the blog.
5 Favourite Vegan Restaurants in Toronto
Whether you live in Toronto (Hey, neighbour!) or are just visiting, it's always great to get restaurant recommendations from a friend rather than using ye olde google search and hoping for the best. Having lived in Toronto for my entire vegan life (except for 6 months on a cruise ship!) I've found a couple places that I love to take family and friends when they're in town or my fiancé on a date! Since I consider you a true friend, I thought I'd share my favourite places to get my nom on in the big Canadian city, free of charge! (Aren't I a gem?)
Whether you live in Toronto (Hey, neighbour!) or are just visiting, it's always great to get restaurant recommendations from a friend rather than using ye olde google search and hoping for the best. Having lived in Toronto for my entire vegan life (except for 6 months on a cruise ship!) I've found a couple places that I love to take family and friends when they're in town or my fiancé on a date! Since I consider you a true friend, I thought I'd share my favourite places to get my nom on in the big Canadian city, free of charge! (Aren't I a gem?)
5. Grasshopper, 310 College Street, $$
A tiny little casual dinning spot on college, Grasshopper is a nice place to grab lunch with a friend or a quick dinner! They have lots of yummy and innovative dishes to try, which means it always takes an hour for me to order. Sorry, Jason. I tried the Mushroom N' Rice Bowl recently and loved it! Be warned, they do have one or two items that are only vegetarian, but they are clearly marked on the menu. They also have a number of gluten and soy-free options, allowing everyone to enjoy their tasty creations!
4. Apiecalypse Now, 735 Bloor Street West, $$
Craving pizza? No problem! Drop into Apiecalypse now for some vegan comfort food including, you guessed it, donuts! (Ok, maybe you didn't guess it. But a one stop shop for vegan pizza AND donuts? Sign me up!) They currently don't offer gluten free crusts for their pizzas BUT they deliver to many parts of Toronto, so that makes up for it, yes? They're located right on Bloor for your convenience.
3. Live Organic Food Bar, 264 Dupont Street / 134 Atlantic Avenue, $$
Completely vegan, gluten free, organic, and sugar free, Live Organic Food Bar's menu is full of delicious plant-based goodness! They have two locations, in the Annex and in Liberty village. They offer quite a few raw dishes, so raw foodies out there you'll love Live! They also indicate which dishes are nut free, for those who avoid nuts in their diet. I used to eat here all of the time when I lived a 5 minute walk away from the Annex location and loved trying something new every single time! Definitely check them out if you're nearby.
2. Fresh, 326 Bloor Street West / 894 Queen Street West / 147 Spadina Avenue / 90 Eglinton Avenue East, $$
With 4 locations, Fresh is always a convenient option. I first began eating at Fresh as a vegetarian in 2012 and have frequented it ever since! They have a huge menu with lots of variety that pleases vegans, vegetarians, and omnivores alike. I love grabbing the green detox smoothie and the macro greens bowl for a quick healthy meal! While they aren't completely gluten free, they have quite a few gluten free options. (I was gluten free and vegan for about 6 months and found it very easy to eat at Fresh.) Also, their entire menu is vegan BUT they do offer some non-vegan add-ons such as cheese and honey.
Related Blog Post: 10 Yummy Vegan Cake Recipes To Try!
1. Urban Herbivore, 967 College Street / Kensington Market - 64 Oxford Street / Eaton Centre - 220 Yonge Street, $
Plant based whole foods are made delicious and affordable at Urban Herbivore! They are peanut free and have many gluten free options. They source their ingredients from local farmers and offer to-go packaging made with biodegradable materials. What I love most about them is the option to create your own custom bowl, but I can't forget to mention how DELICIOUS their sandwiches are! If you stop by their location in Kensington you will probably spot me fuelling up for a grocery shop and listening to the Rich Roll podcast :)
So there you have it, 5 of my favourite vegan restaurants in Toronto to check out whether you live here or are just on a visit! I have a very long list of restaurants, bakeries, and coffee shops to check out or revisit before I recommend them to you, so stay tuned for further updates on this list.
Until next time,
What's your favourite vegan restaurant in Toronto? Let me know in the comments below! Never been to Toronto? No problem! Where do you get your vegan restaurant fix in your hometown?
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5 Steps for Setting Great Goals
I've always thought that goal setting on January 1st was a bit funny. I don't mean the goal setting, of course, but the specific date. I'm not the only one, right? While I understand the appeal (I am incredibly organized and that part of me loves the simplicity and symmetry) I always wondered what the point was of waiting as many as 11 months just to start a new habit. And yet, despite knowing better, I tend to wait for special dates to review and reiterate my goals. So sue me! Entering a new year of life seems like as good a time to remind myself of what I'm striving for as any, and since I recently had a birthday, I've had goals on the brain. Here are my 5 steps to setting great goals (and a fun freebie)!
