Innholdsfortegnelse for Spring 2024 i Chatelaine

THE LITTLE GIRL holding a hand-painted sign asking us to “save [her] future” at the top right of this page is my nine-year-old daughter, Lucy, at last September’s March To End Fossil Fuels in Toronto. Climate anxiety can affect anyone, parent or not. But my worry about the world Lucy and my 12-year-old son, Jasper, will inherit is my biggest motivation for pushing for a greener future. In our fourth Green Issue, we aim to do just that, serving up healthy doses of inspiration and doable actions to help the planet. Our hope is that after you’ve read it, you’ll feel fired up. So often, the environmental message we get is personal: make lifestyle changes to save the earth. And while personal efforts are important (and we have lots of…

For long days on your feet With extra foam at the heel, these sneakers help absorb impact (great for heel strikers), while memory foam around the ankle makes for a cozy fit. Hoka Bondi 8, $200, hoka.com For race days With thick soles plus a carbon-fibre plate to support foot mechanics, these shoes helped break the two-hour-marathon record. Nike Vaporfly 3, $330, nike.com For long runs On is known for its distinctive soles. This pair has an added layer that collapses with each step, then helps you transfer from heel to toe and take off again. On Cloudeclipse, $230, on-running.com Scan to shop!…

Scan to shop!…

1 START SMALL It doesn’t have to be an elaborate affair. “You can create a clothing swap with just one other person who you love and trust,” says Bryden, whose first foray into clothing swaps was with friends. 2 MANAGE EXPECTATIONS “Be clear about what you will be offering,” says Nguyen. Can people bring bras and bathing suits? Do you accept jewellery? Do you want kids’ clothes? Make sure everyone is on the same page. 3 BE INCLUSIVE Some events charge an entry fee or accept cash donations to help keep things running—but if you can, make it accessible to all. “We have a suggested donation amount, but no one will ever be turned away for a lack of funds,” says Amerongen. She also suggests reaching out to different communities…

Love vintage clothes but hate sifting through racks to uncover one-of-a-kind gems? Good news: You can hire someone to do the hard work for you. Enter “thrift bundles,” bespoke selections of pre-loved items that are hand-picked by a seasoned second-hand shopper and sent to your door. When Lauren Hogg was in need of a new wardrobe for work, the Langley, B.C., elementary school teacher decided to give the service she’d seen all over TikTok a try. She reached out to Teagan Comeau-Wolgien, the owner of Vancouver-based thrifting service Seconds and Thirds, to assemble a sustainable closet refresh for her. The process started with a form—which asked for measurements and sizing preferences as well as details like must-have items and preferred fabrics and colour palettes—and a mood board. Hogg was looking…

WHEN JUDITH Kasiama started joining group hikes in the Vancouver area in the summer of 2016, she noticed a few things right away: Other hikers had top-of-the line clothing and gear, they hiked faster than she did and the groups weren’t very diverse. The outings were usually led by white people, and she was often the only Black woman present. “I just didn’t find it as inclusive as it could be,” she says. Then Kasiama noticed something else. When she’d go into stores that sold outdoor gear, the ads and posters on the walls almost universally featured white people. The then-27-year-old started thinking about diversity in the outdoors and the lack of representation in marketing. “In reality, there are a lot of people who look like me participating in the…

KNIX LEAKSTRONG LEAKPROOF LEGGINGS “I was worried the absorbent layer would be visible—but it’s not,” said our tester. She loved going commando with confidence at the gym. $110, knix.ca JOE FRESH HEAVY ABSORBENT BRIEF Our tester found these briefs “cost-effective and absorbent,” but noted that they were bulkier than more expensive leak-proof pairs. $29 for two, joefresh.com PEAPOD INCONTINENCE MAT This 3 x 5 ft. mat is leak-proof and stays in place without velcro or straps. Our tester said that while the mat tends to retain body heat (which may be a no-no for women dealing with night sweats), it absorbs well and doesn’t slip around the mattress. $76, peapodmats.com Scan to shop!…

Building a vegetarian sandwich is beautifully simple, and the best ones are often made with what you already have at home. Leftover eggplant? Perfect in a baguette with dill, labneh and pickled red onions. Grilled veggies? Add some cheese and pesto. You can enjoy these sandwiches with soup or salad, but they also stand deliciously on their own. DIALA CANELO IS A RECIPE DEVELOPER, PHOTOGRAPHER AND AUTHOR OF DIALA’S KITCHEN. Sandwiches Roasted Vegetable Sandwich with Pesto and Mozzarella PREP 15 MIN; TOTAL 30 MIN SERVES 1 The amount of veg in this recipe is just a guide. Roast as many of your favourite vegetables as you like on Sunday, and you'll have the base for a week’s worth of sandwiches. Topped with pesto and creamy mozzarella, they make for a hearty…

