Blog


  • Plant-Based Pooches: The benefits of a meat-free diet for dogs

    The commercial plant-based dog foods available today do an excellent job at meeting the nutritional needs of our dogs, without the deleterious environmental, health, and animal welfare impacts of meat-based dog foods.
  • Meat and dairy industry backlash against plant-based foods leads to labelling disputes

    It seems clear that the recent attacks on “veggie burgers” and dairy alternatives are not really about protecting consumers from being misled.
  • New science shows immense promise for rescuing ourselves

    The authors find that widespread adoption of vegan diets would be – again, by far – the most effective approach.
  • Trick or Treat- Vegan Style!

    Ahead of the big day at the end of the month, I wanted to share some vegan Halloween resources, tips and tricks I’ve come across.
  • Veganism and stand-up comedy

    I’ve compiled some vegan stand-up routines for some comic relief during these difficult times. Comedy can play a critical role in temporarily relieving pressures of grief and melancholy, whether about job loss, being stuck indoors, loss of loved ones, the inhumane treatment and mass killing of animals, living through a…
  • The Good Food Cities Declaration: Earthsave Canada’s submission to the Vancouver Food Policy Council

    Earthsave Canada’s submission highlights the serious damage that animal agriculture does to the environment, including through greenhouse gas emissions, deforestation, water pollution, biodiversity loss, and inefficient use of land and water resources.
  • The case for veganism is a slam dunk

    By David Steele Being vegan helps prevent the suffering of innocent animals, slows global warming, and benefits the environment in many additional ways. Being vegan increases the food supply available to humans and wild animals, too. It helps people suffering from poverty get by. Being vegan helps us stay healthy…
  • Good vegan news from around the world!

    Let’s face it - 2020 hasn’t exactly been the best year in recent history. Despite all the challenges we face, we must not be discouraged. The plant-based movement continues to grow and even offers hope for a better future.
  • Ten foods I didn’t discover until I was vegan

    by Brianne Riehl Like a lot of North Americans, I grew up eating a typical North American diet. Each meal was planned around the meat we were eating. And like a lot of children, I grew up as a picky eater, hesitant to try new things. I maintained a fairly…
  • Search Engine online shopping hacks for vegans

    By purposely including or excluding certain terms from your search, you can better cater the results to vegan desires.
  • Canadian government invests in plant-based food innovation

    The government’s effort to support and accelerate innovation in plant-based foods is exciting and welcome news, as the evidence overwhelmingly shows that producing protein from plants takes far less land, water and energy than producing protein from animals, and of course spares animals from the cruelties inherent in animal agriculture.
  • No, veganism does not make you stupid

    The children were fed either low nutrient vegetarian diets or high nutrient meat diets. Foods with similar nutrient quality are very definitely possible without meat, but that was not what the kids were offered.
  • Ontario’s new “ag gag” legislation

    The bill has been called out as obviously unconstitutional by a plethora of legal experts. According to those experts, mostly law professors, major provisions in it may not withstand challenge in the courts.
  • Human milk for human babies

    My first baby is due in June. I fully expect to feed him exclusively breast milk. However, this isn’t always possible. The WHO recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months starting within an hour of birth.
  • A Brief History of Veganism

    Looking back at the history of veganism inspires a lot of hope for the future of the movement. Veganism is becoming more mainstream- one example of this is actor Joaquin Phoenix’s speech at the 2020 Oscars about the harms of the dairy industry.
  • Trying to stop climate change? Eating plant-based is more helpful than eating local

    While eating locally sourced food is still beneficial to the community, it’s important to remember that you aren’t significantly lowering your carbon footprint, or helping out the climate, without reducing or cutting out animal-based products from your diet.
  • How to support local vegan businesses while spicing up your time in isolation

    Retail sales are down across the country, restaurants being one of the hardest hit industries. This means that it’s more important than ever to be mindful about where and how we’re spending our money - particularly those of us who are fortunate enough to have the resources to do so…
  • From Veganuary to lifelong vegan: Making the ethical commitment

    Stay focused on the ethical reasons for veganism. Remember that your pleasure and convenience aren’t worth compromising your values. Remember that with each meal or purchase, you are making a difference.
  • COVID-19: A disaster of our own making

    The relationship between animal consumption and human illness is well established. The widespread adoption of a plant-based (vegan) diet could protect us against future pandemics.
  • Eating vegan on a budget

    As a recent university graduate, there are few things I know better than how to eat vegan on a budget, while still choosing healthy, whole-food options! I thought I’d share some of my go-to tips and tricks about how to eat vegan without breaking the bank.
  • Tips for going (and staying) vegan!

