News from the Toronto Vegetarian Association

Veg Out 497: TMRW Foods with Dean Blignaut

Dean Blignaut is the Co-Founder and President of TMRW Foods, a plant-based food company on a mission to bring better food to more people. Ana and Jeanette talk to Dean about his experience at Virtuous Pie, how he started TMRW Foods after participating in a vegan burger competition, and how he plans to grow the brand and make plant based protein affordable, healthy and widely available. https://veg.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Veg-Out-TMRW-Foods.mp3 Download the episode. https://media.blubrry.com/tvp/p/veg.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Veg-Out-TMRW-Foods.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | Download… Read More

Filed under: News News from the Toronto Vegetarian Association Resource Centre Toronto Vegetarian Podcast

Welcome to Kimberly D’Oliveira, TVA’s new ED!

In January, we began the search for an Executive Director (ED) who would help our organization not only pivot, but thrive during the pandemic and beyond. Fifty applications and multiple interviews later, we are excited to announce that TVA’s new ED is Kimberly D’Oliveira! Beyond simply being a committed, intersectional vegan, Kimberly has a deep understanding of and passion for the vegan movement. She is also filled with innovative ideas related to outreach, community building and organizational growth. We are very excited to have her on board and are confident that she has the knowledge, skills and enthusiasm needed to help both our organization and the vegan movement to flourish; but rather than just take our word for it, we thought it is only fitting that you hear from Kimberly herself: Hi Everyone!  I’m so excited to serve you as Executive Director and look forward to connecting with as many of you as possible in the coming weeks and months. My vegan journey began over six years ago, but in hindsight, I’ve been on this path for the better part of 20 years. I’m passionate about this lifestyle and have… Read More

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Veg Out 496: Sam Turnbull Returns! Fast Easy Cheap Vegan Book Talk

This week, Barbi and Jeanette are joined by our guest Sam Turnbull. You may know Sam from her super popular blog and youtube channel  It Doesn’t Taste Like Chicken. She released her first cookbook Fuss Free Vegan in 2017, which quickly became Jeanette’s favourite cookbook. Sam has also been a past guest at the Veg Food Fest, both in person and during our virtual festival, so we thank her for her continued work with the TVA.  Her brand new cookbook Fast, Easy, Cheap Vegan was just released, and joins us to tell us more about it! https://veg.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Veg-Out-Sam-Turnbull.mp3 Download the episode. TVA Events: Join us for a physically distanced, in person Veg Spring Market! The Toronto Veg Fitness Group does a weekly virtual HIIT workout. Check out their facebook page for further details.   https://media.blubrry.com/tvp/p/veg.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Veg-Out-Sam-Turnbull.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | Download… Read More

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March / April Veg Guide Updates!

Happy (almost) April! If you’re near Dundas West, you’re in luck; there are THREE new vegan places nearby! But there’s lots this month for everyone, including a new big chain offering vegan burgers, and some great places east of the city. Read on!   Fig Kitchen and Market 29 Toronto Street South, Uxbridge Fig Kitchen and Market features a market with all vegan goodies, produce, cheeses and so much more, plus a restaurant (with an awesome patio to come). This is brought to you by the owner of the Bar Cafe which closed recently to make way for this larger location. This is your place north-east of the city to get Vego bars, all the vegan cheeses, Loon kombucha, and so many more hard-to-find goodies. We can’t wait to try their patio out this summer! The cafe offers espresso drinks, smoothies, pizza, bowls, salads, sandwiches and more!    Harlem Bodega 1307 Dundas Street West Harlem Bodega makes amazing Harlem style Puerto-Rican food, and it’s delicious. We love their chopped cheeze and their fried pastelillos. And now west enders can enjoy their food, because they’ve… Read More

Filed under: News from the Toronto Vegetarian Association Restaurant Guides Toronto Veg Blog Uncategorised Veg Directory Updates

Discount Profile: Pizzeria Du

Discount: 10% off Tues-Thurs, and Sunday, for take-out or delivery Veg Status: All vegan Location: 536 Queen Street West Who doesn’t love a good pizza with a crispy crust? I certainly do! So I was very excited to hear that Pizzeria Du was participating in LocalLicious in March, and offering a stellar deal of a pizza, appetizer, and pint of gelato for only $34. While Pizzeria Du is of course, known for their pizza, they have quite a few appetizers and salads to choose from so it wasn’t an easy choice! I decided to try something I haven’t had before: panelle. I was super impressed with the crispy fried coating and the brightness of lemon! The wide range of gelato flavours (they have more than 25!) also made for a difficult decision. There are classic flavours like chocolate, mango, or strawberry, and unique ones like tamarind or stout beer. I went for something in middle: hazelnut praline. Of course, the pizza was the star of the show. The Canadian Deluxe was topped with a generous mix of both veggie meats and vegetables! There was veggie pepperoni and ground beef, as well as fresh mushrooms and green peppers. Pizzeria Du makes… Read More

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Food and Recipe of the Month: Spring Mix Soup

