TGIF! For anyone new here: this is The Skinny, where we serve up curated, need-to-know lifestyle news designed to entertain and save you time, which is everyone’s most valuable resource.

• Digesting the Skinny’s curated news = 5 minutes + more time spent on meaningful activities.

• Mindless social media scrolling = hours you’ll never get back. 

What we’re covering: 

• Seasonings sales are on fire, and we have all the spice inspo (and a deal) for your fall pantry upgrade 

• The new comfort sandal that could challenge Birkenstock (plus, all the best walking/travel shoes) 

• Is butter no longer “unhealthy”? 

• Easy ways to slash your sugar intake

• Plus: Costco is selling F1 tickets, a “facial in a cup,” where to get the OG fried McDonald’s apple pie, fall roasted veggies, and all the surprising uses of Vaseline

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Pantry raid

Seasonings boom: the spice of life

The Skinny: Demand for seasonings is up with at-home cooking in full upward swing since prices at restaurants – including fast food chains – have gone off the charts (case in point: this graph illustrating rising McDonald’s prices).  

Whether you’re feeling “slamjacked” by the rising price of a Denny’s Lumberjack Slam or knowing that a not-even-very-boozy lunch for two, almost anywhere in NYC, is going to set you back over $100 — we’re all waiting for restaurant dining to become slightly more affordable again. 

As indicated by McCormick raising its earnings forecast this week, seasonings sales are heating up — and are estimated to grow 5.2% annually through 2026 — as consumers are getting creative in the kitchen, experimenting with flavors like smoked paprika and blends like za'atar, garam masala and dukkah. This shift not only reflects a desire for culinary exploration but also highlights the growing trend of health-conscious eating with fresh herbs and spices to enhance meals. We love this first-person piece in Vogue that hits on spice inspiration, a shopping list of some of the most unique blends we’ve seen (most in gorgeous packaging, natch), and why you should consider making your own. 

Two to try: One of our favorite brands, Spicewell, offers New Salt & New Pepper—which each contain 10% DV of 21 vitamins & minerals, and New Salt has 30% less sodium than traditional table salt. Also worth a look, their Sustainable Sea Salt is hand-harvested in Mexico on limestone beds. Check them out in action here, with a blackened salmon taco recipe, or on Good Mythical Morning. If you’re ready to upgrade your pantry staples, you can try Spicewell now with 15% off for The Skinny readers using code THESKINNY. 

Final note: we discovered this brand Just Spices at the Fancy Food Show, and our morning eggs and avo toast haven’t been the same since.

Walk this way

How to treat those dogs right

The Skinny: Step aside, Birkenstock? While the billion-dollar comfort footwear brand is still crushing it and even launching a Made-in-Germany foot care collection this week, we have our bets on newcomer Commbi. We are dying to get our feet into their modular slides, which feature modern footbeds (with various designs and materials) that can be swapped out. Yes, so when your footbed wears out, you don’t have to get rid of the whole shoe. File under: why the F didn’t anyone think of this before?

Travel + Leisure is the go-to for testing travel shoes, so here are their latest lists of Best Travel Shoes for Men, and the 24 Best Walking Shoes for Women (100 pairs tested). 

You can also walk barefoot, which apparently also has its health benefits, especially if you’re doing it outside and in connection with the earth’s vibrations and energy. We wrote about “grounding” in a recent edition and ask that you ignore the fact that—if you look closely enough—Nicole was wearing flip-flops in the accompanying image. And an alert reader rightfully called us out on it:).

Spread the news!  

Is butter bad good for you?

The Skinny: Everyone knows: everything's better with butter. So, you can imagine our excitement to see headlines this month asking if butter is not as unhealthy as you may think. For clarity on this important topic, we consulted Alyssa Smolen (MS RDN CDN and community dietician), who we had the pleasure of meeting at a “Breakfast for Dinner” event hosted by Challenge Butter (which we love for its delicate and creamy taste)! 

Start celebrating, because she confirmed that “butter can be a component of a mindful and balanced diet.” However, she added a caveat that “when picking different types of spreads people should look at their individual needs. And, butter is high in saturated fat. However, if one incorporates tons of healthy unsaturated fats into their diet like avocado, nuts and seeds then having butter in moderation should not pose any harm.”

Now the real question is: how do you define “in moderation?” Per Alyssa, that means a couple of servings a week, not every day. We’ll take it. 

Add to cart: No butter lover can be taken seriously without one of these crocks, or a proper butter knife. Finally, you’re simply “Not Butter Obsessed Unless You Do These 10 Things” (not that we’re gatekeeping—quite the contrary—we just want you to love it as much as us).

Sweet tooth 

Less sugar, no sacrifice: here’s how

The Skinny: After increasing our attention to food labels, and how much “added sugar” seems to be everywhere/in everything, we’re making an effort to 86 as much as possible. Instead of consuming sugar in things like premade soup or spaghetti sauce, save your sugar fix for something actually good, like an affogato or a fresh almond croissant. The good news: cutting back on sugar doesn’t mean saying goodbye to flavor. From using natural sweeteners in baking, to roasting veggies for their natural sugars, there are plenty of ways to get a sweet taste without the overload. 

Pro tip: Cutting sugary drinks and swapping in spices (hello, cinnamon) can reduce cravings without you even noticing. Or, gradually dial down the sweetness, and you’ll be amazed how quickly your taste buds adjust. 

For more ideas, you can refer to this Eating Well guide, which includes guidance and hacks such as how to “trick your palate” by smelling certain fragrances before eating.

OHM, THERE'S MORE

This week’s newsfeed

• Get your snackable hand pie fix for fall here, and while we’re at it, you’re welcome for this hot tip about the last places on earth where you can still get a FRIED McDonald’s apple pie (the one with the “caution: hot” warning label on the package). Gen Xers and old Millennials – you know the joy of which we speak. And if you’re scratching your head, McD’s made the decision to switch from the bubbling cauldrons to their allegedly heather “baked” pies. Survey says ”too doughy!”

• Alert reader shout-out: this Alfredo Stuffed Spaghetti Squash from Half Baked Harvest (looks incredible).

• Turns out, for health reasons, there is a very specific time you may want to consider turning in for the night.

• For dry skin, many dermatologists cite petroleum jelly as the “holy grail for aging skin.” Here, a list of 15 uses for Vaseline that we bet you haven't heard before.

• Off the bench for fall: roasted vegetables, which are pretty much a staple for us at least 2x a week in the fall (450 degree oven, toss with EVOO and salt/pepper, done).

• Rev your engines/shopping carts: In this week’s Costco news, the big-box retailer is selling F1 tickets.

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