Image By:
Alexandra Andersson
While there are so many amazing plant-based Instagrammers,  we wanted to the acknowledge a handful of home-grown Canadians that are making huge impacts in the vegan food scene.

Whether you’re starting your journey into the vegan space or simply looking for a few delicious recipes to help reduce your meat foot print while still being delicious, we recommend following these plant-based powerhouses ASAP.

Angela Liddon

Arguably the most widely recognized vegan in Canada, Angela Liddon, creator of the Oh She Glows blog, has amassed a following that steps well over the Canadian border, with a global following of over 600K on Instagram. The tone of Angela’s cookbooks and blog is extremely approachable, with an open and honest foreword about how she came into the vegan lifestyle and what inspired her journey to create easy-to-follow recipes that would please both vegans and meat-lovers alike. We also love the ingredients she uses can easily be found in Canada which is a huge win!

From Oh She Glows Instagram 

Lauren Toyota

We love Lauren Toyota’s approach to plant-based living. The woman is on a mission to make the vegan lifestyle mainstream, and encourages a joyful approach to the concept of consuming delicious plant-based meals with pleasure and fun. Coming from an entertainment background, Lauren’s YouTube channel is full of delicious recipes and great advice on plant-based life.

  From Lauren Toyota Instagram

Erin Ireland

Working as a food reporter, Erin discovered her passion and purpose; to raise awareness for plant-based eating, demonstrating how the lifestyle can be nutritious, delicious and always cruelty-free. We love her authentic voice and how she showcases the food she makes and eats through her iPhone, as opposed to highly glossed over professional photo shoots, showing us what recipes will actually look like (still amazing by the way!)

From Erin Ireland Instagram

Plant Based Toronto 

Although local to Toronto, the Plant Based Toronto blog offers a range of amazing recipes and tips on vegan living that are great for all Canadians like how to get started on your new vegan journey, and our favourite, a 101 on Nutritional Yeast.

From Plant Based Instagram 

Steph Yu

Like Angela Liddon, Steph came to veganism as a step towards recovery from an eating disorder. Her spiritual take on the plant-based lifestyle is truly inspiring, and well followed by 200K Instagram followers. Steph shares her experiences on her YouTube channel and as a plant-loving podcaster

From Steph Yu Instagram

Who do you love to follow for plant-based inspo? Share with us on Facebook!

Image Credit
FOODISM360
Sure, eating too much avocado on toast may mean you will never be able to afford a home, but who needs the trappings of modern wealth when you are able to nourish your mind, body and soul with the simplistic beauty of a single fruit?

Quick Facts

Fruit of the tree Persea americana, the avocado is native to Mexico and Central America, classified in the flowering plant family Lauraceae. Characterized by its oval or pear-shape, rough skin and large seed, the fruit has been referred to as the avocado pear or alligator pear. 

The earliest account of the avocado’s presence in Europe is from 1519. The avocado was later introduced to Indonesia by 1750, Brazil in 1809, and South Africa and Australia in the late 19th century. The actual word “avocado” derives from a Nahuatl Indian (Aztec) word  “ahuácatl” which in fact means testicle.

It is thought that the reference is either due to the avocado’s shape or the fact that it was considered to possess aphrodisiac qualities by the Aztecs. Leading us into the symbolism of this sacred fruit.

Spirituality and Symbolism

The avocado acts as an Aztec symbol of love. An avocado tree can live for hundreds of years and a pair of avocados living and growing together on a tree symbolizes relationship love. An ideal husband would bring a pair of avocados to his wife as an outward display of love. The Aztecs also associated the avocado with fertility, recognizing it as the fruit of lust which could act as a natural aphrodisiac.

The avocado is recognized as a source of energy, health and beauty, and unlike our friend the cactus, needs specific conditions to survive. We embrace the avocado as a symbol of love (for both self and others) and the transferring of our inner beauty into our physical bodies.

Image Credit
David Sola

Quick Facts

The cactus is a member of the plant family Cactaceae, which consists of about 1750-2000+ known species. Cacti are found from British Columbia to South America and have been introduced and adapted to Australia, East Africa and the Mediterranean, in places of warm and dry climate. The word “cactus” derives from Latin kaktos, meaning spiny plant whose identity is not certain. Recognized for its endurance and ability to thrive in trying environments, they are classified as stem succulents as they have specialized, fleshy stems.

Spirituality and Symbolism 

For those who find themselves drawn to the cactus, you may subconsciously admire its ability to thrive in intense conditions that would render a plant of lesser strength lifeless. The spiritual meaning behind the cactus is symbolized in its hard protective exterior,  its endurance and strength to survive in new environments and situations. The cactus is adaptable and strong.

While it may not be recognized for its beauty, the real beauty and treasure of the cactus come from the inside, with its unique ability to store water. Keeping a cactus in your home or at work will remind you to stay strong, endure and remember that the essence of both your truth and your beauty from within.