Salad menu that's spicy is essential for those working on their figures (8)

I believe the answer is:

numeracy

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'essential for those working on their figures' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this defines the answer.

'salad menu that's spicy' is the wordplay.
'salad' indicates anagramming the letters.
'that's spicy' becomes 'racy' (synonyms).
'menu' is an anagram of 'nume'.
'nume'+'racy'='NUMERACY'

'is' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for numeracy that I've seen before include "Skill with mathematics" , "Cure many with basic knowledge and understanding of maths" , "Being able to count" .)

I've seen this clue in The Irish Times.

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