Parker, CO April 2020

ParkerLifestyle.com

APRIL 2020

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3

LIFESTYLE LETTER

APRIL 2020 PUBLISHER

Jeni Fleck | Jeni.Fleck@LifestylePubs.com Joan Dameron | Joan.Dameron@LifestylePubs.com EDITORIAL COORDINATOR

Jennifer Starbuck | Jennifer.Starbuck@LifestylePubs.com

Celebrate Earth Day Your Way DO YOU SMELL THAT, PARKER? It's the fresh, spring scent after a cleansing rain.

Ah, April. What a wonderful month to reconnect with the Earth and spend some time outside. The days are longer, the sky is bright, and you can almost see the tulips and daffodils grow.

While you are out, take a moment to appreciate the gifts our planet gives us each

AD DESIGNER

Kaylee Mitchell LAYOUT DESIGNER

Emily Stout CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Hannah Echols, Jeni Fleck, Serena Montoya CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

Jolie Rodriguez, Elle Blom

day. How can you show your thanks? Maybe you can drop off a gently used formal or tux at the newly renovated Parker Secret Closet. Located in SECOR, these two organizations give back to a large population in need right in our own community.

Take on your outdoor adventures in style. Yes, sporty, fast and eco-friendly do co-exist in the just-released electric MINI Cooper. Get the inside scoop in the Drivers Notebook.

This April issue is filled with stories and ideas to get you in the Earth Day spirit.

From a remote Lake City getaway to building your own compost pile, we can't wait

CORPORATE TEAM CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Steven Schowengerdt CHIEF SALES OFFICER Matthew Perry CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER DeLand Shore

to see how you decide to celebrate. Here at Parker Lifestyle, we will be celebrating

ART DIRECTOR Sara Minor

our two year anniversary with our community partners and you, our readers! Thank

OPERATIONS DIRECTOR Janeane Thompson

you for supporting us on this incredible journey. We are also celebrating one of our publishers, Jeni Fleck, on her Earth Day birthday!

AD MANAGER Chad Jensen REGIONAL SALES DIRECTOR Eric Williams WEB APPLICATIONS Michael O’Connell

Thank you for all you do to keep Parker clean and healthy. We wouldn't be this wonderful town without each and everyone doing your part. Happy Earth Day!

Jeni Fleck, Publisher

Joan Dameron, Publisher

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ON THE COVER The view of the Milky Way over Lake City, Colorado.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY TRAVIS HODGES PHOTOGRAPHY 4

Parker Lifestyle | April 2020

ParkerLifestyle.com

Proverbs 3:5-6 Parker Lifestyle™ is published monthly by Lifestyle Publications LLC. It is distributed via the US Postal Service to some of the Parker areas’ most affluent neighborhoods. Articles and advertisements do not necessarily reflect Lifestyle Publications’ opinions. No portion of this magazine may be reproduced in any form without written consent. Lifestyle Publications does not assume responsibility for statements made by advertisers or editorial contributors. Information in Parker Lifestyle™ is gathered from sources considered to be reliable, but the accuracy of all information cannot be guaranteed.

INSIDE THE ISSUE APRIL 2020

FEATURES 14 Show Time For Secret Closet Homegrown Nonprofit Grows Into Larger Permanent Space at SECOR Cares

