Last week’s thread was brilliant, but also kind of a bummer. So this week, I figured we’d do something fun. At the end of every podcast episode, I ask guests ‘what are you snacking on right now?’. The idea is to share a recommendation for listeners which could be an actual snack. Or it could be a movie, book, TV show, podcast, or really anything!
I’m sharing some of my current snacks this week, and would love to get yours in the comments, because who doesn’t love a great snack recc? LFG!
Watching
Fargo Season 5 (Amazon Prime) - So if you’ve been here for a second you’ll know that I’m not into anxiety-provoking shows. I like nice shows that don’t keep me up all night. This is not that. I have some conditions to watching this show - it needs to be early enough that I can watch a palette cleanser show or read a book for a while before bed (and since my kid doesn’t sleep we’re not that far through the season). That said, I am completely captivated by this show - why is Keeley Jones there? Why is Don Draper there? Why is Devi’s Cousin from Never Have I Ever there? I need answers so I have no choice but to keep watching, even if it is peak anxiety inducing.
Your Home Made Perfect (BBC iPlayer) - Ok so this is my palette cleanser show. I’m obsessed with the VR designs. Will is annoying, but I like his designs. The home owners almost always go with the wrong design. Every homeowner starts with like a £10-15K contingency and then manages to whip out £100K worth of renovations OVER THE BUDGET. I don’t understand but it’s mesmerising.
Fisk (Apple TV) - This is an Aussie comedy that follows a lawyer whose life is kind of coming undone and she has to pick up the pieces. The episodes are centred around the dynamics of Fisk and the other workers in the probate law office she blags her way into a job at, even though she’s not entirely qualified. It’s kinda awkward humour, but not in the emotionally stunted way of say, Colin From Accounts.
Eating (actual snacks!!)
Cheeky Nibble Victoria Sponge Granola - I fully expected this to be a letdown - I mean, when something says it’s Victoria Sponge flavoured, that’s a high bar. But actually, its really good. It has massive pieces of white chocolate, and crunchy dried strawberries, and it’s allergy-friendly which I know is important for some folks here. It also comes in Vanilla Latte, Cherry Bakewell, and Banana Split - but at £6 a box, it’s not going to replace Coco Pops anytime soon. But she pretty.
NOMO fudge bunny - we’re already embracing Easter chocolate over here; this little fella is filled with what tastes like molten brownie. So fudgy and gooey. Only note is that they’re too small (but Holland and Barrett are doing a 3 for 2 deal, just FYI).
Just Spices Avocado Topping - my friend has been talking about this for a while and I finally tried it at her house the other week and ngl, it’s really good.
And a last minute entry - obviously I’ll be making
Lindy West seriously sexy MSG and Miso infused granola.
Reading
Out of Earth - Reading this for bookclub and not super far in yet. It’s a Brazilian- Portuguese translation, and by all accounts a searing take on patriarchy and colonialism.
The King Started Cancer Treatment Within a Fortnight - Why Do The Rest of us Have to Wait? - A thoughtful take on what the King’s speedy diagnosis and treatment reveals about privilege and broken systems.
Eloise Rickman did a deep dive over at Small Places by Eloise Rickman on some of the ways ‘gentle parenting’ without interrogating power and adultism, is still fundamentally oppressive for children.
This from
Amanda Kate Richards over at fat hell helped me make sense of what is so disorienting about fat/body positive folks going on weight loss journey’s and rejecting everything they stood for up until that point. Oooft.
Whatever your approach, publicly rejecting an entire community and ideology whose sole purpose is to improve how we relate to our own bodies isn’t brave, nor is it radical. If anything, it’s revealing; it implies you only ever felt it existed to serve you, exclusively. When it didn’t feel right anymore, you loudly removed yourself under the false premise of autonomy and choice and the moral pursuit of health — but actually, you decided that your personal feelings about your own fatness mattered more than the message.
More Adolescent Boys Have Eating Disorders. Two Experts Discuss Why. (NYT Gift Link). Probably no surprise for anyone who has been here a while but depressing nonetheless.
New guidelines in Australia recommend that teachers stop recording and comparing body weight and body measurements; calculating body mass index (BMI) or caloric intake; and recording what they eat in food diaries. Seems like a great first step, but I wonder if it goes far enough? (S/O Kate for telling me about this!)
Little Snacky Bits
Scamp and Dude dress - I bought this dress around Christmas time when I was feeling in a clothes rut and it’s so fun it makes me happy to wear. It’s on sale and goes up to a size 22 (which is not great but they are generously sized so may stretch to a 24 in some styles).
Have been doing my hair like this.
Great suggestions for talking to kids about Palestine (+ book reccs).
Loved this little guide to making your home more fat-friendly (also applies if you’re setting up a public space like a shop or restaurant).
There will be a ‘read-in’ for families attending the national demonstration this weekend. See you there?
Lions, Tigers, and Bears - getting toasted - oh my!! (NYT gift link)
And - in BREAKING NEWS - GUESS WHO FINALLY HAS A PAIR OF BOOKENDS 🎉 Poor Dave had to go all the way to West London (😱) to retrieve them from the West Elm shop because they’re sold out online. Now if going all the way to White City for someone isn’t love, I don’t know what is.
Tell me, what delicious or fun things are you snacking on right now?
ICYMI this week: Didn’t Think Rice Cakes Would be so Controversial.