OCTOBER 2026 36 O ctober in Phoenix means the coffee shops and grocery stores went full fall weeks ago – and I’m all in. The weather hasn’t caught up yet, but the mornings are finally a little cooler, and that’s enough for me to start cooking with fall flavors. This month is all about snacks that double as breakfast. Days fill up fast this time of year, and having something ready to grab makes mornings and afternoons a lot easier. All three recipes lean on oats. They’re a whole grain with a type of soluble fiber called beta-glucan, which helps lower cholesterol, supports heart health, and keeps your blood sugar steady so you don’t crash an hour later. They also bring plant protein, iron, and magnesium. Instead of refined sugar, these are sweetened naturally with dates and maple syrup. Make a batch on the weekend and you’re set for the week. Pumpkin spice granola bars don’t require an oven. Soaked dates hold everything together and do most of the sweetening, while cacao nibs and almonds add crunch. Grab one on the way out the door or keep a stash in the fridge for the afternoon. Five-ingredient pumpkin cookies: One bowl, five ingredients, and 12 minutes in the oven. Pumpkin and almond butter keep them soft and chewy, and a little maple syrup is all the sweetness they need. They’re good with an afternoon coffee or when you want something sweet after dinner. Pumpkin spice granola makes a big batch, and the whole house smells like fall while it bakes. It’s loaded with pumpkin seeds, walnuts, and dried cranberries. Have it over dairy-free yogurt in the morning or by the handful later in the day. All pumpkin everything Owner of YouCare-SelfCare, a private wellness practice specializing in plant-based lifestyle and disease prevention. youcare-selfcare.com BY MIRIAM HAHN • ⁄ cup pumpkin puree • ½ cup almond butter • ⁄ cup maple syrup • 2 cups rolled oats • 1 tsp. pumpkin pie spice • 15 medjool dates • 1½ cups rolled oats • ¼ cup cacao nibs • 1 cup slivered almonds • ¼ cup peanut or almond butter • ¼ cup maple syrup • 1 tsp. pumpkin pie spice • 3 cups rolled oats • 1 cup pepitas • ½ cup slivered almonds • ½ cup chopped walnuts • ½ cup pumpkin puree • ¼ cup + 3 tbsp. maple syrup • ¼ cup coconut oil, melted • 1 tsp. vanilla • 2 tsp. pumpkin pie spice • ½ tsp. pink salt • 1 cup dried cranberries 1. Preheat oven to 300 F. 2. In a large bowl mix the oats, pepitas, slivered almonds, and walnuts. 3. In another bowl combine the pumpkin puree, ¼ cup maple syrup, coconut oil, vanilla, pumpkin pie spice, and salt. 4. Add this to the oat mixture and stir well. 5. Spread onto a large baking sheet. Bake for 15 minutes then add the remaining maple syrup and stir. Bake for 25 more minutes. 6. Let cool for 30 minutes. It will harden as it sits. 7. Add the cranberries and store in a sealed container. 1. Preheat oven to 350 F. 2. In a large bowl combine the pumpkin puree, almond butter, and maple syrup. 3. Add the oats and pumpkin pie spice and stir again. 4. Scoop out ¼ cup of the dough for each cookie and place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. You should have enough for 12 large cookies. Once all the cookies are scooped out, wet your hands and pat them down and round the edges. 5. Bake for 12 minutes. Let them cool for 10 minutes before serving. 1. Pour boiling water over the dates and let them soak for 30 minutes, then drain. Remove and discard pits then put in a food processor and blend until they are smooth. 2. In a large bowl combine the blended dates with the oats, cacao nibs, and almonds. 3. In a small pot add the nut butter and maple syrup. Cook on low heat until it’s creamy. 4. Add pumpkin pie spice. 5. Pour the nut butter mixture into the oat mixture and stir well. 6. Spread this into a bar shaped mold, or into an 8” x 8” pan and press down. 7. Firm up in the freezer for 30 minutes. Store in the fridge or freezer. 5-ingredient pumpkin cookies 5-ingredient pumpkin cookies Serves 12 Serves 12 Pumpkin spice granola bars Pumpkin spice granola bars Serves x Serves x Pumpkin spice granola Pumpkin spice granola Serves 12 Serves 12 Printable recipes • Health videos • Live Zoom cooking classes! JOIN MY MONTHLY MEMBERSHIP FOR ONLY $10 PER MONTH

37 OCTOBER 2026 By Alex Gross Alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma, an aggressive cancer that starts in soft tissue, only affects a couple hundred children in the United States each year. When Heather Heineke’s son Axel was diagnosed with it in 2023, she was stunned by how few options they were left with. Though Axel went into remission until early 2024, the cancer came back, and eventually spread to his brain and spine. The next few months were a craze of surgeries and doctor’s appointments, but Axel and his family didn’t have to navigate them on their own. Friends and family rallied behind the youngster, forming an army of care. Axel passed away in July 2024, but Heineke refused to let that end his journey. Axel’s Army, a nonprofit named after those who supported the family through Axel’s battle, is a way to honor her son by helping families facing the same struggle. The organization operates with three main pillars. The first is funding research in childhood cancers, especially rare ones like rhabdomyosarcoma. “It’s really hard as a parent when you are eventually told there is nothing more that we can do,” Heineke said. “In this day and age, it just feels like ‘how is that possible?’” There’s never been a primary drug developed specifically for Axel’s form of cancer, but the organization hopes to change that. By working with the Children’s Cancer Therapy Development Institute, based