Once summer kicks in, we’re always looking for new vegan snacks to satisfy our summer cravings, so we’ve rounded up these delicious and easy recipes from some of our favourite plant-based Canadian enthusiasts. Get ready to indulge in the deliciousness of natural ingredients that will leave your body feeling nourished and loved this summer!

Pea-camole by Simple Bites

This pea-camole is a great way to get your greens in without even realizing you’re eating them! Dip it with some carrots or other veggies for a crunch with benefits.

Ingredients: 

• 1 cup shelled peas
• 1 poblano pepper
• 2 avocados
• 1 tomato, diced
• 1 lime
• 1 clove garlic, diced
• Salt

Instructions:

1. Set a pot of water to boil and cook the peas until they are easily mashed with a fork. Drain, rinse with cold water, and set aside.
2. Meanwhile, broil the poblano pepper until blistered, flipping over once. Remove the pepper to a plastic bag and seal – this will release steam and help loosen the skin from the pepper.
3. Peel the avocado and scoop the flesh into a medium bowl. Mash with a fork until it is the consistency you desire. Halve the lime and squeeze out the juice over the avocado. Mash the peas and add them to the avocado.
4. Remove the blackened skin from the pepper, remove the seeds, and dice. Add the pepper, tomato, and garlic to the bowl. Add salt to taste and serve.

Anna’s Healthy Faux-Nutella Spread by Bluebirdirdkisses

This faux-nutella is perfect for spreading, dipping, mixing or even eating with a spoon right from the container. Get your sweets and chocolate craving satisfied without tons of sugar!

Ingredients:

• 2 cups raw hazelnuts
• 1/4 cup raw cacao
• 1/3 cup avocado oil
• 1/3 unsweetened almond milk
• 1/2 cup pure maple syrup
• 2 tbsp pure vanilla extract

Directions:

1. Preheat your oven to 400F.
2. Roast your hazelnuts for approximately 7-8 minutes making sure to shake them mid roast.
3. Let nuts completely cool. If you want to make your spread extra smooth you can remove the shells at this time…I leave mine on.
4. In a food processor, process the hazelnuts for approximately 10 minutes, until smooth butter forms.
5. Add the rest of the ingredients and process until smooth.
6. Keeps in air tight container in the fridge for at least 1 week.

All-Dressed Kale Chips by Oh She Glows

Packed with flavour and vitamins, this snack is perfect for when you’re craving something salty and crunchy! Ditch deep fried and enjoy this baked kale goodness.

Ingredients:
(per baking sheet)

• 1/2 bunch kale leaves

• 1/2 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil or melted coconut oil
• 1.5 tablespoons nutritional yeast
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 3/4 teaspoon chili powder
• 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
• 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
• 1/4 teaspoon fine grain sea salt or pink Himalayan sea salt
• 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 300F. Line a large rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. Remove leaves from the stems of the kale and roughly tear it up into large pieces. Compost the stems (or freeze for smoothies). Wash and spin the leaves until thoroughly dry.
3. Add kale leaves into a large bowl. Massage in the oil until all the nooks and crannies are coated in oil. Now sprinkle on the spices/seasonings and toss to combine.
4. Spread out the kale onto the prepared baking sheet into a single layer, being sure not to overcrowd the kale.
5. Bake for 10 minutes, rotate the pan, and bake for another 12-15 minutes more until the kale begins to firm up. The kale will look shrunken, but this is normal. I bake for 25 mins. total in my oven.
6. Cool the kale on the sheet for 3 minutes before digging in! This really makes all the difference! Enjoy immediately as they lose their crispiness with time.
7. Repeat this process for the other half of the bunch.

Lovers Chia Pudding Parfait by Jillian Harris

This deliciously filling delight is a great snack option if you’re in the mood for desert. So, treat yo self or spread the healthy snack love and make a few!

Ingredients:

Chia Pudding:

• 2 1/2 cups plant-based milk of choice (I love coconut!)
• 1/2 cup chia seeds
• 3 tbsp maple syrup
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• Pinch of sea salt

Pink “Soft Serve”:

• 1 1/2 cups frozen strawberries
• 1 1/2 cups sliced frozen bananas
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• Pinch sea salt

For the Parfait:

• 2 small jars
• Sliced bananas, for layering
• Frozen raspberries
• Fresh flowers (optional – for the photo of course!)

Instructions:

Make the pudding:

1. In a container, whisk together all chia pudding ingredients. Cover and chill overnight or for at least 3 hours until thick.

Make the soft serve:

1. In the bowl of a large food processor, combine bananas, strawberries, vanilla, and sea salt. Blend until thick and creamy, about 2 minutes. Scrape the sides as needed.

Assemble your parfait:

1. Start by adding your sliced bananas (if you have a small heart-shaped cookie cutter, cut your bananas into small hearts). Press the bananas firmly against the side of the jar in an upwards motion.
2. Fill each jar about halfway with the chia pudding.
3. Layer in your soft serve until it spills over the top.
4. Add your raspberries and flowers and serve.
5. Enjoy with someone you LOVE!!!!