18 Trail Blazers Conservationists and Volunteers Prepare Douglas County's Newest Trail System

24 Travel Destination: Lake City 28 Vegan Celebrations Make Easter Season Vibrant,

24 14

Colorful and Healthful With These Meatless Dishes

28

18

DEPARTMENTS 4

Lifestyle Letter

8

Good Times

12

Driver’s Notebook

14

Giving Back

22 DIY 24 Travel Destination 28 Culinary Creations 30 Healthy Lifestyle

COMMUNITY C OMI N G TO GE T HER

SO MUCH HAS CHANGED IN PARKER AND AROUND THE WORLD SINCE THIS ISSUE WAS WRAPPED UP. WHEN WE RE-LAUNCHED PARKER LIFESTYLE TWO YEARS AGO THIS MONTH, WE HEARD MANY READERS AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS COMMENT WITH EXCITEMENT ABOUT THE FOCUS ON HYPER LOCAL CONTENT. TODAY, WE WANT TO LET YOU KNOW THAT WE ARE STILL HERE FOR YOUR LOCAL NEEDS AND TO HELP YOU WEATHER THIS STORM. PARKER SETS ITSELF APART BY BEING A CLOSE, TIGHT KNIT COMMUNITY. EVEN AS THE COMMUNITY HAS GROWN BY LEAPS AND BOUNDS, IT IS STILL OUR TOWN. WHILE MANY OF US ARE WORKING FROM HOME, WE CAN STILL GET OUTSIDE AND ENJOY THE BEAUTIFUL SPRING WEATHER AND FRESH AIR. NATURE EVEN GIVES US EXAMPLES OF HOW REAL AND MYTHICAL CREATURES REACT DURING STRENUOUS TIMES. BISON RUN THROUGH A STORM BECAUSE THEY I N S T I N C T I V E L Y K N O W T H EY W I L L G E T T H R O U G H I T Q U I C K E R A S O P P O S E D T O RUNNING AWAY FROM IT. IN GREEK MYTHOLOGY, THE PHOENIX ROSE FROM THE ASHES AND WAS REBORN. YOU, THE RESIDENTS OF PARKER, ARE STRONG AND RESILIENT, AND JUST LIKE THE PHOENIX, OUR COMMUNITY WILL BE RENEWED AND TRANSFORMED AS WE WORK TOGETHER TO SUPPORT EACH OTHER AND GO THE EXTRA MILE FOR OUR BUSINESSES AND FOR OUR FAMILIES. AS A COMMUNITY AND AS A NATION, WE WILL EXPERIENCE A REBIRTH AS WE BEAT THE MOST CHALLENGING TIME MANY OF US HAVE EVER FACED. WE ARE MORE GRATEFUL THAN EVER TO BE ABLE TO SERVE YOU AND WE ARE HERE TO HELP IN ANY WAY WE CAN. LET'S ALL SPREAD SOME LOVE AND KINDNESS, EVEN IF IT IS MOSTLY VIA SOCIAL MEDIA RIGHT NOW. PLEASE CHECK OUT OUR NEW ONLINE PLATFORM,

WWW.CITYLIFESTYLE.COM/PARKERLIFESTYLE,

WHERE MORE GREAT NEWS AND CURRENT UPDATES ON BUSINESSES IN THE COMMUNITY CAN NOW BE FOUND. WE ARE EXCITED TO BE BRINGING YOU THIS NEW SOCIAL PLATFORM DURING A TIME WHEN WE ALL NEED A LITTLE EXTRA GOOD NEWS, AND WE HOPE YOU FIND IT AS INSPIRING AS THESE PAGES WE PRINT. THANK YOU, PARKER. WE ARE HERE BECAUSE OF EACH OF YOU. sending love and strength, THE

PARKER

LIFESTYLE

TEAM

GOOD TIMES

Love 'em or Leave 'em Valentine's Day 5K/10K Parker Parks and Recreation hosted its annual Valentine's Day 5k/10k race on Feb. 8. It was a chilly day but the fun crowd warmed the spirits at the race!Â

1.

2.

3.

Parker High Schools' Wish Weeks benefitting Make-A-Wish Colorado Two Parker schools held Wish Weeks to benefit Make-A-Wish Colorado in February. Legend, which donated $93,000, featured fellow student, Allie, who is battling heart disease and wishes to go to Egypt. Ponderosa, which raised nearly $59,000, featured 8-year-old Ethan from Parker who has leukemia and wishes to go to Legoland.

4.

5.

6.

1. Current and former featured wish kids at Legend High School | 2. Wish kid Ethan models Ponderosa football gear during Wish Week | 3. 8-year-old Ethan from Parker was Ponderosa's featured wish kid | 4. Wish kid Ethan poses with new friends during Ponderosa's Wish Week assembly | 5. Legend student and wish kid, Allie, wishes to go to Egypt | 6. Wish kid Allie (in blue) poses with fellow Legend students during Wish Week 8

Parker Lifestyle | April 2020

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Parker Lifestyle | April 2020

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DRIVER’S NOTEBOOK

PLUG IN TO THE NEW MINI MINI ELECTRIC HARDTOP PROVES HOW FUN SUSTAINABLE DRIVING CAN BE

ARTICLE JENI FLECK PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF SCHOMP MINI

THE CULMINATION OF THE MOVIE “THE ITALIAN JOB” IN 2003

than any of their current models. The Signature entry-level model is fully

WAS AN EPIC SCENE THAT INCLUDED CHARLIZE THERON

equipped with AC and DC charging, keyless entry and heated front seats.