The Big Salad I loved all the compartments in this container! There’s a spot for everything, from toppings to dressing, and even space for a reusable fork. The salad compartment is big—like Seinfeld’s Elaine Benes’ salad big—but the container can still fit in a standard lunch or tote bag. —Erica Lenti Bentgo All-in-One Salad Container, $23, amazon.ca Super Bowl This glass bowl is a perfect size, and I like the width. It’s also got a great seal: My lunch bag tipped over on my way to work, and my soup stayed put! The silicone sleeve—available in a variety of pastel colours—is a nice touch, but it buckled a bit when I took the bowl out of the microwave. Two notes on cleanup: While this is dishwasher-safe, there’s a ridge at the…

I am not vegan. But guess what? I have a good friend whose child is allergic to eggs, my mom is lactose intolerant and on more than one occasion, I’ve found myself 18 dirty dishes deep into a baking recipe before realizing my husband had snuck the last few eggs into his omelet. Whether you are vegan-curious, know someone with allergies or want to stockpile some non-perishable substitutions for common baking ingredients (hello, chickpeas and oat milk), there are many reasons why it’s great to learn about the various facets of plant-based baking. Eggs and Dairy: Their Role in Conventional Baking In the world of nonvegan baking, eggs and dairy are heavyweight players. Eggs work hard to bind, add moisture and incorporate air, while dairy products, such as milk, butter…

A LITTLE BIT OF THIS, A LITTLE BIT OF THAT PANTRY PICKS Since it’s often sold in paste form, harissa is best bought in smaller amounts to ensure it stays fresh and the flavours remain bright and peppery. Tubes of harissa paste stay fresher longer; if you have large amounts of paste remaining in a jar, either cover with a thin layer of olive oil before storing in the refrigerator or freeze into blocks in an ice-cube tray. THE BUDGET PICK PC Black Label Harissa Spice Blend, $5, presidentschoice.ca Try it with: Popcorn THE REAL DEAL Le Phare Du Cap Bon, $9, amazon.ca Best for: Soups, stews THE SPLURGE Belazu Rose Harissa Paste, $10, well.ca Best for: Dips, roasts Harissa Baked Beans PREP 15 MIN; TOTAL 45 MIN SERVES 4 Everyone…

Know your skin Understanding your skin and being realistic about what it needs is key. “A lot of people tend to follow trends that aren’t necessarily a fit for their skin type,” says Yadav. “Cleansing, gently exfoliating, moisturizing and sun protection are the only non-negotiables.” Keep it gentle Over-exfoliating, which can damage the skin barrier and lead to irritation, is one of the biggest skincare mistakes Yadav sees. “Many people add multiple forms of exfoliation to their routine, such as salicylic acid cleansers, glycolic chemical peels and retinoids.” Depending on your skin type, one or two forms of exfoliation once or twice a week is plenty. Ditch the tools Jade rollers, gua shas, LED masks, microcurrent devices—they’re fun but not as useful as the hype might suggest. “In many cases,…

1. PAY ATTENTION “Have a period of observation to make sure there aren’t native species that you might not recognize but are actually present,” says Kristen Miskelly, a Victoria-based biologist who co-operates native-plant nursery Satinflower Nurseries. Also look at site conditions: Is the area sunny or shady? Is the soil dry or does it collect water? 2. SET GOALS Think about why you want to replace your lawn—whether it’s to support a specific type of bird, add shade or reduce water use—and what you want it to look like. Also think about how much lawn you want to remove. You can start small, Ziter points out, by converting just one patch, for example, or a border. 3. LOSE THE LAWN The most immediate (and labour-intensive) method is to simply dig…

Having too many options can often be the biggest hurdle when it comes to actually wearing what you already own. “The most common thing I hear from clients is that they have a closet full of clothes and feel like they have nothing to wear,” says Alberta Rose, a personal stylist in Victoria. Rose started her career in fashion more than a decade ago—first in retail and then as a costumer in the film industry—before launching her own personal-styling business in December 2022. Rose’s approach is not to put together shopping lists for her clients, but rather to help them better understand their personal style and suggest fresh ways to wear what they already have. She offers both in-person and virtual styling sessions during which she helps clients overcome stumbling…

1 Check all sections Not only do garments often end up in the wrong place (like a dress with the sweaters or an extra-large top on the size-small rack) but there’s great stuff to be found in the men’s aisles too. “I would say 70 percent of the pants I own come from the men’s section.” 2 Go natural Look for quality fabrics that will stand the test of time, like cotton, linen, silk, cashmere and wool. Natural fibres are comfortable and breathable and will last longer than synthetic blends. 3 Think long-term Don’t fall into the trap of buying something for a one-time occasion—it will likely end up back at the thrift store or in the landfill. “If you’re going to buy something, make sure that you’ll get wear…

