Is Canada vegan friendly?

[casey_veggoddes]

Just curious if you guys consider it easy to be vegan where you live. I'm interested in quality of produce and veg foods and the what percentage of the population are vegan. Thanks in advance for any replies. I just found out about the "Patriot Act 2" that will basically take away every citizen's constitutionally protected rights if passed. :eek: So, I'll probably be making a road trip north soon. :cool:

[foxytina_69]

well quality of produce depends on where u buy it from (i thought that was like any place u lived lol). but from mostly every grocery store, theres great produce. ive never had a problem. and no its not hard to be vegan here at all! i find tons of vegan and organic products all over the grocery stores. and natural products and organic produce sections. its great :D i love it here. sumtimes i get overwhelmed by the things to buy LOL.

i dont know about the percent that are vegan, but must be alot cause vegan products go fast. (especially earth balance vegan butter!)

[Kevster]

There was an article in the paper today (Guardian) about the United States of Canada, apparently the East and West coasts are thinking of migrating...

[Artichoke47]

There were Toronto restaurant reviews in the most current Veg News issue. It looks veg-friendly there!

[casey_veggoddes]

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/20041105/wl_canada_nm/canada_usa_col_2


This is pretty funny.

[Roxy]

I'm in Vancouver and find it very easy to be vegan here. There is lots of fresh, organic produce available, although at this time of year, I tend to see more and more imported items in the produce departments. We have some great natural foods stores, there are a few veggie restaurants and of course Beautiful BC has plenty of wonderful, natural outdoor areas that are just stunning and plenty of wildlife :D

[casey_veggoddes]

I'm in Vancouver and find it very easy to be vegan here. There is lots of fresh, organic produce available, although at this time of year, I tend to see more and more imported items in the produce departments. We have some great natural foods stores, there are a few veggie restaurants and of course Beautiful BC has plenty of wonderful, natural outdoor areas that are just stunning and plenty of wildlife :D


Yes, it must be completely different in Canada compared to the US when it comes to wildlife and nature. Canada's just a little larger than the US but has waaay less people. Sounds like it would be so much more scenic. Here, there are just cars, cars, cars as far as the eye can see, even in the parks. :rolleyes:

[foxytina_69]

british columbia is really pretty. alot of people from other provinces have moved here, and everyone i know that moved to alberta moved back to british columbia because of its beauty. its not flat, its very gorgeous with mountains and trees everywhere. theres water everywhere where i live. its calming.

[meatless]

It's getting easier, but in general we don't have even half of the vegan products etc. that Americans have. Our produce (at least where I am, in Ottawa) is very expensive usually, and quite often shipped in from Florida and California.

It sucks what happened with your election, but definitely don't make the mistake of thinking Canada is some sort of vegan and nature-like utopia.

[Roxy]

Hi Meatless :)

What kind of products are you talking about? Over here in BC (well in Vancouver anyway), we seem to be able to get most of the vegan products I have seen American people talking about here at the forum.

[foxytina_69]

i aggree. i have more of a problem deciding which products NOT to buy to save money! i feel overwhelmed at my choices at the grocery stores and health food stores.

[meatless]

Well, we don't have the tofurky slices here, or the tofutti cheeses. And I have never seen something called "korn," and a variety of other faux products like that. I can't think of many of the specifics, but when I posted at VB they were always talking about this product and that product and we didn't have most of them.

I finally found seitan the other day, in a microwave dinner. Haven't tried it yet. :)

I know a lot of vegans don't go for faux products, but a lot of people would find it very difficult to convert without them! ;)

[ConsciousCuisine]

[QUOTE=meatless]Well, we don't have the tofurky slices here, or the tofutti cheeses. And I have never seen something called "korn," QUOTE]

I don't use the tofutti products for my family or for my clients (hydrogenated oils and chemicals etc.) but the Tofurky slices *do* go over well with transitioners and Omnis alike, I must say...very versatile and they have a texture and flavor that most transitioners and Omnis like, in my experience...

I have never heard of "Korn" food products...do you mean "Quorn"? I don't use those with clients either as I can't find any that are Vegan...

[meatless]

I don't use the tofutti products for my family or for my clients (hydrogenated oils and chemicals etc.) but the Tofurky slices *do* go over well with transitioners and Omnis alike, I must say...very versatile and they have a texture and flavor that most transitioners and Omnis like, in my experience...

I have never heard of "Korn" food products...do you mean "Quorn"? I don't use those with clients either as I can't find any that are Vegan...

Yes, I guess I mean Quorn, LOL. I must be fixated on another "Korn" we all know ;) I wasn't aware they weren't vegan products, I just remember hearing about them on a vegetarian board and thinking "yeah, we don't have that."

I am generally health conscious, but dammit, I really want pizza! I have vowed that I will not eat cow's cheese again, but my first (and only, so far) cheeseless pizza was an incredible disappointment. As was vegan gourmet. I have heard good things about Tofutti and would not have a problem with using it once or twice a month so i could enjoy pizza again.

We do have Tofurky roast here, it is $25 though. I haven't tried it. But no slices. I have e-mailed them about it and apparently the exchange rate is a problem.

