Insider Today: Making junk food healthier

But first: This, not that, vacation edition.

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This week’s dispatch

A hideaway summer

It’s no secret overtourism has become a problem. Hot destinations like Venice have implemented fees to visit, while a photo-worthy spot near Mount Fuji erected a barrier to keep tourists from flocking to the area.

If the idea of being shoulder-to-shoulder with fellow tourists gives you summer-vacation dread, don’t worry — there’s a solution.

There are many hidden-gem destinations perfect for solo travelers looking for peace and quiet, or family-friendly spots that will make everyone feel at home.

If you’re looking for an under-the-radar Greecian vacation, why not book a stay in Halkidiki, known for its soft beaches, or Thessaloniki, packed with history?

Have your heart set on a vacation with a European feel? Skip the crowds in Paris and get your French fix in Montreal, Canada.

And if you’d rather stay closer to home, Idaho is a state that often gets overlooked but provides some of the best views, while my home state of Maryland is so much more than crab cakes and football.

Caitlin Clark is a Rorschach test

Clark, a 22-year-old Iowa graduate and women’s basketball sensation, has inadvertently become the center of an American culture war.

Clark doesn’t talk politics, instead saying she’s focused on basketball. But it’s getting harder to focus on the game. Some sports commentators are deriding Black players, saying they’re bullying Clark. Another compared Clark to Eminem, saying she doesn’t get enough credit because she’s white.

What it all tells us about the sports-media ecosystem.

No more gentle parenting

This millennial mom always wanted to be the “cool” parent — and gentle parenting seemed to be the way to do it. The method frowns upon punitive tactics, seemingly aligning with what she wanted from motherhood: peacefulness.

But by the time her son approached preschool, it became clear it wasn’t working. He was defiant to everyday tasks and struggled to recognize authority. So she gave up gentle parenting.

What she does instead.

Also read:

Making ultra-processed foods healthy (ish)

Five years ago, nutrition scientist Kevin Hall changed how we view ultra-processed foods. He discovered an ultra-processed diet led to people consuming about an extra 500 calories per day.

His findings kicked off a wave of “clean” eating trends, but Hall wasn’t convinced that shunning these convenience foods was the real solution. Now, he’s on a mission to develop new recipes for ultra-processed meals in the hopes they’ll be healthier.

Inside his latest study.

Work from vacation

There’s a new work trend in town that has people working while being out of town. Meet “quiet vacationing” — where people are working while secretly being on full-blown holidays.

It may sound better to answer emails on the beach than at the office. But the idea that people are under so much pressure at work that they can’t even tell their boss they’re on vacation is a startling reminder of America’s broken work culture.

Why “quiet vacationing” is a bad idea.

What we’re watching this weekend

• “Tell Them You Love Me”: Netflix’s new documentary tells the controversial true story of a married white professor and the nonverbal Black student she says she developed a relationship with.
• “Orphan Black: Echoes”: The long-awaited spinoff to “Orphan Black” finally premieres this weekend.
• “Taylor Swift vs Scooter Braun: Bad Blood”: The new Max docuseries will look at the public dispute between Swift and Braun.

See the full list.

Deals we love

More of this week’s top reads:

The Insider Today team: Joi-Marie McKenzie, editor in chief of life, in New York. Jordan Parker Erb, editor, in New York. Dan DeFrancesco, deputy editor and anchor, in New York City. Lisa Ryan, executive editor, in New York. Grace Lett, associate editor, in Chicago. Amanda Yen, fellow, in New York.