Happy weekend! We hope you’re ready for “snacking’s biggest weekend,” because we certainly are. In celebration, let's set aside the teams, Taylor, the ads and dip right into our definitive guide to the best snacks. 

What we’re covering:

• Healthy dupes for game day snacks, two-minute nacho cheese, guac vs. hummus, WTF are boneless wings & an exclusive deal on our favorite condiment 

• Building the perfect sock wardrobe

• It’s Girl Scout Cookie time with all the collabs, news & which flavors are going away 

• Plus, Valentine’s Day drops we know you’ll love, more cold plunging news & why you might have to ditch your fuzzy dice 

💡Did you know: all The Skinny editions are online and searchable—so you can easily find topics/links/recipes/items to shop that we have written about in the past. Bookmark this link for easy reference.

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KICKOFF

Super Bowl snacking: a Game Day primer

The Skinny: Wings are king for the Super Bowl, per the numbers below, but what we found interesting is that—backtracking into The Skinny archives—we couldn’t find any stats on this year’s Super Bowl vegan wing consumption. But in 2022, that estimated number was 160 million.

Hot take: We have always questioned the benefits of plant-based “meat,” but what we do love are actual veggie versions of meat things: think cauli wings (so good and all the delicious variations can be found here). If you’re vegan, why eat a plant-based pretend “burger”— eat an amazing portobello or a straight-up veggie burger instead. 

While we’re still talking wings, everyone likes to discuss/debate “WTF is up with boneless wings?” We made the mistake of ordering them once, and are firmly in the camp of “this is stupid, and basically a chicken tender.” But this guy (in the link below) takes it next-level, and we are so glad we found him: keep on reading for details of his lawsuit calling boneless wings “deceptive.” The story also references a local Nebraska hero whose petition to the city council to rename them “saucy nugs” went viral. 

By the numbers: 

🍕12 million pizzas

🥑48,000 tons of avocados  

🍗1.42 billion chicken wings 

Put your chips on the table: We considered these DIY barbecue chips from Valerie Bertinelli, but they looked way too labor intensive for our lazy Game Day liking so we opted to toss regular chips in a BBQ rub instead. Disclosure: This was not our genius idea; we learned this hack from Kerry Fitzmaurice of Pure Grit BBQ. Here are her simple tips for elevating and spicing up popcorn and chips:

• Chips: Choose your chip of choice (potato, tortilla, plantain even), blend the rub in a blender or Nutribullet, and toss to taste. 

• Popcorn: Blend the rub or don't, but sprinkling it on popcorn is so good! (Jill is also a popcorn genius and she said her hot tip is adding candy (m&m’s, Reese’s pieces) to a hot bowl of popcorn (HOT being the key factor, so it melts ever so slightly).

BFY: We all still kind of want the classics, so if you are looking for better-for-you alts masquerading as junk food, “Made Over Game Day Classics” is the list for you. Another great menu slightly revamped to skew a little lighter, Buffalo Chicken Dip included even if the refs cheated the Bills out of a SB chance! And the matchup we have been wondering for years: which is healthier, guacamole or hummus? A dietician weighs in. 

Classic: The origins of many SB faves including the moment RoTel and Velveeta joined forces to create the “Queso” we all adore. And, a two-minute nacho cheese sauce. 

Noted, for pickled veggies: If making tacos or nachos for your  party, nothing gives them a little Instagrammable flair than a jar of pickled red onions, which are easy to make. (Jill says “at Nicole’s house the onions won’t be the only thing pickled”). Tabitha Brown offers more pickling options by showing you how to make good use of your used-up pickle jar in the best way. “Leave it in the fridge as long as you like, that’s your business.”

A final word to the wise: If you’re going all out like Nicole did on New Year’s, behold: the easiest, most delicious, and scientifically-backed way to help reduce your hangover. She tried this hack, and dare we say, it worked.

🥇 Slawsome deal ahead! We have written about this incredible product before and order it on the regular, but do yourself a favor and order SLAWSA, your new favorite slaw/salsa combo condiment. Until February 12,  The Skinny readers will enjoy 25% off and free shipping by using the code TheSkinny. Click below for new-style Slawsa recipes for the Super Bowl, or anytime really. 

• Slawsome Pimento Cheese

• Slawsome Veggie Dip 

• Slawsome Deviled Eggs 

• Slawsome Jalepeno Popper

Giveaway: Salomon shoes from REI

Because the best hikes start with the right shoes

The Skinny: The Skinny: ICYMI, subscriber Julie H. was the winner of the Ooni pizza oven, and now we’re giving away a pair of Salomon shoes (costing $175 or less) from RIO, To enter, simply send this link to a couple friends who would love The Skinny. Then respond to this email with the word “DONE.” We’ll reply to confirm and unveil a winner by the end of February.

To inspire you to lace up…a list of bucket list hikes here in the good ol’ U.S.A.

Footloose

From the city to the mountains, our latest sock obsession

The Skinny: This is the second time we’ve been so pumped about socks that we’ve dedicated precious moments of our day texting about them, or hours discussing at night while drinking at Martin’s Tavern (a fine establishment in Georgetown) with a sock designer/new BFF who we just met. 

Flashback to early 2024—when NYC-based Nicole broke the shocking news to Jill that no-see socks were for losers—then, fast forward to this week’s introduction of Calzedonia’s “Mountain” cashmere-blend socks that Jill is stocking up on for gifts. And, currently offering “buy 3, get 3 free” which we are definitely taking advantage of. 

Enough said, let’s open up your sock drawer and take a critical eye to your stash with these tips. First, consider all your sock needs, such as:  

• Thin knee-highs to wear with boots 

• Tube socks for your cropped or bubble jeans, and the perfect men’s pair 

• Performance sport socks

• Everyday socks

• Cloud socks, aka cozy socks

And if you’re a runner, it turns out that a ragged pair is actually the best cold weather glove solution, per Runner’s World. Final sock inspo is this list of “16 incredible pairs,” or these sock subscription services can help your sock game stay one step ahead.

Extra credit: for the very sock fashion-forward, behold the sock-boot—where you can step into myriad options from high (Khaite, Bottega) to low (Everlane, H&M). (must say at the start of writing this, I was very “anti-sock boot” and now i am coveting them)

Last licks

This week’s newsfeed

• You know we love a cold plunge. And now, Luxury fitness club Life Time is adding them to all 70 locations, stating that just 30 seconds can improve sleep, boost energy and improve mental resilience.

• This subject hed from AAA stopped our scroll: "In defense of fuzzy dice,” outlines in which states it is illegal (!!) to hang something from the rearview.

• Grocery store bought chicken PSA: the other day at Trader Joe’s, a cashier told Nicole not to buy a package of chicken breast because the film was inflated. News to us! Here’s what to know about why bloated or inflated packaging can indicate spoiled meat.

• Valentine’s Collabs you may possibly need: 

  • Assembly required? IKEA is offering 3-course Valentine’s Day dinners for under $20. Get your tickets BEFORE Feb 14 (though, looks like it might be in Canada only)! 

  • How to order Chick-fil-A heart shaped trays 

  • From Sambas to Saucony, Valentine and Galentine’s Day sneaker drops 

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