SPEEDING THROUGH THE TUNNELS OF L.A. IN A RED MINI

But that’s not all — there is no lack of luxury in this basic package

COOPER. I decided right then, I, too, would be behind the wheel of

which also includes a 6.5” display with Apple CarPlay™, rearview

a MINI Cooper someday.

camera, and active driver assist. Upgraded models include additions

Thirteen years later, you better believe I was doing my best to keep my MINI under the speed limit, and, yes, it was red with black racing stripes just like Stella’s.

such as a panoramic moonroof to enjoy those beautiful Colorado days and upgraded touchscreen with navigation.

And don’t worry, MINI did not disappoint in the handling and drive

Whether you’ve always lusted after the unique body of the British

experience of its first EV. The MINI Electric goes from 0-60 in a mere

icon, or you are just looking for an affordable way to enter the electric

6.9 seconds with 181 HP (which is even faster than you could speed

vehicle market and go a little more green, now is your time to shine.

through tunnels in 2003).

Last month, MINI released its first-ever EV and it is one of the more affordable luxury electric vehicles on the market.

Staying true to their look, the all-electric MINI has the same body as the legendary 2-door hardtop and boasts more premium standard features 12

Parker Lifestyle | April 2020

Plus, with over 900 EV charging stations across the state, you’ll get the iconic MINI drive just a little more electrified. Whether you are going green or making your fellow road warriors green with envy, this first-of-its-kind EV earns more than a double-take.

+THE SPECS MODEL MINI Electric Hardtop 2 Door BATTERY RANGE 110 Miles Per Full Charge CHARGE TIME 36 Minute Quick Charge To 80% At 50kw MINI DRIVING EXCITEMENT 100% April 2020 | Parker Lifestyle

13

GIVING BACK

HOMEGROWN NONPROFIT GOES FROM HOME CLOSET TO NEW PERMANENT LOCATION IN SECOR CARES FACILITY

S h o w Ti m e F o r

Secret Closet DRESSES IN EVERY STYLE, SIZE, AND COLOR. Sparkly high heels and elegant black flats. Displays dripping with jewelry and make-up aplenty. Tuxedos, dress shoes, graduation gowns, ties- and, if you’re a student, none of this you

advertisement about the dresses resulted in 200+ people

have to buy.

in Kiva’s basement. At all hours of the day, prom-bound

The secret is out. The Parker Secret Closet, a nonprofit that

teens combed through the inventory.

gives free party clothes and accessories to enrolled students,

It was then that Kiva came to a realization.

recently renovated in order to better serve the Parker commu-

“There must be a calling for this.”

nity — just in time for prom season.

It is not common to find an abundance of sequins and

The PSC began with a Facebook post. The founder, Kiva

silk in the center of a food pantry. But, that is exactly

Frey, started the page Free in Parker so the community

where the PSC landed on Feb. 1 when they expanded

could find and reuse items without cost. (That Facebook

into the SECOR Cares warehouse. SECOR cares for fam-

page now has 18,500 followers.) At the time, she was holding

ilies undergoing suburban poverty and works to bring

onto unwanted dresses that her friend, in pursuit of sending

them into self-sufficiency.

her daughter to prom, accrued from thrift shops. A simple

According to Dennis Gorton, the CEO of SECOR, the number of people struggling with poverty in suburban

areas has surpassed the number of people dealing with urban poverty in the last 10 years. Douglas County is one of Colorado’s top five wealthiest counties, yet one in eight homes is struggling with suburban poverty.

ARTICLE HANNAH ECHOLS | PHOTOGRAPHY JOLIE RODRIGUEZ

14

Parker Lifestyle | April 2020

“It’s not people who are strange or weird or who have overspent,” Dennis says. “The bottom line is, life happens.”

Kiva created the PSC with the same heart. The PSC was designed for people who have over-extended themselves or hit a bump in the road.