I've always thought that goal setting on January 1st was a bit funny. I don't mean the goal setting, of course, but the specific date. I'm not the only one, right? While I understand the appeal (I am incredibly organized and that part of me loves the simplicity and symmetry) I always wondered what the point was of waiting as many as 11 months just to start a new habit. And yet, despite knowing better, I tend to wait for special dates to review and reiterate my goals. So sue me! Entering a new year of life seems like as good a time to remind myself of what I'm striving for as any, and since I recently had a birthday, I've had goals on the brain. Here are my 5 steps to setting great goals (and a fun freebie)!
STEP ONE: Don't Make Too Many
Too many goals can make it far too easy to get overwhelmed and give up on everything. We don't want that to happen! Five seems to be the perfect number according to studies on productivity, with seven as the maximum you want to focus on at one time. Start by brainstorming all of the things you'd like to improve on or achieve and then narrow it down to the few that REALLY get you excited. The more passionate about something you are, the harder you'll work to make it happen. If a goal doesn't light a fire in you, it's not the right thing to spend your time and effort on. Think about it and tweak it until it really gets you going!
STEP TWO: Remember to be SMART
The SMART method of goal setting has become well known, for good reason. Following these guidelines will help you make effective goals that you can actually accomplish!
- S - SPECIFIC. The more general a goal, the less likely you are to achieve it. Spend some time thinking about your goal and determining what it is in particular that is the most important part of it to you, and focus on that. You want to be really clear about what you want! Bad: "Start a blog." vs Better: "Start a blog called Plant Based Bride about veganism, wedding planning, and living a plant based lifestyle."
- M - MEASURABLE. You don't want to be left wondering whether or not your goal was achieved. Quantify what success means to you for this particular goal so that you know what you're striving for, exactly! Bad: "Lose weight." vs Better: "Lose 10 pounds."
- A - ATTAINABLE. Do you have control over what you're trying to do? If the goal isn't in your power don't waste your time and energy on it. Is it doable and reasonable? Don't make it too hard to achieve, this will make you feel defeated from the beginning, but remember that it's also not a good idea to make it so easy that you aren't motivated by the idea of achieving it. Bad: "Make Stan fall in love with me." vs Better: "Ask Stan out on a date."
- R - RELEVANT. Relevance can be hard to determine. Ask yourself these questions to help: Is your goal applicable to where you are in your life right now? Is it worthwhile? Will it meet your needs? Does it bring you closer to your long term plans and is it consistent with the person you want to be and your other goals? Bad: "Memorize all of the presidents of the United States in chronological order." (for me, as a Canadian with no particular interest in American political history, this is an irrelevant goal.) vs Better: "Spend 15 minutes reading about the upcoming Canadian federal election every day."
- T - TIMELY. Deadlines are so important. Without one, a goal is just a dream. Make sure to pick the day by which your goal must be completed. It will establish a sense of urgency, causing you to manage your time better and work on your goal daily! Bad: "Learn to do a backflip." vs Better: "Learn to do a backflip by February 1st, 2016."
STEP THREE: Write Them Down
Make sure to write down your goals and put them somewhere where you'll see them every day. Reviewing your goals often is so important to keep you on track and focused! When you write down your goal be sure to break it down into at least 3 small, actionable steps you can take towards achieving it. Each time you see your goal, ask yourself what the next step is that you can take to get that little bit closer!
STEP FOUR: Get Support
New research implies that telling people about your goals may make you less likely to achieve them, as your mind associates the pleasure it gets from recognition from others with being closer to reaching your goal than you actually are. With that in mind, if you need support, don't hesitate to ask for it. Whether it's your spouse, your best friend, or someone you meet on the internet, asking for help isn't failure. Getting advice and learning from others' experiences when you need to is simply the smart thing to do!
STEP FIVE: Take Small Steps Every Day
Don't just write down actionable steps, take those steps! Spend at least 5 minutes a day on working towards your goal. It's not the big things we do infrequently but the small things we do consistently that make the biggest impact!
Related Blog Post: How To Use A Bullet Journal To Stay Organized!
Use these 5 steps to set your goals and then get to work on achieving them! I created a couple printables to make your goal setting even easier. Get them for free when you sign up to the Plant Based Bride newsletter!
I purposefully made the printables unisex so that everyone can enjoy the power of smart goals without too much glitter or pink getting involved. (You're welcome, Jason.) I will try to get the link to your inbox as soon as possible, and within 24 hours at the most! Be patient with me as I am a one woman operation :)
Until next time...
What's your number one goal right now? Is there anything you do differently when goal setting that works for you? I'd love to hear about it! Let me know in the comments or on social media (@elizabethturn on instagram and twitter and Plant Based Bride on Facebook)!
Don't forget to subscribe to the Plant Based Bride newsletter so that you never miss a post and get your FREE goal setting printable pack made by yours truly!
Birthday Wishlist: Vegan Edition
In my family we have a tradition. Five times a year, a month or so before each of our birthdays and before christmas, an email will come in listing everything on our wishlist. We're a very practical family, and like to know exactly what the others need or want when those times of year come around. I can actually go back and see my birthday wishlist from 2002 if I go deep enough on my hard rive... All of this to say, I have a bit of experience making wish lists. Well, every kind of list, really. But that's a topic for another day.