The Power of Reclaiming “Good Fire” DR. AMY CARDINAL CHRISTIANSON DR. AMY CARDINAL CHRISTIANSON grew up close to wildfires in Northern Alberta. While her family was always involved in firefighting efforts, before colonization, her ancestors “put fire on the ground” in early spring or late fall, when it was cool and damp—safe conditions for burning. Good fire, or “the kind of fire you can walk beside,” as one Elder recently described it to her, cleanses the earth of dead trees, branches and bushes and regenerates the growth of berries, medicinal plants and grass for moose and deer. Cultural burning, which dates back thousands of years, prevents large-scale wildfires by removing “fuel loads,” a.k.a. the dead trees, dry grass and other materials that contribute to out-of-control wildfires. It was made illegal…

My first experience drinking matcha was when my parents sent me to stay with family in Ishinomki, Japan, at six years old. My obachan (grandmother) took me to her friend’s house, and I sat on the tatami mat as she whisked the matcha powder into a concentrated paste. I’ve been hooked ever since. This tea’s origins go back to travelling Japanese monks who learned how to grow tea on visits to China. To protect tea leaves from frost, they grew the plants in the shade and found that doing so resulted in a less astringent, more delicate flavour. When ready, young leaves are picked by hand, steamed, dried and then ground into a fine powder. These days, I love to use ceremonial-grade matcha in desserts. It’s pricey, but it’s special…

WHAT ARE PRESERVED LEMONS? Preserved lemons are whole lemons—juice, membranes, rind and all—that have been cured in a mason jar with salt. If you avoid fresh lemons due to their acidity, you’ll prefer the preserved kind. Rob Bragagnolo, head chef at Casa Paco, a Spanish restaurant in Toronto, calls them a “magical seasoning agent that adds a salty, savoury, citrusy je ne sais quoi like nothing else I know.” HOW DO YOU COOK WITH THEM? Bragagnolo finely chops a quarter of a preserved lemon and mixes it with olive oil to turn it into a dressing for grilled vegetables, salads or roasted chicken. At his restaurant, he uses them instead of salt to inject flavour into vinaigrettes, crudité dressings and sauces for fish. Chef Antonio Park, the Montreal-based entrepreneur behind…

ESCAPE CAN BE FOUND IN many forms, but my favourite by far comes courtesy of a book. Stories do it all: They offer comfort, humour, validation and magic. They make people feel seen and help us understand one another more deeply. This is why books are powerful enough to be deemed dangerous by those who fear change—and it’s why authors need our support. These 15 books include stories about marginalized people, rich historical fantasy (a rapidly growing sub-genre), classic fast-paced thrillers, lush literary debuts and tales of desire, friendship and connection. Come & Get It by Kiley Reid Millie Cousins, a Black senior resident assistant at a college in Arkansas, becomes entangled with an alluring visiting professor. Reid’s follow-up to Such a Fun Age explores academia, privilege and how desire…

1 FIND THE RIGHT SPOT Perhaps counterintuitively, Kerrie Wilcox, the Canadian lead of Birds Canada’s Project FeederWatch, recommends finding a spot a metre or less away from windows (so birds don’t have enough momentum to hit them at high speed when leaving the feeder) and at least 3 metres away from trees (to keep squirrels away). 2 FILL YOUR FEEDERS Many store-bought mixes draw a variety of different species, but the more types of food you have available, the more birds you’ll attract. That said, Wilcox swears by black oil sunflower seeds, which are a good source of energy and easy to crack for many types of birds. Also consider adding some native plants to your yard. “Nothing provides a more dependable food supply throughout the year than native vegetation,”…

Clothing swaps are not a new concept, but with so many of them popping up all over the country, we took notice. Not only are they fun, they also allow you to give new life to your wardrobe without spending a ton of money (or, in many cases, any money at all). All you need to get started is clothes you’re willing to part with—and an open mind about what you might find. In Montreal, the Shwap Club is formalizing the swapping process. Members bring in gently used, still-trendy pieces in order to receive store credits to “buy” other pre-loved garments. Unlike traditional swaps, the club has two bricks-and-mortar locations and charges a per-visit ($22) or yearly fee ($145), which allows people to trade and shop as well as save…