“I dream that this would change the culture where we’re not good enough unless we spend a lot of money,” Kiva says. “We don’t have to pretend that we have way more money than we do, because we all know that we don’t. Let’s just be real for a minute.”

The PSC is all part of Kiva’s goal to bring the people of Parker back down to earth. Her nonprofit has served more than 2,000 families.

That’s 2,000 people who recycled rather than buying something new.

Fashion, after all, is the most polluting industry in the world. To further combat this environmental detriment, all of the clothes that the PSC doesn’t give away are sent to ThredUp, an online thrift store that resells or recycles every item.

Sustainable economic practices result in sustainable environmental practices. Kiva is adamant that shopping secondhand isn’t shameful. It’s smart. Being thrifty while picking out a prom dress affords teens financial freedom in other endeavors, like saving for college or a car. The PSC is not income-based and no guest has to prove need.

“This gives the kids that are actually in need a chance to come in where people of all walks of life are shopping,” Kiva says. “If you’re in need, we want you to be able to shop with dignity like everyone else.”

April 2020 | Parker Lifestyle

15

R E D E F I N I N G YO U R O U T D O O R

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Parker Lifestyle | April 2020

Seminar at Pine Grove Crossing

Pine Grove Crossing Presents the Parker Historical Society

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THE HISTORY OF PARKER AND PINE GROVE CROSSING Wednesday, April 1st 10:00 - 11:30 a.m.

Images courtesy of the Parker Historical Society

Explore the history of the town of Parker and how Pine Grove Crossing ties in! This will feature an informative, colorful slideshow, artifacts and pioneer costumes. The speaker will be Denise Rucks of the Parker Historical Society.

ALZHEIMER’S PREVENTION Presented by Dr. Scott Brown

April 8th, 10 - 11 a.m.

Refreshments will be served. Please RSVP to 303-996-8000

Refreshments will be served.

Please RSVP to 303-996-8000

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ARTICLE AND PHOTOGRAPHY HANNAH ECHOLS

TRAIL BLAZERS 18

Parker Lifestyle | April 2020

CONSERVATIONISTS AND VOLUNTEERS PREPARE DOUGLAS COUNTY'S NEWEST TRAIL SYSTEM

Brian O'Malley braves the wind and snow to volunteer at Prairie Canyon Ranch

BRIAN O’MALLEY + volunteer “I THOUGHT, HECK, I HIKE THEIR TRAILS ENOUGH. I CAN GO HELP THEM OUT AND SEE WHAT THEY DO.”

ON A BLUSTERY MORNING COMPLETE WITH SNOW

him to volunteer with the Jefferson County, Denver County and

AND A 7 DEGREE WINDCHILL, ROUGHLY 20 VOL-

Douglas County Open Space programs.

UNTEERS DECKED OUT IN HIKING BOOTS AND

Brian grew up a city boy in Chicago, but a love for the outdoors was

GREEN JACKETS EMBLAZONED WITH THE DOUGLAS

nurtured through a stint in the Boy Scouts and long fishing expedi-

COUNTY PARKS & RECREATION LOGO GATHERED

tions with his father in northern Ontario. He lives on 20 acres of land

TOGETHER AT THE PRAIRIE CANYON RANCH. They

that he formerly used to raise cattle, though he stopped because, in

call themselves the OTC (Original Trail Crew), and they

his words, “It’s hard to get neighbors to watch your bison.”

meet every “Trail Tuesday” to plan, develop, and maintain

Brian’s infatuation with conservation began in 2013 when a

the trails that exist in Douglas County’s 68,037 acres (and

flood ransacked his home. The destruction caused by the flooding

counting) of preserved land.

prompted him to begin volunteering to rebuild the affected trails.

Brian O’Malley was the first volunteer present at this particular meeting. A man with snow shoes in the back of

“I thought, heck, I hike their trails enough. I can go help them out and see what they do,” Brian says.

his truck and a conclusive mental map of Colorado roads,

The rest is history. As the vice-chair of the Douglas County Open

parks, and trails, Brian’s affection for the outdoors has led

Space Advisory Committee, Brian is astounded by the amount of CONTINUED >

April 2020 | Parker Lifestyle

19

TRAIL BLAZERS (CONTINUED)

“A GOOD TRAIL HAS TO HIGHLIGHT ALL OF YOUR SENSES.”

volunteer support that Douglas County receives. With the help of

“A good trail has to highlight all of your senses,” Amy explains.

