Canada Day is coming up soon and so I figured it was about time that I wrote a blog post about my favourite Canadian healthy cooking blogs. I get asked where I search for healthy recipes only about every single day! In fact, it’s one of the questions my clients ask me the most.
Yes, I know it’s easy to google ‘healthy recipes‘ but there is a huge continuum of what can be defined as healthy (and I have pretty high standards). Plus, being able to access an infinite number of recipes is not necessarily a good thing when you are starting out, or when you have limited time.
I also wanted to highlight the fact that we we have pretty amazing talent here in the Great White North, some of whom you may not even be aware of! Now of course this list is not exhaustive, and I would love to hear what your favourites are, so that they can make it into my top 50 food blogs list which is coming out later this summer!
Plant Powered Kitchen (vegan, lots of gluten-free options)
Dreena has been vegan for almost 20 years. She has written five best-selling vegan cookbooks, and is known for her creative, family-friendly recipes. Don’t be surprised to see ingredients like kidney beans in brownies, sweet potatoes in chocolate cake, and artichokes in veggie burgers. Her Sweet Potato Chocolate Cake, pictured below, is world-famous!
Sweet Potato Chocolate Cake by Dreena Burton of Plant Powered Kitchen, shared with permission
Eat Live and Play (plant-based)
Trudy recently got to work with Chef Michael Smith after winning a cooking contest – and for good reason. This rising star knows how to combine her flavours! On her blog, you’ll find easy plant-based recipes, meal-planning tips and a great, easy-flow vibe. Plus, with recipes like Coconut Chocolate Chip Lentil Brownies, Purple Cornmeal Blueberry Waffles, and Creamy Zucchini Tahini Bisque, you’ll never have to resort to plain old rice and beans again!
Joyous Health (gluten-free, dairy-free)
When you meet Joy, you immediately know that she is doing something right because she just glows! Luscious brown hair, perfect skin and a smile that lights up a room…I am pretty sure I sound like I have a girl-crush (wait, maybe I do). But it’s not just her looks. Joy makes beautiful food too! Almond Rosemary Flatbread with Sweet Potato Hummus, Healthy Digestive Cookies (remember those form childhood?!?) and Baked Mac n’ Cheese are just some of the recipes that will make you jump for Joy!
Live the Smart Way (gluten-free)
Kathy is a true icon of the gluten-free world. Named North-America’s gluten-free expert, Kathy is a personal trainer, a nutritionist, a chef, and the owner of the Live the Smart Way Expos across Canada. Kathy is taking the gluten-free world by storm. You will be hard-pressed to find anyone else that can make gluten-free food taste as delicious using simple, everyday ingredients. My favourite part is that in person, Kathy is as un-pretentious and delightful as her recipes are!
Quinoa Breakfast Bowl by Kathy Smart of Live the Smart Way, shared with permission
Oh She Glows (plant-based, lots of gluten-free and allergy-friendly recipes)
There is probably no better-known Canadian food blogger than Angela Liddon. Her cookbook, has been on the best-seller list ever since it came out, which is pretty incredible considering Angela started out as a self-taught chef and photographer! But, boy, does she sure know how to take a gorgeous photo! Banana Bread Muffin Tops, Creamy Avocado Pasta, and of course, the famous Butternut Squash Mac n’ Cheese are some of my favourites.
Eff Yeah Food (vegetarian/vegan)
Jessica will inspire you to go vegetarian! With recipes like the Crusted Walnut, Chive and Dill Cashew Cheese Ball, the CopyCat Chipotle Sofritas Tacos, and the Raw Chocolate Dark Vegan Strawberry Pie, you will never miss meat again. I particularly love that some of her recipes only have two ingredients and that she creates some amazing flavour combinations.
Sondi Bruner (allergy-friendly)
Sondi is a Vancouver-based freelance writer and holistic nutritionist who specializes in anti-inflammatory and allergy-friendly diets. Whether you are grain-free, dairy-free, gluten-free, sugar-free, nut-free, egg-free, or soy-free, you are sure to find a recipe that fits your dietary needs. With recipes like Chocolate-Dipped Prunes, Sun-Butter Cup Blizzard (my mouth is watering), you won’t even feel you are missing out on anything! Sondi is also the author of the Anti-Inflammatory Diet in 21 and co-author of the Anti-Inflammatory Diet and Action-Plans.
Roasted Garlic and Herb Vegan Cream Cheese by Sondi Bruner, shared with permission
Meghan Telpner (gluten-free, dairy-free)
If you want to live life in full colour, you have to check out all the fun that Meghan has cooking in her kitchen! With recipes like the Chocolate, Chocolate Say it Twice Pancakes, the Long Weekend Egg-Free French Toast, the Power Protein Quinoa Explosion, and the Create Your Own Adventure Burger, you will be ready to take on a new kitchen adventure! Meghan also happens to be the owner of the Academy of Culinary Nutrition, an amazing online culinary program that you absolutely need to check out, and the author of two best-selling cookbooks, UnDiet and the UnDiet Cookbook.
Wild Blueberry Vegan Cheesecake by Meghan Telpner, shared with permission
80Twenty (mostly vegetarian, lots of gluten-free options)
As a graduate of both culinary school and naturopathic medicine, Kris understands that what we eat is intrinsically connected to how feel. Her recipes are both incredibly health-building, yet sensationally delicious. Plus, I am a big fan of Kris’ sensible and balanced approach to eating, which is to eat healthy 80% of the time, so that you can indulge 20% of the time (hence the name 80twenty). I have to admit though, I may need to find more balance, because I am 100% hooked on her blog!
Michelle Vodrazka (gluten-free, dairy-free and refined sugar-free)
Of course we believe you need to check out our website, which boasts and array of gluten-free, dairy-free and refined sugar-free recipes. Some of our most popular recipes are healthier versions of popular menu items like the Java Chip Smoothie (in lieu of a Starbucks frappucchino), Raw Vegan Cheesecake (no more Cheesecake Factory!), and Sweet n Salty Granola Bars (bye, bye Quaker bars) and we love showing our readers that healthy eating doesn’t have to be boring or bland. Michelle is a nutrition and fitness coach and also the author of two cookbooks, Smart Snacking for Sports and Help Yourself to Seconds.
Carrot, Orange, and Ginger Soup by Michelle Vodrazka, shared with permission