In my family we have a tradition. Five times a year, a month or so before each of our birthdays and before christmas, an email will come in listing everything on our wishlist. We're a very practical family, and like to know exactly what the others need or want when those times of year come around. I can actually go back and see my birthday wishlist from 2002 if I dig deep enough on my hard drive... All of this to say, I have a bit of experience making wish lists. Well, every kind of list, really. But that's a topic for another day.
Now that I'm vegan, making a list is a bit more complicated. I can't just see something I like on instagram or pinterest and pop it on. I have to do research into the company and item to ensure no animal products were used and that the product wasn't tested on animals. It would be laborious, expect that I love shopping and don't mind the excuse to do more of it to find the PERFECT vegan items to lust after! The two big ones on my list this year were the Matt & Nat Parabole bag and Chubby wallet, which my parents graciously picked up for me (thank you, again!) and for which I wrote a whole dedicated post, here. But what else is on my list? Take a look! (This post contains some affiliate links.)
1 In the Oceanic of Time Dress 2 I Tank I Can Black Tank Top 3 Strike the Match White and Navy Stripe Two Piece 4 Beneath the Garden Arbor Grey Lace Maxi Dress 5 Aim'n Wave Logo Tights 6 All in Good Cheer Grey Tulle Skirt 7 Night Drive Blush Trench Coat 8 Scenic Drive Black Wrap Maxi Skirt 9 Share My Lair Ivory Crop Top 10 I'm Into You Black High-Low Wrap Dress 11 Photo Opportunist Black Bodycon Midi Dress 12 Meridian Arc Ivory and Blue Print Halter Maxi Dress 13 LULUS Exclusive Gracefully Yours Black Dress 14 Sun Sign Black Maxi Dress 15 Take a Ladylike-ing To Dress 16 Radiant Gradients Dress 17 Space is the Place Black Crop Top
1 Two-Piece Suits Me Natural Beige D'Orsay Flats 2 Ahimsa Dress Boot in Black 3 Romance Cosmetic "I Do" 4 Boyd Sunglasses 5 Up All Night Flats 6 Plant Based Memory Foam Mattress 7 City Classified Sadler Black Suede Pointed Flats 8 Melissa Petal Flats 9 Roller Coast to Coast Black Clutch 10 Ellison Sunglasses
Related Blog Post: Should You Get Rid Of All Your Leather Now That You're Vegan?
And there you have it! As a former shopaholic, this blogging-about-the-things-I-want-to-buy-but-not-buying-them thing is kind of fantastic... I hope you liked my list and maybe found a new item or two to add to yours (if you have, remember to use Ebates to get cash back on your online purchases. I've been using them for years and recommend the site 100%!)
Until next time...
Where do you like to shop for vegan goods? Let me know in the comments below!
Don't forget to sign up for the Plant Based Bride newsletter (form at the bottom of this page) to never miss a post!
Go check out my post on my new Matt & Nat bag and wallet here, if you haven't already!
Matt & Nat Handbag and Wallet Reveal
A closer look at the vegan Matt & Nat Parabole bag and Chubby wallet!
My 23rd birthday coming up soon. I have incredible parents. These two things combined have resulted in my being gifted the gorgeous Matt & Nat Parabole bag and Chubby wallet! *cue swooning*
Matt & Nat is a Canadian company based in Montreal and all of their products are vegan. I recently discovered them, and have been drooling over their "leather" goods ever since! Their motto, “Live beautifully”, and commitment to sustainable and eco-friendly products really resonates with me, and I love their promise never to use leather or any other animal-based materials in their designs! Their products are made from materials like recycled nylons, cardboard, rubber, cork, and bicycle tires and their linnings are 100% recycled plastic bottles. How cool is that? I am so glad to be supporting a local Canadian company so in line with my values!
Parabole in Black, The Vintage Collection
The Parabole bag is a thing of beauty. Not too big, not too small. Removable crossbody strap. Minimalist and classic design. Comes in 5 timeless colours. I wouldn't surprise myself if I had it in every colour by my 24th birthday (in my dreams, anyway). The perfect day to day bag that can easily transition to night! I love bags that aren't so upscale that they can't be worn to the grocery store and aren't so casual that they can't be carried to a nice dinner. This bag really checks off all the boxes and darn is it beautiful!
Chubby in Black, The Loom Collection
Practical and pretty in a little package, the Chubby wallet has everything I need. Roomy change pocket, 2 bill compartments, 7 card slots, compact shape and minimalist design. Sign me up! It also comes in loads of colours. (I just love black and its versatility. Sue me!)
Related Blog Post: Birthday Wishlist: Vegan Edition
As you can see, I am over the moon with my gifts! Expect more birthday-themed posts coming your way in the next couple of weeks. (I really love birthdays!) Matt & Nat is definitely a brand I will be watching, and lusting after. Why don't you give their site a look and see if anything tickles your fancy?
Until next time...
What's your favourite vegan handbag brand? Let me know in the comments below!
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Disclaimer: I was NOT paid by Matt & Nat to spew love all around. I am actually this excited about my gifts!