outside Portland, Oregon, they hope to put more resources into a treatment that could eventually give families options when faced with ultra-rare diagnoses. The second focus is creating moments that matter for families still in treatment. “When your life revolves around scans and appointments and chemo and hospital stays and fevers, life literally revolves around terrible things,” Heineke said. “Finding moments of joy was the lifeblood for us.” Axel loved holidays like Halloween and Christmas; days that are especially tough to celebrate while stuck in a hospital bed. Providing unique experiences for not only the kids in treatment, but also their families and siblings, has been a great way to elucidate joy in a time of struggle. The last goal is to provide extended care for bereaved families. “You carry the weight of everything moving forward. Life doesn’t stop,” Heineke said. “One of the most amazing things I did for my own healing was that I went on a retreat for other moms who had lost a child to cancer.” She hopes to offer a similar experience to a small group of Arizona mothers next year, taking a few days in Sedona to find community while grieving. The nonprofit is still in its infancy, having just finalized its status at the end of last year, and is now focused on fundraising. Their first kickoff event is called Hope Rises, a masquerade ball inspired by Axel’s love for superheroes. “The minute I walked into the big red barn [at Schnepf Farms], I was like, ‘this is perfect,’” Heineke said. “It’s one of his favorite places. We’re trying to make everything have an Axel touch.” The evening will feature cocktails, dinner, and a silent auction beginning at 6 p.m. on October 10. Donations and volunteers are also welcome to help carry out their mission and spread Axel’s story. For Heineke, Axel’s Army is about turning an unimaginable loss into something that can help other families feel a little less alone. Whether through research, moments of joy, or support after a child’s death, the organization carries Axel’s spirit forward while giving families something his own family desperately needed: people in their corner when they need them most. axelsarmy.org A mother’s love inspires a mission to fight childhood cancer By AJ Stone Alexis Lamadrid and golf go hand in hand. From the time her father introduced her to the sport, she couldn’t get enough, and it has led her to levels of success she never could’ve imagined. Most recently, she competed in and won the Curry Cup at Bethpage Black, New York. She scored 3 over par on the notoriously difficult course, winning the championship by two strokes. Both Alexis and the boys’ division champion, Evan Pena-Colon, have been part of UNDERRATED Golf since its inaugural season in 2022. The tournament’s overarching mission is to create a more inclusive environment for competitive golfers. The event is also a destination for future careers to take shape and stands by the idea that young athletes make great hires, as sport fosters discipline, leadership, and resilience. After seeing her father’s passion for golf and watching her sister follow in his footsteps, Alexis knew she wanted the same. What began as a family passion project has quickly morphed into a potential career for Alexis. She’s already taken home the Mexican Women’s Golf Amateur Championship (2025), the AJGA Heather Farr Thunderbird Championship (2026), individual state championships in back-to-back years, and team state championships for Xavier Prep three years in a row. “My favorite memory in this sport is definitely when my sister and I won the Holiday Challenge at Grayhawk Golf Club shooting -10. It was my sister’s last year playing it, and we just had so much fun. It reminded me of when we were young and how far we had come in our sport. Definitely a special day,” she said. Heading into such a prestigious cup that brought copious levels of competition, Alexis said she wasn’t nervous – she was excited for the challenge. “My mindset going into Curry Cup was definitely to enjoy the experience. Bethpage is such a tough track, but I always like to say it’s a ‘good challenge,’” she said. “It’s a course I learned from, and I just tried to prepare as much as I could!” The Curry Cup was a big test before Alexis heads off to play Division I golf for the University of Texas at Austin. To her, like any aspect of the game, it’s just another way to improve. “I’m most looking forward to growing my game and being surrounded by high-level athletes. I felt that motivation on my visit, and I can’t wait to be a part of that environment.” Texas finished last season ranked third in NCAA Division I women’s golf, with a record of 139-33-4. To any aspiring young golfers who want to one day win championships like Alexis, her advice is simple: “Stay patient and enjoy the game. Golf is a game of patience and determination. Time will take care of itself; stay consistent and always have fun.” For Alexis, the road ahead is just another opportunity to keep learning and growing. With the Curry Cup in the books and a Division I career at Texas waiting for her, she’s taking the same approach she’s had since first picking up a club with her family: stay patient, stay consistent, and, most importantly, enjoy the game. From family fairways to winning the 2026 Curry Cup UNDERRATED Golf Ambassador Mariah Stackhouse, Myra Tomer, Gabriella Gu, Alexis Lamadrid and Stephen Curry. PHOTO COURTESY OF THE UNDERRATED GOLF TOUR PHOTOS COURTESY OF HEATHER HEINEKE Heather Heineke and her son Axel share a moment that still inspires the Phoenix-based group she later founded in his honor.