    You might think going vegan will restrict or limit your diet, but on the contrary, it can open up a whole new array of ingredients, and new ways of thinking about food!
  • Waste Deep in the Big Muddy: Animal Agriculture is Drowning Us in Manure

    Canada is a land of incredible wealth and abundance. Giant houses, fancy cars, smart phones, computers, iPads. Our land stretches for thousands upon thousands of miles. We have recreational opportunities galore. There is more fresh water here than in any other country in the world. Canada is a breadbasket to…
  • Confronting Climate Change: Those of us who understand must lead by example

    By DAVID STEELE Sometimes you just have to be blunt. Global warming is accelerating and we’re shockingly ill-equipped to stop it. Unless we act powerfully and quickly, we face catastrophe on a scale humanity has never seen. As you’ve likely heard, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (a collaboration of…
  • We’ve Been Up to A Lot

    A Message from the President By Brianne Riehl We’ve had an excellent and fulfilling 2019 so far, thanks to our dedicated board, trusty volunteers, and generous donors. Since the beginning of 2019, we’ve welcomed two new members to our board: Jennifer Flood as treasurer and Tannis Larsen as a member…
  • Ten Reasons Why I’m Raising my Child Vegan

    I’ve been vegan since 2000 and have a 15 year old son. He reports that he is grateful to have been raised vegan – which included about 2.5 years of nursing – and expects to remain vegan. Below are ten reasons that help explain why I decided to raise my…
  • Animal Agriculture is Deadlier Than You Think

    On land, at sea, and in the air, the destruction is everywhere By David Steele Animal agriculture kills. Massively. It may seem obvious, but most of us have no idea just how murderous it is. In fact, short of thermonuclear war, it is very probably the most destructive activity that…
  • Are your toiletries as ethical and sustainable as you think?

    By Danielle Ferrari-Beach Many of us make conscious and compassionate choices when it comes to what we eat. But how many of us do that same research when it comes to shopping in other parts of our lives? When purchasing toiletries, we need to apply the same vigilance we do…
  • Climate Crisis Demands Urgent Action

    From our diets to the ways we live and get around, our lives must change to meet the existential threat By David Steele Pay attention! Please!!! The hour is late and – unless we act powerfully and quickly – we face catastrophe on a scale humanity has never seen. We…
  • Veganism is Essential to Justice

    Numerous acts of violence and cruelty towards animals occur on a daily basis just to fulfill our clothing, eating, and entertainment desires.
  • Earthsave Canada hosts 2nd Dairy-Free Living event

    Join us for the second annual Dairy-Free Living event, sponsored by Earthsave Canada. Coordinated by The Vegan Project and Fresh + Fit Vancouver, this event will include education by 4 speakers on how and why to explore a dairy-free diet, as well as boast some pretty yummy dairy-free goodies provided…
  • New article sums up many of the big problems with ‘lab meat”

    Without a doubt, thousands of pregnant cows and their fetuses have died so far in developing this 'cruelty-free' meat. And it is not at all clear that the end result will be viable. Read this brand new article for more information: http://gizmodo.com/behind-the-hype-of-lab-grown-meat-1797383294 For more on this, see this piece written…
  • Meat just doesn’t cut it in today’s environment

    By David Steele and Denise Swanson There's little doubt about it. Humans evolved as omnivores. The shapes of our teeth, the lengths of our intestines, and a wealth of fossil evidence (arrowheads, butchered animal bones, et cetera) all point to an omnivorous past. Natural selection favoured meat eating because it…
  • The 2017 Veg Directory is here

    The latest version of the Metro Vancouver Veg Directory is here!  The Summer 2017 printed Veg Directory features over 115 vegan, vegetarian and veg-friendly restaurants, cafes, bakeries and more.  We've also greatly expanded our listings for outside of the Metro Vancouver region. UPDATE - July 9, 2017: now 100% Vegan…
  • Join our volunteer Board of Directors

    Board of Directors August, 2016 Based in Vancouver, BC, Earthsave Canada is a registered charitable organization. Our mission is to advocate for a plant-based diet for environmental sustainability, better health, and compassion toward animals. As a member of the board of directors, you will meet like-minded people, learn more about…
  • We All Matter – A Sermon delivered at the Unitarian Church of Vancouver