1 Put in the work Don’t be fooled into thinking that “effortless” means easy. “We all want our clothes to look and feel effortless,” says Rose, who explains that getting to a place where you feel confident in every single piece of clothing you own takes a lot of time, trial and error. It’s all about understanding your own unique style. 2 Try something new One of Rose’s favourite ways to get her clients out of a styling funk is to have them focus on a single item—a pair of pants, a sweater, a dress or even a purse—and challenge them to style it in three different outfits within a week. “It will help you see pieces in different contexts,” she says. 3 Edit slowly “It’s not sustainable for most…

GAIL ONLY WANTED a snack. On the nearly four-hour round trip from her home in the Kootenays to visit her father in hospice care in Penticton, stopping partway at a gas station was a ritual, a break from the British Columbia backwoods racing by her. But while she was paying, the clerk had a question: “Would you like to buy a Lotto 6/49?” About two decades ago, when she was in her thirties, Gail started gambling online on offshore sites. (She and the other recovering gamblers in this story are identified by first name only to protect their privacy.) Her teenage daughter had been assaulted, and, with her husband being emotionally guarded and working in another city, she felt alone in navigating the crisis. “I slept with her every night…

STRESS INCONTINENCE Stress incontinence happens when pressure is exerted on your stomach and, in turn, on your bladder—due to anything from laughing too hard to coughing to jumping on a trampoline. It occurs when the urethral sphincter or pelvic floor muscles (or both) are weakened. URGE INCONTINENCE Urge incontinence is the by-product of an overactive bladder muscle. You suddenly feel like you really need to pee but are often unable to hold it. It’s most common among post-menopausal women. MIXED INCONTINENCE Mixed incontinence is when you experience symptoms of both stress and urge incontinence. Most women experience this form, making treatment more challenging. OVERFLOW INCONTINENCE Overflow incontinence happens when your bladder fills but you don’t have the urge to go or you can’t empty it entirely. Eventually, the overflow leaks…

While a physiotherapist is a go-to resource for pelvic floor health, cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) can also help in treating issues like urge incontinence. There’s a relationship between your thoughts, behaviours and emotions, explains Tobey Mandel, a Montreal psychologist. Let’s say you’re worried that you’re going to pee yourself if you don’t get home by 2 p.m. The closer you get to your door, the more urgent the need to pee will be. “The rush of anxiety and those emotions will impact your body’s registration of urgency,” she says. “You’re having a behavioural reaction along with the psychological response.” If you make it home by 1:55, you’ll think that you wouldn’t have made it if you were later—confirming, as Mandel puts it, “that the alarm system in your body is…

Read The Narwhal—led in Ontario by former Chatelaine editor Denise Balkissoon—is a non-profit environmental news outlet. Coverage includes stories on the (since reversed!) decision to parcel out Ontario Greenbelt land to developers, Indigenous-led conservation in B.C. and efforts to bring salmon back to the Squamish River. Get involved Think about what you love and what matters to you, and go from there. Here are some starting points: For Our Kids suggests actions you can do at home (approaching local elected officials), at your kids’ school (promoting biking or walking to school), how you bank (driving awareness of how Canada’s big banks invest in fossil fuels) and online. Grand(m)others Act to Save the Planet (GASP) empowers seniors to fight climate change. Alberta’s Indigenous Climate Action was founded in 2015 by Indigenous women;…

TENDER VEGETABLES Thin-skinned produce such as zucchini, bell peppers and cucumbers should be stored whole, unwashed and as dry as possible until the moment you’re ready to use them. The first two like a breathable wrapping or container, such as paper towel or a loose mesh bag; cucumbers do best in something airtight. (They are mostly water, and you want to retain as much of it as possible so they keep their crunch.) BERRIES If you avoid washing berries in advance to prevent moisture from spoiling them, this advice may sound nutty: You should be soaking them! Soak in a three-to-one ratio water-and-vinegar solution for five to 10 minutes before thoroughly rinsing in cold water and carefully patting them completely dry or tossing them in a salad spinner padded with…

Roasted Vanilla and Rosemary Rhubarb with Sugared Pistachios PREP 15 MIN; TOTAL 45 MIN SERVES 6 TO 8 You know that spring has arrived when rhubarb pops up at the farmers’ market or is ready to be plucked from the garden. This easy dessert, with its heady vanilla and rosemary bite, is a showstopping way to celebrate it. 454 g rhubarb, cut into1-in. pieces⅓ cup dry white wine¼ cup plus 2 tbsp granulated sugar, divided3 rosemary sprigs, divided1 vanilla bean, seeds scraped out1 tbsp unsalted butter¼ cup pistachio nuts, choppedPinch of salt1¼ cups labnehOlive oil (optional)Flaked sea salt (optional) 1. Position rack in centre of oven, then preheat to 350F. 2. Stir rhubarb with wine, ¼ cup sugar, 1 rosemary sprig, vanilla bean and seeds in an 8 x 8-in. glass…