If you’re reading this, you are in search of help with Strands, the New York Times‘ elegant word-search challenge.

Strands provides players with a distinctive take on the conventional word search. Words may be formed from adjoining letters in any direction, including diagonally, and can alter direction, resulting in unique shapes and designs. Each letter in the grid contributes to a solution. There is always a theme linking every answer, along with the “spangram,” a specific word or phrase that embodies the day’s theme and spans the entire grid either horizontally or vertically.

By providing an ambiguous hint and omitting a word list, Strands crafts a mentally stimulating game that generally takes longer to complete than other games such as Wordle and Connections.

If you’re feeling stuck or don’t have at least 10 minutes to tackle today’s puzzle, we offer all the NYT Strands hints necessary for you to advance at your own speed.

NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Let’s enjoy a picnic!

The words pertain to food.

Today’s NYT Strands theme clearly articulated

These terms represent foods typically found at a barbecue.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today’s NYT Strands spangram is vertical.

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today’s spangram is Barbecue.