115 volunteers, in 2019 the Douglas County government received the

“You need to move in and out of the sun. It needs to have a fun rolling

economic equivalent of $275,000 — about 11,000 hours of free labor.

terrain. And, it needs to take you both toward and away from cool

In the case of the Original Trail Crew, these volunteers have

features to provide varying degrees of sensation.”

become pros. The senior park ranger, Amy Knopp, provides her vol-

With all of these components in mind, Amy released volunteers

unteers with workshops and certifications, including advanced trail

with the mandate, “Hike where your heart calls you.” From that, the

building training and first aid.

blueprints for Sandstone Ranch were born.

This most recent meeting focused on the construction of Douglas

Brian’s sense of curiosity leads him to historically preserved sites

County’s newest open space and trail system, Sandstone Ranch.

all over the state. He thumbs over arrowheads, fossils, and petrified

The crew designed a system that will contain roughly 10 miles of

trees with the reverence of national treasure. As a conservationist,

trails, diverse ecosystems, and three overlooks, all with a due-date

Brian works to monitor and maintain the history, wildlife, and recre-

goal of opening by Sept. 1.

ation for the community at large.

20

Parker Lifestyle | April 2020

“THERE’S A BALANCE IN EVERYTHING WE DO.”

Volunteers sharpen dozens of tools in preparation to build Douglas County's newest trail system

“There’s a balance in everything we do,” Brian says.

Though Douglas County, and Colorado at large for that matter, is experiencing tremendous growth, Brian says

“People bemoan the growth, but what they don’t realize is that the growth has been planned for the last 10 to 15 years,” Brian says.

environmental conservation is still thriving here. With 14

That’s why volunteers like Brian commit their free

undeveloped open spaces and three state parks just within

time to conservation. Enjoying the outdoors, each oth-

the county, plenty is being done to ensure that the balance

ers’ company, and preparing for future generations are

between nature and human interaction is maintained.

all bonuses.

April 2020 | Parker Lifestyle

21

DIY

BUILD YOUR OWN COMPOST PILE ARTICLE SERENA MONTOYA PHOTOGRAPHY ELLE BLOM

LUAN AKIN’S SWEDISH GRANDMOTHER CULTIVATED HER GARDEN BY REUSING WHAT THE WORLD HAD TO OFFER — AND THAT STARTED WITH BUILDING A HEALTHY COMPOST PILE WITH FOOD SCRAPS AND YARD WASTE, SHE SAYS. Luan, who is a garden ambassador with Tagawa Gardens garden center in Parker, carries on her grandmother’s love of gardening today and is a big believer in the benefits of composting. She says she just wishes she’d paid more attention to her grandmother. “I would love to go back and ask more questions.”

The advantage of growing your own vegetable garden is to know where your food comes from and being a part of a self-sustaining way of life. And composting, Luan says, is a logical, healthy part of that process. “Why wouldn’t you go that one step further and grow it in the best soil you can?,” Luan says. “And know where that compost came from because it’s yours. You made it.”

22

Parker Lifestyle | April 2020

INTERESTED IN GROWING YOUR OWN FOOD? START WITH GROWING YOUR OWN SOIL

TIPS:

1.

The general rule is two-thirds of the browns (dried leaves and other yard waste) and one-third of the greens (food scraps) by volume. When building your compost pile, you can enclose with something as simple as chicken wire. The compost pile should be at least three feet by three feet and ideally covered with a loose tarp to help keep your compost moist.

2.

3.

4.

5.

When choosing where to place your compost, it should be a flat area in your backyard. Ideally, placed in partial sun and partial shade.

Never compost with oil, cheese or meat.

It can attract varmints, and oil impedes a healthy amount of air exchange. Give your compost a varying diet.

For enriched growth in your garden, no more than 20 percent of the soil should be compost. It’s an amendment, not a growing medium.

Your compost pile should smell like a freshly wet forest floor, if it smells like sulfur you’ve done something wrong.

