People constantly ask me if I’m vegan – if you really need to label me, I prefer to be called a Lisa-tarian. I choose quality foods that support my community and my health, I shop at farmers’ markets first and independent stores second, I’m fiercely committed to organics, and I trace my food back to where it came from. I believe in eating plant-based. A vegan diet can be healthy in many ways, but…
Not all vegan food is created equal.
Just because something is vegan, doesn’t necessarily mean it’s better for our health, our planet, or even the animals. Sometimes, vegan isn’t enough. If we choose to be vegan for the animals, don’t we have more of a responsibility than just not eating animals? When vegetables are sprayed with harmful pesticides making their way into our shared water, earth and air, this harms our animals. Don’t fool yourself, insecticides, pesticides and herbicides are absolutely meant to harm living things to begin with. When toxic and processed foods then find their way from field and factory onto our plates and into our bodies – think of how they arrived there. Production, processing and packaging can be super harmful to everyone involved in the supply chain and beyond.
Choose vegan foods that are made from whole, organic, non GMO, plant-based ingredients – by people, not by factories.
It may sound intimidating or limiting – but when you consider the effects that your food choices make on your health and our world, you’ll be happy you considered where your food came from – first and foremost. Something that I always ask my kids to do is to trace their food back to where it came from – if it feels good to them, then it’s a good, conscious choice.
Here are some resources you may find helpful!
- Our favourite plant-based, nut-free brands
- Our favourite organic booze (because what you drink matters too!)
- Our favourite farmers’ markets in Toronto (the best way to be connected to your food is to know your farmer!)
- Our favourite pastas (made from exceptional ingredients by great companies)
- Our favourite chocolate (because organic, fair-trade chocolate matters!)
- Our favourite indie grocers in Toronto
- Our favourite restaurants in Toronto (all have delicious vegan options, made with exceptional ingredients)
- Our favourite dairy alternatives, dairy-free cheeses, and dairy-free butters.