[ConsciousCuisine]

I am generally health conscious, but dammit, I really want pizza! I have vowed that I will not eat cow's cheese again, but my first (and only, so far) cheeseless pizza was an incredible disappointment. As was vegan gourmet. I have heard good things about Tofutti and would not have a problem with using it once or twice a month so i could enjoy pizza again.

We do have Tofurky roast here, it is $25 though. I haven't tried it. But no slices. I have e-mailed them about it and apparently the exchange rate is a problem.


I made a home-made pizza last night for my sweeties and they loved it! It had "Gimme Lean Sausage" crumbled on top, roasted garlic pizza sauce, spiced sliced green olives and mozzarella "Vegan Gourmet" shredded very thinly. (*not* a "health" food, but it was paired with a large raw mixed greens, spinach, cucumber, red onion, carrot and beet salad!)

I am sorry you didn't like "Vegan Gourmet"...Perhaps after you have been cheeseless for a longer time it will appeal to you more...I hope so :)

My daughter loves it now, but didn't care for it immediately after becoming vegan...I think it's because she had "real cheese" to compare it to in her recent memory/taste...when I was desperate to please (years ago) I tried to give her the Tofutti slices. She hated them (said they tasted like chemical boxes) much to my delight...

The Tofurky Slices are MUCH tastier than the "roast" IMO and in every client's opinion I have prepared these things for! ;) I would try the frozen dinner with seitan and see if you like it before you buy the "Roast'...they aren't exactly alike, but the texture and flavor can be similar...

;)

[foxytina_69]

ive found all those things :\

[meatless]

ive found all those things :\


You're also on the other side of the country. :) I've heard that BC is much more vegan/vegetarian friendly.

CC- i may try vegan gourmet again sometime, but for now I'm just not ready to throw away another $7! I've got some recipes for a cheese sauce type thing for pizza, but usually I'm so starving by the time I get dinner I hate to "chance" it on something I'm not sure about!

[ConsciousCuisine]

UGH! $7! We pay nearly $4 and it is a "sacrifice" at that!

I promised my daughter (who eats better than any adult, let alone any child I know!) that she could have home-made pizza 2 times a month as an indulgence...my giant man loves it too, I must admit, so they are happy with me for the decadent dinner...it's an occasional indulgence and one that, in the big picture is not devestating... :( (But I know it's *not* healthy at all! I balance it out by modifying the soy in thier meals the day before and after and increasing raw veggies and Superfoods... ;)

If you would like some Pizza ideas that don't include any cheezy sauce, spread or shreds, let me know...I make that more often (it's easier to make those kinds healthier!)

[Roxy]

You're also on the other side of the country. :) I've heard that BC is much more vegan/vegetarian friendly.

I have heard that we are the most veg*n friendly province in Canada. Although, tofurkey slices and the tofurkey sausages aren't all that easy to buy here either. I have to drive to a specialty food store 20 minutes away to get them - they are not sold in the regular supermarkets.

A new Save-On-Foods opened up near my place recently, and I was so happy to see that compared to other Save-On's they stock more of a variety of vegan/organic foods, including goodies such as Silk non-dairy creamer, vegan cheeses, Amy's products and more.

[foxytina_69]

i dont think its that easy to find tofurky slices here but in the section by produce, theres a whole stack of shelves in a fridge type caser that have all sorts of tofus and lunch meats and sausages, burgers. all meat replacements. than in the freezer theres all these kinds of frozen burgers and amy's products and vegan icecreams galore!

save on foods here also has great selections roxy. it has a whole area of shelves dedicated to milk free milks and creamers and such!

[foxytina_69]

UGH! $7! We pay nearly $4 and it is a "sacrifice" at that!

I promised my daughter (who eats better than any adult, let alone any child I know!) that she could have home-made pizza 2 times a month as an indulgence...my giant man loves it too, I must admit, so they are happy with me for the decadent dinner...it's an occasional indulgence and one that, in the big picture is not devestating... :( (But I know it's *not* healthy at all! I balance it out by modifying the soy in thier meals the day before and after and increasing raw veggies and Superfoods... ;)

If you would like some Pizza ideas that don't include any cheezy sauce, spread or shreds, let me know...I make that more often (it's easier to make those kinds healthier!)

4 $ american probably would round up to around 7$ canadian cc!

[meatless]

4 $ american probably would round up to around 7$ canadian cc!


Well, our dollar is work 83 cents right now, so not really.
Plus, real incomes in Canada are about 70% of what they are in the States on average.

But anyway.

[foxytina_69]

hmmm ohwell. if i could find vegan gourmet cheese i would buy it! soymage vegan cheese is 6 $ anyway.

[meatless]

hmmm ohwell. if i could find vegan gourmet cheese i would buy it! soymage vegan cheese is 6 $ anyway.


I was so excited to find Vegan Gourmet but then it was just awful (to my tastebuds anyway :)) I have never seen Soymage here. I'd be willing to pay $6 for a vegan cheese I enjoy, just not for one that I hate!

[thealyssa]

I can't speak for the whole of Canada, but the Toronto area makes it easy to be a vegan. Lot's of places to eat, lot's of places to shop, lot's of people to network with who know what a vegan is!

I'd probably just suggest that you stick closer to urban areas or areas with a lot of Indian or mediterannean people are living -- they tend to have more options for vegans and are more conscious of vegan needs.