor
  • 3+ years of experience covering food news, restaurant trends, and nutrition
  • Graduated from New York University as a University Honors Scholar

Experience

Samantha Leffler became the Senior Food Editor at Real Simple in October 2021. In this role, she writes primarily about food trends, restaurant and dining trends, and nutrition.

Following five college internships, Samantha began her career as an associate editor at Wetpaint, an entertainment news startup helmed by Ben Elowitz, the co-founder of Blue Nile. During her nearly six years at Wetpaint, Samantha honed her editorial skills, conducted multiple celebrity interviews, and developed a social media expertise that drove millions of users to Wetpaint's content. By the time she left Wetpaint as an editor in 2016, Samantha led her own team of freelance writers and junior editors.

In June 2016, Samantha began freelancing, and wrote for The Hollywood Reporter, A Plus, and Eat This, Not That. Two years later, she became the sole food editor at Us Weekly, and launched Us Weekly's food vertical.

After more than two years at Us Weekly, Samantha began freelancing once again, this time with a specific emphasis on food and nutrition. She freelanced for Food Network, LIVEKINDLY, Eat This, Not That!, BuzzFeed, and a handful of other digital publications.

Education

Samantha graduated from New York University's Tisch School of the Arts, where she earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. She majored in Dramatic Writing, with a concentration in television writing, and was a Producing minor. While attending college, Samantha held five internships, including positions at MTV, Sony BMG, and Late Night With Jimmy Fallon.

About Real Simple

Real Simple, a Dotdash Meredith Brand, is an award-winning, trusted online resource for smart, authentic solutions to simplify your life. We reach 11 million readers a month. Our content is written by experienced journalists and fact-checked for accuracy. Learn more about us and our editorial guidelines.

Latest from Samantha Leffler

Vegan spinach, wild mushroom and walnut ravioli. Close-up composition on dark green background.
The 5 Best Aldi Products, According to the 2024 Product of the Year Awards
chicken nuggets with recall logo
Perdue Frozen Chicken Nuggets, Tenders Recalled Nationwide Due to Metal Pieces
meats,fish,cheese, nuts
The Top 6 Causes of Food Recalls—and the States Most Often Impacted
Mango Chicken Curry with Coconut Rice
14 Easy Chicken and Rice Recipes for Every Day of the Week
fall-soup-curried-coconut-salmon-soup-0523FOO
33 Fall Soup Recipes That Will Keep You Cozy All Season Long
One-pot chicken sausage
15 One-Pot Recipes That Contain Superfoods for an Easy, Healthy Meal
Skillet Polenta in Creamy Tomato Sauce, an easy vegetarian recipe
77 Vegetarian Recipes That Are Incredibly Easy to Make
easter-appetizers-carrot-hummus-recipe-0621foo
22 Appetizers For Easter That Will Start Your Holiday On a Delicious Note
how-do-you-cook-with-horseradish-realsimple-GettyImages-900997446
What Is Horseradish and How Do You Cook With It?
shrimp-dinners-end-of-summer-salad-0922FOO
44 Shrimp Dinner Ideas to Satisfy Your Seafood Craving
greek-style-shrimp-and-potatoes-realsimple
23 Easy One-Pot Recipes That Won’t Leave You With a Mountain of Dishes
Fancy Tomato Sandwiches
66 Lunch Ideas That Are Hearty and Satisfying
creamy-veggie-chicken-noodle-soup-0523DIN_5233-realsimple
38 Quick and Easy Family Dinner Recipes You Can Make in Under an Hour
1123COO-Slow-Cooker-Beef-and-noodle-Curry-soup-recipes
29 Best Soup Recipes to Make When You Want to Feel Cozy
cheese-for-lactose-intolerant-GettyImages-506909702
12 Cheeses You Can Eat Even If You're Lactose-Intolerant
hi-protein-veggies-GettyImages-1313838886
19 Vegetables High in Protein and How to Incorporate Them Into Your Diet
mexican-beef-sliders
47 Slow Cooker Recipes for When You're Craving Comfort Food
ground cinnamon with recall logo
Several Brands of Ground Cinnamon Recalled Due to Elevated Lead Levels
ham with recall logo
Boar's Head Recall Expanded to Include 71 Additional Products Due to Listeria
grocery-mistakes-GettyImages-1461676039
12 Grocery Shopping Habits You Need to Change ASAP
fall-desserts-pistachio-walnut-cheesecake-recipe-0423SWT
40 Easy Fall Desserts That Aren't Apple Pie
boars-head-liverwurst-recall-GettyImages-1439910688
Boar's Head Liverwurst, Other Deli Meats Recalled Nationwide Due to Listeria
An apple galette on a rustic table with a metal serving knife and a stack of plates and forks for eating
55 Easy Apple Recipes for Fall or Any Occasion
peanutty soba noodle salad
16 Quick Meal Ideas You Can Make in 30 Minutes or Less