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Here is the AP Lifestyles digest for the week of Sept. 21.

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FOOD

FOOD-HOME COOKING TRENDS: In normal times, food trends often start in restaurants, with top chefs. Maybe they get written up then in food magazines or blogs, and soon you find the trending ingredients and dishes on grocery store shelves. These are not normal times, of course. Now, the pandemic is determining how and what we eat, from nostalgia foods to family meals, from quick, shortcut meals to slow cookers. By Katie Workman. SENT Thursday, 800 words, photos.

HALLOWEEN CANDY: Americans may not know if trick or treating will happen this year because of the pandemic, but they’re buying a lot of Halloween candy while they wait to find out. By Dee-Ann Durbin. SENT Wednesday, 750 words, photos.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-ONE GOOD THING-COFFEE AND CONVERSATION — Australian acrobat Rick Everett lost his job during the coronavirus pandemic. But the crisis gave him time to fulfill his long desire to help others in need. The former chef and restaurant manager offers free coffee and conversation from his kitchen window in Sydney. He also started a communal food pantry and an herb garden. UPCOMING: Thursday.

WESTERN WILDFIRES-WINE CRISIS — Wildfire smoke that blanketed U.S. West Coast states also penetrated grapes growing in vineyards, stoking fears that the 2020 vintage could be disastrous. Winemakers around the world are adapting to climate change, including rising temperatures and drought. But those near forests that are becoming ever more prone to wildfires face an additional challenge: smoke taint. UPCOMING Thursday.

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FASHION

MILAN FASHION WEEK-WATCH — The Italian fashion industry is trying to inject optimism into the most dismal year on record for the luxury sector, staging 23 live runway shows and 37 presentations during a hybrid live-digital Milan Fashion Week that aims to excite consumers and connect with buyers.

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HEALTH

VIRUS OUTBREAK-VIRAL QUESTIONS-FLU: How can I tell the difference between the flu and COVID-19? SENT Thursday, 450 words, photo.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-CHILDREN'S HEALTH: Virus shutdown took a toll on routine health care for kids. SENT Wednesday, photos.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-VIRAL QUESTIONS-KIDS: Does the coronavirus spread easily among children? It appears the virus can spread among children and teens, but how easily may vary by age. SENT Tuesday: 270 words, photos.

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PERSONAL FINANCE

NERDWALLET-MILLENIAL MONEY-NEW HOMEOWNER COSTS — When it comes to buying a home, it’s common to focus all your saving efforts on the down payment. After all, it’s likely one of the biggest lump-sum payments you’ll ever make, and it can take years to set enough money aside. But set a savings goal for other homeownership costs, too, especially in that first year. Even move-in-ready homes need work, and rest assured that something will break within a few months. By SARA RATHNER of NerdWallet. SENT Tuesday: 910 words, photo.

ON THE MONEY-NERDWALLET-CREDIT CARD RELIEF — If you’ve been denied COVID-19 assistance for your credit cards or offered terms that are not sustainable, credit counseling may get your finances on track. By MELISSA LAMBARENA of NerdWallet. UPCOMING Wednesday: 800 words, photo.

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AND LOOKING AHEAD TO NEXT WEEK...

HOMES-BETTER LIGHTING: Sunset is arriving noticeably earlier, meaning less mood-lifting daylight for everyone. The weather is turning colder, so we’ll soon spend even more time cooped up inside the homes where we’ve huddled, and sometimes quarantined, for six months. If there was ever an autumn when things could be a bit brighter, this may be it. So while better light bulbs or a carefully repositioned lamp won’t solve everything, it’s a great year to reassess the way your home is lit -- and possibly make a few changes. By Melissa Rayworth. UPCOMING Tuesday, 800 words, photos.

The AP