Hot diggity

Good morning Staker! Here’s what’s cookin’ today. What the heck is newstalgia, caring for the grandkids is good for you, and get ready to revisit a classic rock classic from Van Halen🤘

But first our weekly poll!

Food companies have their ears close to the ground these days trying to identify the next big consumer trend before consumers realize it’s trending.

“Swicy” was one that Nestlé jumped on in recent years as snackers developed a palate for sweet and spicy at the same time. The company believes that profile could branch out into subcategories this year like “swangy” (spicy, sweet, and tangy) and “swavory” (spicy, sweet, and savory).

“People don’t want compromises,” said Mike Van Houten, vice president of commercial excellence at Nestlé. “People want to experiment. They want things that surprise and delight.”

Van Houten said market research found around half of consumers would be driven to try a new product if it had an interesting and unfamiliar flavour.

At the same time, research has found consumers still long for the textures, flavors, or snacks in general that they enjoyed as kids. They’re calling this perspective “newstalgia.”

“As each generation finds ways to put their own stamp on the sub-category, confectionery manufacturers balance tradition with forward thinking,” John Downs, president and CEO of the National Confectioners Association, said in a statement. “Whether through new flavors, fresh formats, or original experiences, these companies are delighting consumers of every age.”

A study published in Psychology and Aging found most forms of caring for grandchildren are effective “buffers” against cognitive decline.

“Many grandparents provide regular care for their grandchildren—care that supports families, and society more broadly—but an open question is whether caregiving for grandchildren may also benefit grandparents themselves,” said lead researcher Flavia Chereches.

Chereches and her team recruited 2,887 grandparents with an average age of 67 and conducted three cognitive evaluations of them over six years. The participants also had to explain if, how, and how often they took care of their grandchildren. This could include taking care of them when sick, helping them with homework, babysitting, or just spending quality time.

After the six year period, the researchers found regardless of method or frequency, those who did provide care for their grandchildren scored better on verbal fluency and memory tests. They also found grandmothers providing care experienced less cognitive decline than those who didn’t.

“What stood out most to us was that being a caregiving grandparent seemed to matter more for cognitive functioning than how often grandparents provided care or what exactly they did with their grandchildren,” said Chereches.

If you’re visiting the Eternal City this year, be sure to have some pocket change for your visit to the Trevi Fountain—and we aren’t just talking about lucky pennies.

The 2 euro fee to visit the famous reservoir came into effect earlier this week in an effort to tame the overcrowding that’s become emblematic of major attractions across Europe in recent years.

Interestingly enough, the efforts have paid off—at least in the very early days of the policy during off-peak travel season.

“Before, there were problems accessing the fountain. There were a lot of people. Now, it’s very easy,” Ilhan Musbah, a tourist from Morocco, told the Associated Press. “You can take photos, you feel good, you’re comfortable, and on top of that 2 euros is not much.”

The fee was imposed after a year of testing a system in which queues were set up to reach the front of the fountain where visitors would typically part with their coins in exchange for one wish.

City officials deemed the crowd control efforts successful, and moved forward with an accompanying fee that’s expected to yield 6.5 million euros annually, the proceeds of which will be reinvested in the city’s historic museums.

On the topic of the Trevi Fountain, have you ever wondered what happens to the coins that it collects? You can read the fascinating story here.

5150 was Van Halen’s first album featuring Sammy Hagar instead of David Lee Roth, and against the odds, the band was able boost its commercial success even after replacing the larger-than-life original frontman.

Hit singles including Dreams, Why Can’t This Be Love, and Best of Both Worlds helped vault 5150 to new heights for the band sometimes cheekily referred to as Van Hagar. The record debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 (the band’s first no. 1 album, somehow) and went on to go platinum several times over.

5150 (Expanded Edition) will be formatted similarly to other reissues released in recent years: an LP, 3CD, and Blu-ray set.

The LP contains remastered versions of the album’s nine songs, which were worked on directly from the original master tapes recorded in 1985 at Eddie Van Halen’s 5150 Studios in California.

Perhaps most excitingly, the 3CD set will feature previously unreleased live recordings taken from performances during the 5150 tour in 1986 and 1987. Fans have been waiting decades for such live cuts. Did the heavier integration of synthesizers sound as awesome live as it did on the album? Could Sammy really hit those high notes in Dreams?

The reissue is available for preorder now, and will come out on March 27, three days after its 40th birthday.

Quizmaster’s choice

Happy Friday! It’s time for another round of trivia à la carte.

We’ve got a set of 10 random questions—the only thing connecting them is that they’ll make sense if you’re a Staker! So walk on down memory lane with today’s trivia!

Complete the game and earn a shot at a $25 eGift Card ;)

Winner will be notified on Monday afternoon. Keep an eye on your inbox and don’t forget to check your spam folder!*