Friday, March 6, 2020 7Brooklin Town Crier Plant-Based Eating by Sheree Nicholson Soups are where it's at First Crush Our Brooklin Kids By Leanne Brown For a while, it seemed I was only sending out soup or smoothie recipes and I thought people might be getting bored. But this winter I realized I have an amazing collection of plant -based soup recipes that are easy and super nutritious. I love easy. A few weeks ago, I thought I had a brilliant idea: I would try the canned organic lentil soup that Costco carries. I'd serve it over brown rice as a quick meal on busy days. However, the soup was awful. It tasted 'fake' and I figured it was lesson learned. For the little bit of time it takes to make soup from scratch, it's well worth the effort. More importantly, I know exactly what's in my meal. Soups are a great way to pack nutrition into a meal or lunch. They can be topped with a tablespoon of hemp seeds, which are virtually tasteless, or roasted chick peas to increase their protein content. Veggie soups are packed with micronutrients, the vitamins and minerals we need to be healthy and have vitality. Kale, for example, is one of the most nutrient dense foods we eat. You can boost the nutrition of most soups. But throwing in a cup of chopped kale at the end, like spinach kale, takes just a few minute to cook. If you are planning to freeze the soup, don't add the kale until you're reheating it as kale does not freeze well. Spinach is another wonderful addition to soups because it's an extremely nutrient-rich vegetable. It includes high amounts of vitamin C, vitamin K, folic acid, iron, and calcium. It also freezes poorly so add it when you're reheating a frozen soup. You could also replace the kale with broccoli or cauliflower, to switch it up a bit. Mushroom Kale Soup 2 tbsp (30 mL) extra-virgin olive oil 3/4 cup (180 mL) finely chopped Spanish or other sweet onion 3/4 cup (180 mL) finely chopped, peeled carrots 3/4 cup (180 mL) finely chopped celery 1 lb (454 g) button mushrooms, sliced 1 large Yukon Gold or other yellow-fleshed potato, peeled, diced 1 tbsp (15 mL) minced garlic 3 cups (750 mL) water + more if needed for thinning 14-oz (400-mL) can unsweetened coconut milk 4 cups (1L) packed, chopped kal (stems and large veins removed) 2 tsp (10 mL) kosher salt 1 tsp (5 mL) freshly ground black pepper In a large pot, heat the oil over medium-high. Add onions, carrots and celery. Cook, stirring for about 5 minutes. Add mushrooms, potato and garlic. Cook, stirring, for 5 minutes. Raise the heat to high. Add 3 cups (750 mL) of water and coconut milk. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low. Simmer, uncovered, for 30 minutes or until vegetables are tender. Stir in kale. Cook until wilted, for about 5 minutes. In 3 batches in a blender, purée soup on high until smooth. If needed, thin with additional water. For another great recipe check out this Spiced Red lentil tomato soup, it's packed with nutrition and very easy to make. Sheree's Hack: Make a pot of soup on Sunday for a quick family dinner during the week. Around age 10, many kids experience their first real crush, those nervous, sweaty feelings when they discover that they "like" someone. These feelings are con- fusing at best and can be somewhat embarrassing. Often the crush happens as the girl or boy they've known since kindergarten is starting to change. The same kids with whom they've been playing road hockey or racing bikes are suddenly different. As these kids start to care about their appearance, like the clothes they wear and brushing their hair, their peers will start to notice. Also, bold kids may become shy around the opposite gender. It's all perfectly normal though a challenging time for our tweens. So what should you do if your child suddenly develops that crush? Validate feelings While it may seem silly to you, their feelings are very real to them. Listen to them describe how they feel. Are they excited? Scared? Shy? Whatever it is, let them know the feeling is real and normal. Share own experiences Tell her about your first crush at camp. What about the boy whom all the girls liked when you were their age? Bonding over what makes their crush attractive is a great way to get them to open up and share. Prepare for fallout While most crushes at this age fade, some endure and are not reciprocated. Be ready for the broken heart and hurt feelings. Show them you understand and that, while it hurts now, it will get better. Use distraction When a crush appears to be getting obsessive, keep them busy. Host a sleepover or take them out for a special day together. Watch the phone interactions for signs your child is focusing too much on their crush. My daughter's friends are starting to develop crushes and the inevitable drama that goes along with them. Some are even claiming to be dating. She's not interested in this yet but is feeling the pressure to be boy crazy. A smart and busy girl, she thinks most of the gossip is silly even though she can't help being sucked into it sometimes. Although peer pressure seems to play a prominent role, busy kids are likely to be less interested in crushes. However, whether your child is the "crusher" or "crusher," it's important to make sure they respect feelings. After all, friends last a lot longer than a crush. Festivals and Events Ontario (FEO) recently announced the 2020 FEO Achievement Award winners, sponsored by CTM Media Group. These awards, handed out to FEO members, showcase various elements of festivals or events that those submitting believe stood out in the previous festival year. The Achievement Awards were handed out on Thursday, Feb- ruary 27, during FEO's annual conference "INNOVATE-Elevate-Enhance-Evolve" in Richmond Hill. Brooklin's Harvest Festival on Sept. 14, 2019, was one of the winners for the York, Durham and Hills of Headwaters tourism region. The Town of Whitby was awarded Best Volunteer Program. Submissions from FEO members were received for consider- ation in the fall of 2019 and were judged by an independent panel of judges. Festivals and events of all kinds from every corner of Ontario were represented in the submissions - from community festivals to internationally recognized events.