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September Veg Guide Updates

Hi Everyone! Welcome to September, time for back to school, Veg Food Fest, sweaters, pumpkin spice, and open windows. It’s not exactly the same as normal, but like any other month, there’s a few great new vegan restaurants to check out! Abu hummus 199 Baldwin Street.  Kensington Market has a new hummus restaurant, and it looks great! Abu Hummus serves up hummus as a meal, loaded with toppings like cauliflower, falafel, fries, or mushrooms. Vegan options are clearly marked, and there’s a bunch of them, as you’d expect from a hummus restaurant.    Chay Viet Vegetarian Ghost Kitchen (delivery or pickup only from 380 Dundas W.)  This new Vietnamese spot is a ghost kitchen–a restaurant that operates on delivery platforms only inside another restaurant. But they make great Vietnamese food, if you live near Dundas and McCaul, or you want to have a picnic in Grange Park.    localEats.to Pizzeria Du, Parka, Mugi, and others have banded together to form their own food delivery service! Order from these businesses from localEats to help businesses keep a bigger cut… Read More

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September Social Group Events

The Vegan Baking Group: Friday, August 28th at 6:30 pm in Riverdale Park. The Vegan Baking Group’s first in-person event in months! You won’t want to miss this. Bake your favourite vegan square recipe (sweet OR savory) and bring them to share! This event will be capped at 10 people, and social distancing measures will be in place. The exact location of the meetup at the park will be posted closer to the event date. Click here to RSVP on Facebook. Toronto Starch Solution Group: Virtual chats are happening on Zoom the first Tuesday of each month at 7 pm. The next one is Tuesday, September 1st. Bring your questions, struggles, and success stories to share. RSVP to starch.tva@gmail.com to receive the Zoom link for the event. Vegetarians of High Park: Wednesday, September 9th at 5:30 pm, Vegetarians of High Park will get together for a socially distanced picnic in High Park. This event will be capped at ten people. That means you MUST RSVP by Friday, September 4th to highpark@veg.ca. Everyone will be expected to bring their own blanket to sit on, to be spaced six feet apart from others. Please bring your own dinner/snacks/treats whatever you like, note this event… Read More

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Food and Recipe of the Month: Basil Pesto

Basil – the famous herb which is likely in everyone’s vegetable garden in the summertime. Basil is known for its fresh and flavourful taste, and is popular in many recipes in Italian and Thai cuisine. The two most common variaties of basil are Genovese basil and Thai basil, however there are well over 15 types. Basil is rich in many vitamins and minerals that can greatly benefit our health. It contains antioxidants, including chlorophyll, giving it that bright green colour. Antioxidants are able to fight free-radical damage, and reduce the risk of cancer cells and diseases from forming. Basil also contains essential oils, which are anti-inflammatory, so it may be beneficial for those with arthritis, heart disease, or type 2 diabetes. Its anti-inflammatory properties may also be helpful for those who experience headaches, poor digestion, or acid reflux. Not only does it contain these powerful nutrients, but it can also be used as a flavour enhancer in cooking, replacing added sugar or salt. Therefore, using basil in your cooking can reduce the amount of unnecessary additional seasoning. Basil can be used in a variety of dishes, including salads, soups, sauces, and tea. It’s most popular use is in pesto,… Read More

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We’re Hiring: Community Outreach & Office Assistant​

Looking for work? TVA is hiring through Canada Summer Jobs for a Community Outreach & Office Assistant​!   ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION Founded in 1945, the Toronto Vegetarian Association (TVA) is Toronto’s go-to resource for all things veg! ​For 75 years, the TVA has worked to inspire people to choose a healthier, greener, more compassionate lifestyle through plant-based eating. An important part of spreading the plant-based message during the pandemic is through our digital outreach program (online, social media), virtual events such as the Veg Food Fest (September 11-13) and through the publication of the annual Veg Guide in print, online and app forms.​ POSITION SUMMARY The Community Outreach Assistant will be primarily responsible for engaging with the local plant-based community by assisting with the planning and execution of the Veg Guide to optimize the number of businesses willing to list their vegetarian and vegan options to serve the community. Secondly, they will be responsible for assisting with outreach, mainly through some digital support for the virtual veg food fest and other administrative tasks in support of these programs. The Community Outreach Assistant will assist the Community and Engagement Coordinator regarding tasks including; answering questions about the… Read More

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Discount Profile: Parka Food Co.