Care of Andrea Howe, of glowingongreens.com  The weather is getting warmer and our meals are getting brighter. The transition from winter to spring means we are able to include more fresh produce as growing season is beginning. One of the earliest and quickest growing produce we have in Ontario is Spring lettuce mix. These adaptable greens can handle cooler temperatures and moist weather. They’re a perfect April ingredient. Spring lettuce mix often includes a variety of greens including, spinach, radicchio, arugula, and frisee. This variety of greens offers a range of different nutrients. The most notable ones being fibre, vitamin K, vitamin C, and antioxidants. Fibre is a powerhouse nutrient in produce with the ability to reduce risk of cancer and chronic disease, including Type 2 Diabetes and heart disease. Vitamin K is a fat-soluble vitamin that is found mostly in leafy greens. It helps with blood clotting, wound healing, and can aid in bone health. Vitamin C is also a nutrient that promotes wound healing and skin repair. This means that leafy greens are an essential ingredient for healthy skin. Finally, antioxidants are found in all fruit and vegetables. Their abundance in leafy greens is quite notable. Antioxidants… Read More

Filed under: Eat Veg elifelines Food of the Month News from the Toronto Vegetarian Association Nutrition Uncategorised Vegan & Vegetarian Recipes

April Social Group Events

Vegetarians of High Park: Grab yourself some treats from nearby Raw Lioness or Bunner’s Bake Shop, then join us in Vine Parkette for a picnic on Sunday, April 11th at 1:30 pm. Due to COVID-19 guidelines, this picnic is capped at 10 so make sure to RSVP to highpark@veg.ca by Monday, April 5th if you would like to attend. The Toronto Starch Solution Group meets the first Friday of each month at 7 pm on Zoom. Their next meeting is Friday, May 7th. If you are interested in learning more about health promotion and maintenance through whole foods, plant-based eating, join them, bringing your questions, struggles, or success stories to share. Email starch.tva@gmail.com for the Zoom link or you can go to Don Heights Unitarian Congregation’s website and click on the zoom link there. Toronto Veg Fitness is now hosting a weekly virtual HITT workout together every Thursday at 5:30 pm. Visit their  Facebook Group for more info and the Zoom link!… Read More

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Veg Out 495: Globally Local with James McInnes

You may know Globally Local for their Famous Burger, or their BacUN Breakfast Sandwich, but did you know they started out selling produce? Or did you know about their charitable work, or plans for expansion? James McInnes, the CEO of Globally Local, joins the show to talk about their approach to fast food and veganism, and shares the many exciting things you may not about Canada’s first fast food chain. https://media.blubrry.com/tvp/p/veg.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Veg-Out-Globally-Local.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | Download   Listings:  Sausage Party Burfdae Party  Join or renew your TVA membership before March 31st to get 15% off Fauxmagerie Zengarry’s Online Shop Register for the March 30th online cooking demo with Sam Turnbull      … Read More

Filed under: News News from the Toronto Vegetarian Association Resource Centre Toronto Vegetarian Podcast

Veg Out 494 – Updates and Economics with Nital Jethalal

Join Ana and Sweta for an information-packed episode. Catch up on what the TVA has been up to and learn about the economics of plant-based eating with our guest Nital Jethalal. Nital is the President of the Board of Directors for the TVA and founder of Plant-Based Economics (PBE), a NGO focused on evaluating plant-based nutrition economics and policy in Canada. As a long-time vegan and TVA member, Nital shares some fascinating insights on behaviour changes that can support shifting to a plant-based diet. https://veg.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/VegOut20210306.mp3 Download Episode Links Plant Based Economics C40 Grilled: Turning Adversaries into Allies to Change the Chicken Industry Meat the Future documentary Chicken Farmers on Last Week Tonight with John Oliver Vegan Dad on the Old Canadian Food Guide Plant Based Data Dr. Nicholas Carter on Instagram Loaded Queso Dip and Q&A with Sam Turnbull! TVA Lunch Club Toronto Veg Fitness HITT Workouts Credits Hosts: Ana & Sweta Guest: Nital Jethalal Editing: Sweta Theme Music: Matt Judge https://media.blubrry.com/tvp/p/veg.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/VegOut20210306.mp3Podcast: Play in new window |… Read More

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Veg Out 493: Companion Animal Nutrition with Dr. Sarah Dodd

Steve and Ana are thrilled to be joined by Dr. Sarah Dodd on this episode of Veg Out! Sarah is a veterinarian with a special focus on companion animal nutrition.  Her studies have taken her around the world:  She has lived in England, Scotland, New Zealand, Australia, the US and she is back to Canada where she lives with her happy rescue dogs. She graduated from veterinary school in 2016. Since then she has pursued her passion in nutrition with a clinical nutrition internship and a Master’s degree at the Ontario Veterinary College. She is currently completing her nutrition residency with the European College of Veterinary and Comparative Nutrition And enrolled in a PhD, studying plant-based diets for pets. Today, Sarah shares her vegan journey with us, talks to us about her research and her practice and she shares the results of both as it relates to supporting companion animals transition to a plant-based diet. This is an insightful and educational discussion. https://veg.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/VegOut20210220_withDrSarahDodd.mp3 Download the episode TVA Events! Online lunch club is still going and has been fun! Thursdays at noon you can bring your lunch to a Zoom call with other… Read More

Filed under: News News from the Toronto Vegetarian Association Resource Centre Toronto Vegetarian Podcast