April 2020 | Parker Lifestyle

23

TRAVEL DESTINATION

Lake City G e taway TUCKED INTO A STEEP VALLEY BETWEEN THE POWDERHORN WILDERNESS AND THE UMCOMPAGHRE NATIONAL FOREST, THE COLORADO TOWN OF LAKE CITY SEEMS TO MAKE GOOD ON ONE OF ITS CLAIMS TO FAME: MOST REMOTE INCORPORATED TOWN IN THE UNITED STATES. It’s an easy sell.

A five hour drive from Parker, it takes about an hour southwest of Gunnison on Colo. 149 to wind your way into this old mining town that has a laidback yet bustling town center. But once you’re here, get ready to experience Colorado High Country at its best.

Lake City boasts a refurbished old downtown with rebuilt boardwalk, lots of eateries, and all the outdoor activity you can pack into a four-day weekend.

You’ll find a plethora of lodging options in the cabins and small motels throughout town, or rent one of the private luxury cabins surrounding Lake City.

Scores of hiking trails lead right out of town. And there’s fly and rod fishing on the Lake Fork of the Gunnison River or Lake San Cristobal, the second-largest natural lake in Colorado, where you can also spend a morning canoeing or paddleboarding.

And perhaps one of the most popular activities here is spending a day traversing the Alpine Loop Scenic and Historic Byway, a network of 4X4 roads connecting Lake City, Ouray and Silverton. On your journey, check out several ghost towns — including Animas Forks, Capital City, Carson and Eureka — and white-knuckle up and down 12,000-foot mountain passes.

The beauty about Lake City — besides the obvious jaw-dropping Mother Nature towering around you — is it’s a true mountain getaway. No three-hour traffic jams, or thousands of weekend warriors vying for the same experience. Here, you’ll find peace and quiet.

And hopefully a fish at the end of your line.

Special thanks to landscape photographer Travis Hodges of Houston, Texas, for providing photos. Find him on social @travishodgesphotography.

CONTINUED >

24

Parker Lifestyle | April 2020

QUAINT MOUNTAIN TOWN TUCKED IN STEEP VALLEY OFFERS TRUE COLORADO OUTDOOR HEAVEN ARTICLE JENNIFER STARBUCK PHOTOGRAPHY TRAVIS HODGES

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TRAVEL DESTINATION (CONTINUED) Old town Lake City

+ L a k e C i t Y W e e k e n d M u st- D o s + Breakfast at Lake City Bakery. Don’t miss the cinnamon rolls! + Rent your off-highway vehicle at Lake City Auto & Sports for a daylong or half-day adventure.

This local shop knows the dos and don’ts and ins and outs of the 65-mile-long Alpine Loop. + After a hard but rewarding day on the trail, cruise into Lake City Brewing Co. for a cold one and a burger. + Looking to get outfitted for your day on Lake San Cristobal, The Outdoorsman Outdoors and Fly Shop knows what’s biting when. + Revisit your Colorado history at the Alferd Packer Cannibal Massacre Site just five minutes outside town. + Sip on a craft cocktail at Climb An Elevated Eatery while you wait for your chef-prepared dinner.

Check out the Bison Tenderloins or Marinated Colorado Lamb Chops. + For accommodations, you can choose from one of the private luxury cabin rentals right outside town, or choose the in-town quaint and clean G&M Cabins.

26

Parker Lifestyle | April 2020

Climb's chef-prepared Bison Tenderloin served over blueberry sauce with a side of summer veggies and Minnesota wild rice

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CULINARY CREATIONS

Vegan Celebrations MAKE EASTER SEASON VIBRANT, COLORFUL AND HEALTHFUL WITH THESE MEATLESS DISHES

Springtime Pasta Primavera PASTA INGREDIENTS: + 2 or 3 Leeks prepped, as seen below + 1 Tablespoon olive oil + 1 Tablespoon vegan butter + One bunch fresh asparagus + 8 oz. linguine + 1/2 cup shelled edamame - frozen + 1 cup petite green peas - frozen + Several handfuls of fresh Parsley, Mint, Chives, or Marjoram, or a combination CRÈME FRAICHE + 11 oz. tube of Soon tofu (sourced at H-mart) or soft or silken tofu + 6 Tablespoons nutritional yeast + 1/4 cup fresh squeezed lime juice + 1/2 cup plant-based milk FINAL PLATING OPTIONS: + Vegan Parmesan Cheese - 3 ingredients prepped in advance. Pulse all 3 ingredients in a food processor on low until finely mixed. Store in a glass jar and refrigerate up to six months. + 1 cup walnuts + 1/2 cup nutritional yeast + 1 teaspoon sea salt + Lime (spritz) as garnish PREPARATION: 1. In a food processor blend tofu, 6 tablespoons nutritional yeast, 1/4 cup lime juice, and 1/2 cup plant based milk until creamy. Add a bit of water if it appears too thick. Crème can be made in advance and refrigerated up to one week.

