If you’re visiting this page, you’re likely in search of assistance with Strands, the New York Times’ ingenious take on the traditional word search puzzle.

Strands invites players to discover words concealed within a grid, but with a distinctive twist: words can weave through the puzzle in any orientation—up, down, left, right, or diagonally—and may even alter direction mid-word. Each letter in the grid is incorporated into a solution, and all words are linked by a shared theme. Additionally, there’s a specific word or phrase known as the “spangram” that summarizes the day’s theme and spans the grid either vertically or horizontally.

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In contrast to other NYT games such as Wordle or Connections, Strands does not supply a word list. Instead, it presents a single, enigmatic clue, rendering it a more time-consuming and challenging endeavor. If you find yourself pressed for time or simply require a little guidance, we’ve compiled all the hints and answers necessary to approach today’s puzzle at your convenience.

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Today’s NYT Strands Theme Hint: That’s quite a (tasty) mouthful
Clue: The solutions are all consumable items.

Today’s Theme Explained
All the words featured in today’s puzzle are foods with extended names.

Spangram Direction Hint
Today’s spangram is oriented vertically.

Spangram Answer
The spangram for today is: FourSyllables

Word List for April 9

– Watermelon
– Avocado
– Cauliflower
– Arugula
– FourSyllables

Interested in more daily puzzles and games? Visit Mashable’s Games page for additional hints and solutions. You’ll also encounter a variety of games such as Mahjong, Sudoku, and crosswords.

Missed a day? Catch up with the solution to yesterday’s Strands puzzle here.