54 JANUARY 2020 By Amanda Savage The Economist named 2019 “The Year of the Vegan,” and although vegans make up a small portion of the American population, their numbers are likely to grow in 2020 and beyond. The magazine coined the term Veganuary in 2014 as a campaign to support would-be vegans’ New Year’s resolutions to adopt a more plant-based lifestyle during the month of January. The biggest misconception about vegans is that their lifestyle of being free of animal byproducts ends at the dinner table; when in fact, being vegan extends beyond food and into all facets of life. Animal testing on cosmetics and household cleaners, supporting corporations and chain restaurants that take part in factory farming and animal-derived ingredients in medicines and beauty products are all concerns for vegans. In 2019, Phoenix and Scottsdale were both ranked in the top 50 cities for vegans and vegetarians in America by WalletHub. Arcadia is home to many options for food, beauty, home and beyond for anyone who wants to adopt vegan habits. FITNESS For fitness lovers or those considering embarking on a fitness journey, it’s important to align with people who support a vegan lifestyle. For example, Jess Hutchens, the owner of Flawless Fitness, is an ACE- certified personal trainer, fitness nutritionist and behavior change specialist based in Scottsdale. Also, consider joining fitness studios that make sustainability a priority or that are vegan-owned, purchasing county and state park passes and using the outdoors to aid in wildlife and environmental conservation. DINING OUT Navigating restaurants can be problematic for a lot of soon-to-be vegans. But as plant- based living becomes more mainstream, businesses are adapting to meet the growing demand. While it’s not an all-inclusive list, some local eateries that offer vegan-friendly options include Ingo’s Tasty Food, La Grande Orange Grocery, Brat Haus, Hula’s Modern Tiki, Simon’s Hot Dogs, Tapas Papa Frita, The Henry, Dilla Libre, The Herb Box, Farm & Craft, Urban Phoenix Cafe, Kaleidoscope and Jewel’s Café. There are also a handful of chains with vegan offerings too, like Pita Jungle, Original ChopShop, Loving Hut, True Food, Cornish Pasty, Flower Child, Creamistry, MAD Greens, MOD Pizza, Tocaya Organica and Picazzo’s. FOOD Vegans do their best to avoid taking part in commercialized agriculture. They believe factory farming has been known to treat animals poorly and that commercialized farming plays a role in deforestation, wildlife endangerment and environmental pollution. And, according to a 2015 report by the University of Minnesota, “roughly 20% of all greenhouse gas emissions” comes from agriculture. Arcadians can shop at farmers markets like the Open Air Market at the Phoenix Public Market on Saturdays, and the Uptown Farmers Market on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Check Arizona Community Farmer’s Markets for locations in Phoenix and the greater Valley. Growing food is another option. For those not gifted with greenery, Dig It Gardens, Niche Organic and Farmyard are all resources for everything from tips, products, garden installation and maintenance services. CULTURE AND COMMUNITY It helps to have the support of other vegans when making a lifestyle switch. Events such as the Southwest Veg Fest, PHX Vegan Festival, Arizona Vegetarian Food Festival and Veg Out Vegan Beer and Food Festival are all starting places to meet like-minded people, find resources and get involved in the community. BEAUTY From animal-testing of cosmetics to ingredients like shellac, lanolin and collagen, mainstream cosmetics is another issue for vegans. Navigating the beauty industry as a vegan can be tricky because businesses aren’t always forthcoming about their ingredients and testing procedures. There are a lot of options for vegans in Arcadia who want to switch up their beauty routine. Spa 23, Organic Hair Lab and Pure Salon offer vegan salon services. The Mane Attraction Salon is vegan-friendly and is active in the community. For skin care and spa services, Sage Organic Skincare and Citrine Natural Beauty Bar both have vegan options. HOME CARE Vegans can face the same dilemmas with home products and services as they do when choosing cosmetics. In most commercial cleaners, the chemicals are tested on animals and there are many animal byproducts used in linens and furniture. The Redemption Market, Phoenix General and Organic Living are all shops in Phoenix that offer vegan and environmentally- conscious products. Cleaning services like PurMaid and Eco Mama offer vegan-friendly solutions. Camelback Flowershop and Pueblo Life are good for flower arrangements and plants. The businesses mentioned in this article are just some of the vegan-friendly options in the Arcadia area. Readers are encouraged to do their own research. A beginner ’ s guide to Veganuary Some examples of vegan dishes available in the Arcadia area: Cauliflower Tacos (Coronado), Tofu Burger (Mother Bunch) and Tsoynami (Nami). 30th Street & Indian School Road 602.957.8402 Lindstrom Family Auto Wash Your Neighborhood Car Wash Visit us at LindstromAutoWash.com for the “Deal of the Month!” Not valid with any other offers. Must present coupon. Expires 01/31/20. Not valid with any other offers. Must present coupon. Expires 01/31/20. Not valid with any other offers. Must present coupon. Expires 01/31/20. 