As active yogis and lovers of everything wellness, we were thrilled to discover newly launched Canadian-made supplement line Niyama Yoga Wellness, designed specifically to suit the needs of active yoga practitioners, and those who are looking to energize, repair and eliminate stress in a more body-friendly and natural way.

This mindful wellness line is entirely vegan, non-GMO and formulated with no artificial colours, flavours, preservatives or sweeteners. Designed to maximize benefits of yoga, Niyama Yoga Wellness compliments the various results of a regular practice, with specialized formulas developed to enhance sleep, hydration and daily protein intake, reduce stress and inflammation, and provide support for joints and muscles.

With an MBA from the Schulich School of Business and a diploma in Nutritional Management from George Brown, Niyama founder Jillian Mariani has garnered nearly 20 years of experience in the specialty natural health space. Her extensive background working with like-minded companies and her intense yoga teacher training inspired her to create a company that offered products to serve  from a well-rounded and educated approach.

Niyama Yoga Wellness also offers ambassador programs for yoga teachers and has wholesale opportunities for yoga studios. Check here for more information and see a breakdown of the full product line below.

Green Energy Pre-Vinyasa Energizer – An energizing and alkalinizing powder you mix with cold water and drink about 30 minutes before practice, providing an all-natural and stimulant-free alternative to coffee or tea.

After Practice Replenish & Repair – Helps replace and rebalance all electrolyte minerals lost during sweating and supports muscle repair to reduce soreness and stiffness.
Daytime Zen Stress Support – A combination of natural ingredients to help your body deal with and adapt to daily stresses.

Organic Plant Protein – The perfect addition to a post-practice smoothie, this organic plant-sourced protein contains fibre, vitamins and minerals in each scoop and is vegan-friendly, allergen-free, low-fat and zero-sugar with nothing artificial.

Sleep Like Buddha – Fall asleep sooner, enjoy better quality sleep and wake up reaping the benefits of a good night’s rest with natural ingredients.

Vinyasa Forever Joint Care – Combines two clinically proven herbs used for centuries in Ayurvedic medicine – turmeric and Boswellia – to manage existing inflammation or to proactively help reduce the risk of painful joints as you age.

While this is an article about natural beauty oils, it actually starts with a journey to find a cruelty-free, vegan solution for long, lustrous lashes. Last year, a Canadian brand called Luna Nectar manifested its way into our vortex with claims that it could provide a “Moon Boost” for lashes. We were sold before we even opened the cute little box.

Not only was the branding and eco-sustainable packaging on point, but the product also worked, delivering stronger, fuller lashes with daily use.

So when Luna Nectar announced a new all-natural skincare product, Heliophilia (a word that means addicted to the sun), we were intrigued to learn more. This combination skin and hair serum claims to address inflammation, redness, severe dryness, and skin concerns relating to transepidermal water loss, with a strong infusion of 15 powerful natural oils and serums including Squalane, Baobab, Meadowfoam, Seabuckthorn), Camellia and Rosehip.

We spoke with founder Mia Fiona Kut to get the scoop on what the best natural oils for our skin and to learn little bit more on how Luna Nectar was founded.

How did Luna Nectar come to be?

Luna Nectar was born out of a need for an all-natural alternative to a chemical lash serum that my sister was using! While the serum worked, I was concerned about the side effects my sister was experiencing, and when I found out that many women and young girls were using these types of chemical products, I was shocked. With my lifelong relationship with herbal medicines and holistic wellness, I set on a journey to create a 100% natural, vegan, and organic solution.

What inspired your new product Heliophilia?

To put it simply, a change occurred in my skin, probably due to age. I was experiencing eczema again after about 10 years of being completely free of it. My skin was becoming very dry, as if the barrier was cracked. I needed a solution to combat these issues, and to my surprise, Heliophilia turned out to be very helpful for combination and oily skin as well, and also fading scars!

What are the top five best natural oils for your skin?

Squalane – Gives your skin that extra strength protective barrier.

Rosehip – chock full of vitamin A, C, and essential fatty acids, which really help to refresh and add a glow to the complexion. It penetrates very deeply and increases collagen production

Argan –  it’s so lightweight yet rich, and full of vitamin E which definitely helps with fine lines

Meadowfoam – the lightweight, more environmentally friendly cousin of jojoba oil (it is typically grown as a rotation crop). It helps with anti-aging, and contains over 98% fatty acids. Softens the skin and penetrates deeply without being greasy.

Hemp Seed – protects the skin from free radicals, and with anti-inflammatory properties, it is excellent for treating TEWL conditions such as eczema and psoriasis

Heliophilia

Store Link

Lash and Brow Moon Boost

Store Link

Puk Khantho

As much as we’d love to take full credit for these bits of dairy-free brilliance, we have to give credit where credit’s due. The first recipe is from Popsugar and the other two are our inspired creations when we realized that ice cream can serve a guilt-free dose of health benefits.  Whether you’re looking to simply chill out or surprise your friends with something sweet, delightful and healthy (in moderation) these three vegan ice cream recipes will do the trick.