After a brief closure during COVID-19, Parka is back open again, and even has two cute tables set up on the sidewalk so you have somewhere to sit and enjoy their delicious take-out! At first, I found the menu overwhelming. I wanted all the different items they have that involve potatoes and vegan tartar sauce, but I figured I might as well choose just one potato dish so that I could try a variety of other foods too. I decided to go with the potato burger, which, in addition to the crispy potatoes and tartar sauce I’ve mentioned, also comes with pickles and guacamole on a light and airy bun. No burger would be complete without a side, but since I was already having some potatoes, instead of fries or poutine (which, believe me, were very tempting) I ordered the cauliflower fritters. I loved the crispy, crunchy batter contrasting with the soft cauliflower centre. The portion size was just perfect to go along with the burger, and the creamy dipping sauce was cooling and refreshing. Of course, Parka is famous for its variety of unique mac and cheeses, so how could I leave without trying at least one? I decided… Read More

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Food and Recipe of the Month: Black Beans

Care of Andrea Howe of glowingongreens.com Beans are certainly a magical fruit due to their nutritional content, but especially the black bean, being a popular legume used all around the world. It can be found in Mexican cuisine, veggie burgers, chilies, and more. Its significance may be deceiving, because even though it’s small, it is packed full of important nutrients. Black beans are famous for their fibre content. Fibre can help regulate stools, lower blood sugars and weight, as well as decrease the risk of heart disease and various cancers including bowel, colon, breast, and prostate. Just one cup of black beans contains 15g of fibre, which is half of your recommended daily intake. Black beans are also full of vitamins, specifically B vitamins. These vitamins, including thiamin and niacin are important for growth and development in children, as well as for our brain health. Finally, black beans are a great source of plant-based protein, as well as rich in iron, with about 4 grams of iron in every cup. This makes them an important ingredient for vegetarians/vegans, women, and infants. The soft texture makes them a great snack for infants, but make sure to add a little lemon juice… Read More

Filed under: Eat Veg elifelines Food of the Month Uncategorised Vegan & Vegetarian Recipes

August Social Group Events

TVA Reads is our vegetarian book club! They will be having a socially-distanced get together in Christie Pits Park this month. Email tvareads@veg.ca to get the details and to RSVP. Vegetarians in Their Twenties has been meeting regular during COVID-19 with Virtual Happy Hours on Zoom every Friday at 6 pm, and this will continue through the month of August. Visit their Facebook Group or email vitt@veg.ca to join in! The East End Veggie Social Group has two upcoming Virtual Dinner Parties: August 1st and 15th! Visit their Facebook Group to stay up to date on announcements of these events and others. Read More

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Steppin’ to the Beet: TVA’s Virtual Fitness Challenge

Run, walk, or bike 5k, 10k, a half or full marathon, or a duathlon distance of your choice, to raise funds for the Toronto Vegetarian Association in celebration of World Vegetarian Day! When does my run/walk/bike take place? World Vegetarian Day is Thursday, October 1, but you can pick any day from Saturday, September 19 to Saturday, October 3 to complete your personal fitness challenge.  What does a virtual fitness challenge mean? Are we doing this together, in person? You will complete your fitness challenge on your own, on the day of your choice, although of course you may have one or two friends or family members who are also interested in signing up for the same challenge and you could complete it together! But don’t worry, there will be plenty of opportunities for you to meet and chat with others who are completing the challenge throughout the summer, both in person and online. See more details below! Where does my fitness challenge take place? Once again, this is up to you! You could simply step outside your home for a 5k walk, or perhaps you have a trail or route you’ve always dreamed of doing, like a bike ride… Read More

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Discount Profile: Veggie Planet

The GTA is fortunate to have an abundance of vegan-friendly authentic Indian restaurants. But Veggie Planet stands apart for its unique fusion dishes. Now with two locations (Mississauga and Vaughan), this place has landed a spot on my top favourite restaurant list, surprising me even more every time with how delicious and flavourful everything is. It’s not every day you find pizza on the menu at an Indian restaurant, but imagine having a whole section of the menu full of pizzas! It was almost too much to bear to try and narrow it down to just one to order, but eventually my partner and I settled on the chaat Pizza, which had a sauce flavoured with Indian spices, vegan cheese, and plenty of crunchy pieces of sev. It was a close competition with the Indian masala pizza, we’ll have to try that next time! But first, we started with “appetizers”. I say that in quotations because the portions were very generous, even for someone like me, who has a huge appetite! This was our third time eating at Veggie Planet, and at first I resisted my partner’s suggestion we get the poutine for the third time, arguing that we… Read More

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Food and Recipe of the Month: Spinach

Care of Andrea Howe, of glowingongreens.com  Spinach, a favourable leafy green, is famous for being packed full of non-heme iron, as well as shrinking down into almost nothing when cooked. This vegetable is unique as its mild flavour can be incorporated into almost every type of dish, from smoothies and green pancakes, to pasta and salads. Not only is it impressively versatile, but it comes with an abundance of nutrients. Spinach is an excellent source of iron, which is especially important for infants, pregnant women and breast-feeding mothers, and those not eating meat. Iron travels in the blood attached to hemoglobin to help deliver oxygen around the body. It is best absorbed with vitamin C, so add a little lemon or lime juice over your spinach salad for maximum nutrient benefits. Spinach is also packed with potassium, magnesium, vitamin K, and calcium, which are all important nutrients for strong bone health. These nutrients can strengthen bone density and reduce fractures, especially in older adults and women over the age of 50. Spinach loses volume when wilted and condenses, which is the best way to maximize the benefits of these nutrients. Spinach can be found in various forms, such as… Read More

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