2. Slice the white and light green portions of leeks into circles and place in a medium bowl of water. Discard dark green tops. Swish leeks with your hand to clean and allow sand to settle for 5 minutes.

3. Heat a large skillet over medium heat, add 1 Tablespoon oil and butter. Lift the leeks from the water bowl with your hands so the sand remains at the bottom of the water bowl. Place cleaned leeks in the skillet with the melted oil and butter. Sauté until soft, about 5 minutes, then lower heat and set aside.

4. Heat a large stock pot of water and follow pasta

ARTICLE DEBBIE DEVORE PHOTOGRAPHY ELLE BLOM

cooking instructions.

5. Snap off tough asparagus ends and cut into 2 inch pieces.

6. Clean and chop fresh herbs.

7. Steam asparagus, peas and edamame for 2 minutes or until crisp and tender.

8. Toss pasta, vegetables, and crème fraiche in your skillet or a large bowl. Mix in fresh herbs. Squeeze lime juice over pasta.

Sprinkle with vegan parmesan cheese.

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Parker Lifestyle | April 2020

Early Spring Devilish Potatoes

INGREDIENTS:

+ 18 early potatoes the size of eggs, Yukon gold or white + 3/4 cup vegan mayonnaise, we used “Follow Your Heart Vegenaise” + 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard + 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar + 1 teaspoon kala namak (sea salt from India) or sea salt + 1/2 teaspoon powdered turmeric + Paprika, or smoked paprika, and or dill fronds for garnish PREPARATION: 1. Boil water in a large stock pot and cook potatoes until soft and tender 25 to 30 minutes. A skewer should slide through flesh without resistance.

2. Drain and drop potatoes back into a dry pot on high heat for 30 seconds or until potatoes squeak. A quick technique that will pull water out of spuds. As you slice potatoes in half become aware of the round and flat side to reduce rolling.

3. Use a small melon baller or tiny spoon to scoop out a little flesh from each potato and place potato halves on a serving plate. The scooped-out potatoes will be mashed and incorporated into your vegan egg yolk mixture.

4. In a medium mixing bowl add scooped potato, mayo, mustard, vinegar, kala namak or sea salt and turmeric. Mix well until creamy.

5. This yellow cream filling can be spooned into your potatoes or placed into a pastry bag with a large serrated or star tip. You can also snip the end of a freezer bag and pipe filling on.

6. Sprinkle your platter with paprika, fresh dill fronds, or minced chives befoe plating. + Indian kala namak sea salt has a sulphur essence that mimics the egg-y flavor. Our salt was sourced at the Bombay Bazaar market on Parker Road, Aurora. Also, available on Amazon.

Debbie Devore is the founder of Almost Vegan Cooking School.

Her internet cooking course "Almost Vegan" has introduced thousands of students to her home style of cooking plant-based meals. The school is a non-profit charity located in Centennial.

The school is dedicated to healing ourselves, each other and the world, one recipe at a time. AlmostVeganCookingSchool.com April 2020 | Parker Lifestyle

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HEALTHY LIFESTYLE

body + soul

NOURISH your

UNDERSTAND WHAT’S IN YOUR FOOD FOR MINDFUL EATING

ARTICLE HAYLEY HYER

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Parker Lifestyle | April 2020

T H I N K O U T S I D E T H E S C A L E . T R Y TA K I N G N O T E OF HOW YOUR FOOD MAKES YOU FEEL AFTER Y O U E AT I T. I T ’ S E A S I E R T O M A K E H E A LT H Y CHOICES WHEN YOU CAN FEEL THE DIFFERENCE!

nutrition MINDFUL EATING MEANS KNOWING WHAT IS IN YOUR FOOD, HOW IT IS AFFECTING YOUR BODY AND TAKING THE TIME TO FULLY APPRECIATE THE NUTRIENTS AND FLAVORS YOU ARE TAKING IN. Whether or not you are trying to lose, gain or maintain weight, reading labels and understanding nutrition facts will help you make better choices for your body and ultimately feel better in your day-to-day.