These recipes are all made with coconut milk, which has surprising health benefits on its own, and is recognized as a healthy fat. That said, we will definitely reiterate the above comment on moderation. Mindful intake is best. We do encourage you to get wild and experiment with your own nut milk of choice, particularly cashew (and let us know the outcome please!)

1. Chill Out – Stress-Relief Lavender Ice Cream 

As mentioned above, we fell in love with the idea of a body beneficial ice cream when we came across this recipe from Popsugar. Not only were we blown away by the taste and creamy texture, we absolutely love the idea of a bowl of ice cream having actual soothing and calming effects due to its lavender content (lavender being recognized for its ability to reduce anxiety and emotional stress, aid in sleep and relieve nervous tension). To top it all off, this recipe is super easy to follow.

Image from Popsugar

Below from Popsugar

Ingredients

3 1/3 cups (2 cans) coconut milk
2 tablespoons dried culinary lavender
3/4 cup frozen organic blueberries
2/3 cup agave syrup (or to taste)
1/4 teaspoon vanilla

Directions

• Heat coconut milk in a medium saucepan until almost boiling; remove from heat and add lavender. Stir to combine and allow to steep for 10 minutes.
• Pour coconut milk through a wire strainer into a blender. Add blueberries, agave, and vanilla. Blend on high until blueberries are completely incorporated. (A few flecks are OK.)
• Pour mixture into ice cube trays and freeze overnight.
• Place 1/3 of the cubes into the bowl of a food processor and pulse to a cookie-dough-like consistency. Transfer ice cream to a freezer container and process remaining cubes in batches.
• Serve immediately or place in freezer for a firmer consistency.

Nothing could be easier right? We love having a couple scopes of this ice cream after dinner or after an evening work out a couple hours before bed. It’s a perfect addition to a once in a while alignment ritual

2. Power Up  – Protein and Iron Infused Mint Chocolate Chip 

Image and Some Recipe Inspiration from Wallflower Kitchen

So Popsugar’s brilliant use of lavender got us thinking. What other herbs could be used to make delicious ice cream blends? Mint was our obvious next leap. We pulled from a bunch of different recipes from all over the web and came up with this simple recipe leveraging the above process ever so slightly and adding in our own unique twist for a powerful protein and iron-infused result.

Ingredients

3 1/3 cups (2 cans) coconut milk

1/2 cup of fresh mint leaves

1/2 cup of spinach (you won’t even taste it!)

2/3 cups of agave syrup (or to taste)

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 scoop of your favourite protein powder

1 quarter of your favourite dark chocolate source, crumbled into small bits
Directions

• Blend all ingredients except for dark chocolate in a high speed blender until completely smooth
• Transfer mixture to ice cube tray and freeze over night
• Place 1/3 of the cubes into the bowl of a food processor and pulse to a cookie-dough-like consistency. Transfer ice cream to a freezer container and process remaining cubes in batches.
• Stir in dark chocolate bits

Perfect for a mid-afternoon summer treat, and ideal for after a long bike ride or hot yoga class.

3. Detox and Energize – Matcha Ice Cream 

By now you can probably see where we are going with this. Essentially, once you have a winning process down, it’s pretty simple to get your experimental energies flowing to come up with your own creations. We love the various benefits provided by a delicious cup of matcha tea, such as detoxification, high antioxidant content and ability to provide a natural energy and focus boost so it only made sense to marry our ice cream blend with matcha for a deliciously mindful summer treat.

Ingredients

3 1/3 cups (2 cans) coconut milk

1 table spoon of matcha powder

2/3 cups of agave syrup (or to taste)

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions

• Blend all ingredients until completely smooth
• Transfer mixture to ice cube tray and freeze over night
• Place 1/3 of the cubes into the bowl of a food processor and pulse to a cookie-dough-like consistency. Transfer ice cream to a freezer container and process remaining cubes in batches.

Done and done.

There you have it! If you have any delicious and healthy vegan ice cream recipes of your own, we’d love to hear! Enjoy

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 By

Hilary Hahn

While a homemade turmeric latte may look amazing in a carefully curated Instagram feed, it is also a simple and delicious way to get a healthy dose of ginger and cinnamon.  These 3 ingredients combined make a latte powerhouse that will have you glowing from the inside out.

Quick Health Benefits: 

Turmeric

Full of antioxidents, anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties.

Cinnamon

This calming and soothing spice can help stimulate digestion and work towards balancing blood sugar.

Ginger

Excellent for boosting immunity, counteracting nausea and fighting off colds and congestion.

Ingredients for 2 Servings: 

3 cups of coconut milk

1 teaspoon ground turmeric

1 teaspoon fresh minced ginger

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 pinch of black pepper (to help absorb the curcumin in the turmeric)

1-2 teaspoons of liquid sweetener like honey (based on your vegan stance), maple syrup or agave nectar

Put the ingredients in a blender and mix until well blended.
Transfer mixture to a pot on a pan, heat slowly on medium heat until warmed through.

Serve and enjoy!