15% OFF Any Detail Package $3 OFF “The Works” Car Wash $2 OFF Regular Car Wash Not valid with any other offers. Lindstrom Family Auto Wash Not valid with any other offers. 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55 JANUARY 2020 By Jennifer Marshall The boys soccer teams at Arcadia High and Veritas Prep are both off to a tenacious start. ARCADIA HIGH Arcadia’s varsity and JV teams are both set to be strong contenders this year. Each team started off with a win against Bradshaw Mountain High School during their season opener. “The varsity team is the defending 4A Desert Sky Region Champion,” said AHS Head Varsity and Program Coach Keith Diamanti, who is in his second year coaching at Arcadia. “Last year, we were knocked out of the state tournament, so we’re hoping to qualify this year and have a competitive result.” One of the team’s greatest assets is its experience, brought by 13 veteran senior players. “Our other strengths are based on defense,” Diamanti said. “We’re very organized, and our players have been taught the importance of defensive shape and being compact when not possessing the ball.” Diamanti sees areas of improvement on offense in regards to “utilizing more field space by attacking the outsides.” Many members of the boys varsity soccer team have accumulated extensive experience playing on various soccer clubs outside of school. Club athletics, which often span an entire year of competition, keep players in top form, making those students a strong asset to their individual school teams. “While we’re facing a very competitive schedule this year, with games against schools from bigger 5A and 6A conferences, we’re really excited for the new season,” Diamanti said. The JV team, which welcomed 15 new freshman players this school year, was undefeated last year, and according to Diamanti, they are poised to enjoy a winning season. VERITAS PREP At Veritas Prep, Head Coach Richard Cardenas predicts a state championship win for the boys varsity soccer team, which started the season with two wins. Cardenas coached the middle school for about five years before he started leading the varsity team last year. “When I took over the reins, we ended the season 15 and 2, and we made it to the semi-finals of the state championship where, unfortunately, we lost,” Cardenas said. “Our goal this year is to go all the way and win the state championship.” While three senior players graduated last year, Cardenas reports that the majority of their powerhouse team is still intact, which means they are hoping to advance further this season. The team’s most significant challenge is retaining strong eighth grade players. “I have many excellent former middle school players who are now playing for Brophy,” Cardenas said. “Nevertheless, we have a strong team with lots of kids trying out to play each school year.” Like their counterparts at Arcadia, the boys of the Veritas varsity soccer team also participate in club sports. “Regardless of club play or not,” Cardenas said, “we all gather together as a team during the summer and we play indoor soccer in a league. This keeps us moving and practicing as a team and maintains everyone’s skills at their peak.” Cardenas has nothing but praise for Veritas Prep, which he describes as being “super supportive,” and for his faithful players who exhibit a family mentality as they help and mentor the younger members of the team. Boys soccer teams at AHS and Veritas kick off season The Arcadia Titans varsity soccer team boasts 13 veteran players. PHOTO COURTESY OF KEITH DIAMANTI Veritas Falcons varsity soccer team started their season off with two wins. PHOTO COURTESY OF RICH CARDENAS NEWS BRIEFS MASTRO’S RENOVATIONS Mastro’s City Hall in Scottsdale revealed its new look after a four-month renovation. Everything in the restaurant has been updated to a more modern look, including new lights, art, paint, furniture and flooring. The bar area now has new lighting and a new bottle display. The restaurant also added a tableside wine service, new uniforms and an updated outdoor patio. For more: mastrosrestaurants.com. URBAN PHOENIX OPENING A new café concept has opened in place of the 3 on Smith café, located east of 36th St. on the south side of Indian School. Urban Phoenix is a “relaxed, funky concept that is inspired by Mexican ingredients.” Urban Phoenix also offers espresso drinks, sodas and teas. Owners Steven Contreras and Keri Frazier have created a menu of tacos, burritos and “rad plates” for breakfast and lunch. For more: urbanphoenixcafe.com. Desert Valley Pediatrics - Arcadia 4840 E Indian School Rd, #100, Phoenix, AZ 85018 623-877-PEDS (7337) • www.dvpeds.com M – F 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM (Phones open at 8:00 AM) We do prenatal meet and greets! SPECIALIZING IN: • Newborns & Infants • Well Child Exams • Sports/Camp Physicals • Immunizations Arcadia QUALITY CARE • CONVENIENCE • REPUTATION Christopher Spiekerman, DO Ann Oland, MD Kristen Stanley, DO FLU SHOTS NOW AVAILABLE @dvpedsAR Call now to schedule same day appointment!