PROTEINS Protein makes you feel full longer. If you eat a meal with little protein, you’ll feel hungry again pretty quickly, and it can be discouraging. But you don’t have to eat a huge steak to get enough protein. You can find it in cheese, nuts, seeds, spinach, eggs, avocados, broccoli, hummus, lentils—the list goes on and on! Mindful eating means taking note of how hungry you feel and eating enough protein to satisfy that hunger in a way that will last.

C A R B O H Y D R AT E S Carbohydrates are not your enemy. But, it is important to pay attention to how you feel when you eat them. If you eat a lot of carbs in one sitting, it can cause your blood sugar to spike, and when it drops back down, you can feel lethargic and maybe even irritable.

By spreading your carbohydrate intake throughout your day and always pairing it with a protein, you can help your body regulate your blood sugar more effectively and feel more alert all day long.

F AT S Fats also help slow carbohydrates down so they don’t instantly turn into sugar in your bloodstream. Fats are important for energy, and it’s especially important to eat the right kinds of fats for your brain. For better concentration and memory, try to incorporate foods like salmon, avocados, nuts, seeds and olive oil.

CONTINUED >

April 2020 | Parker Lifestyle

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HEALTHY LIFESTYLE (CONTINUED) While nutritionists can recommend average nutrient intake percentages for a population, those might not be entirely accurate for your body and what you need. If you don’t enjoy calculating and counting

read

labels

every single gram you eat, you can just start with the recommended guidelines and make adjustments based on how you feel each day. If you are groggy and sluggish mid-day, look at how many carbohydrates you had in your lunch and see if you want to change anything about your lunch tomorrow. Here’s how to read nutrition labels so you can better keep track and know what you are eating.

Serving sizes can be confusing if you don’t know what an ounce of that food looks like. Look at “Servings Per

The number of calories per

Container” and divide that

serving doesn’t mean that’s

container into however many

how many calories you should

portions it says. Now you know

eat at a time. It’s just telling you

that the nutrition facts on the

how many are in that particular

label will be accurate for every portion you separated out.

food. If you are eating a package of nuts as a snack, and you are not eating anything else with it, you may need a couple of packages to eat as many calories as you want for that snack. It’s not wrong to eat multiple servings! Focus on what your body needs.

You need a variety of vitamins in your day, so check the percentages and make sure you are getting lots of different nutrients. Vitamin C is great, but it is possible to have too much Vitamin C and neglect Vitamin A. Calcium and iron are important for strength and to avoid injuries, so make sure you get enough of those each day as well. An easy trick is to try eating a vegetable of every color each day.

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Parker Lifestyle | April 2020

Carbohydrates are broken down by dietary fiber and sugar. To feel fuller longer and to have a clear mind and avoid getting foggy, choose carbohydrates, such as wild rice, that have more dietary fiber and less sugar.

YOU CAN SEARCH FOR A NUTRIE N T C A L C U L AT O R O N L I N E T O FIND OUT HOW MUCH PROTEIN, C A R B O H Y D R AT E S A N D F AT S Y O U S H O U L D B E E AT I N G I N A D AY FOR YOUR SPECIFIC NEEDS.

You are the best expert of you, and you get to make all of the final decisions for your body. Do your research, get all of the info that you can and then decide how you want to divide up your nutrition each day.

One of the most effective things you can do is keep a log of your moods, how your skin looks, how your hair feels, your water intake and your energy levels. While your fitness goals are important, how you feel each day is so much more important. It’s easy to lose weight by dramatically cutting calories, but that can leave you feeling irritable with low energy, and it’s ultimately not worth it. Take care of yourself and think about how the choices you make will affect your health in the long run. And never forget that you are enough, just the way you are.

April 2020 | Parker Lifestyle

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Let the Fun Begin!

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Parker Lifestyle | April 2020

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