    This is a sermon delivered by Earthsave Canada president David Steele at the Unitarian Church of Vancouver, July 31st, 2016. ------------------------------ Six years ago today, on July 31st 2010, one of the closest friends I've ever known died. Her name was Tasty. Tasty the Sky. She was a canine person.…
  • Plant-based Transitions: Green Party Leader Elizabeth May

    There are so many solid reasons to become vegetarian – eating lower on the food chain to solve the spectre of mass starvation (Frances Moore Lappé’s reason in Diet for a Small Planet), health reasons in avoiding animal products (well-explained by my friend and Green Deputy leader Georges Laraque who…
  • The Importance of Being Credible

    These are heady times. Sure, things are not exactly rosy with the world - our environment is degrading at an accelerating rate; global warming is a major threat. But there are incipient signs that we might, just might be on the brink of turning things around. Most promising is the…
  • Meat is a Social Justice Issue

    When people think about what motivates vegetarians and vegans to avoid animal products, they generally think of three possibilities: animal welfare, the environment and personal health. And usually, that’s right. All are compelling reasons to avoid the use of animal products. But there is another powerful reason to eschew meat,…
  • It’s Time to Take Milk off the Menu It’s not a health food, and for animals and the environment it’s simply bad news

    It's not a health food, and for animals and the environment it's simply bad news By David Steele Not long ago, the Journal of the American Medical Association's pediatrics journal, JAMA Pediatrics, published an editorial that might surprise you. The authors, Dr. David Ludwig and Dr. Walter Willett – both…
  • Why you need to show support for Bill C-246

    Guest post by Lesley Fox, E.D. Our friends at Fur-Bearer Defenders are working hard for this very important bill. We share their post here (also available at their site, http://thefurbearers.com/blog/why-you-need-show-support-c-246 ) and encourage you to contact your MP and work as hard as you can to help see this bill…
  • Only Cooperation Can Save Us

    The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) hit us with quite the zingers a couple of years ago. They released two new draft reports. The first, Climate Change 2014: Impacts, Adaptation, and Vulnerability, made a very strong case that unless we change our ways quickly and dramatically, human civilization itself…
  • How Oily Is Your Food?

    Have you ever considered how much oil goes into your food? No, not olive oil or corn oil or even palm oil. Have you ever considered how much crude oil - how much petroleum - we're using to feed ourselves? It's no small matter. According to Cornell University's David Pimentel,…
  • Dairy or Beef? Which is worse?

    It seems obvious enough. If you're concerned about cows, dairy's the way to go. Nobody gets killed, right? The cows spend pleasant lives grazing in the fields, coming in for milking every now and then. Right? Contrast that with the horrors of the slaughterhouse. Unfortunately, things aren't so simple. The…
  • We’ve Outgrown Omnivorism

    By David Steele and Denise Swanson Many question whether humans are ‘naturally’ herbivores or omnivores. The omnivore camp argues that our species evolved to eat both plantsand animals. Many others agree with Mahatma Gandhi that no, humansare natural herbivores. This time, Gandhi was wrong. Humans evolved eating a mix of…
  • The Mystery That Unites Us All

    There's a new article by our Earthsave Canada president out there that you might enjoy. It's at http://www.aquarianonline.com/mystery-unites-us/ As Dave says, "Dogs and cats, cows and pigs, chickens and crows all clearly share the basic experience of life that we do. Fish, too, show clear signs of conscious awareness. Charles…
  • A Sustainable Silver Lining

    by Dave Steele This spring, three major reports came out telling us that if we don't change our ways soon, we're looking at a pretty bleak future. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) (1), the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) (2) and American Association for the Advancement of…
  • WHY SAY NO TO GMOs?

    by David Steele For a lot of very  good reasons, a growing number of people are concerned about genetically modified organisms (GMOs). More aptly termed ‘transgenically-modified organisms,’ these are plants and animals into which genes from very different organisms have been artificially inserted. Most of the corn and soy grown…
  • Diet Change Is Blind Spot For Climate Change

    CAFOs, or Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation.  Over 168 gases are emitted from  CAFO waste, including hazardous chemicals such as ammonia, nitrous oxide and methane. Kyoto revisited at United Nations conference, but food largely ignored by David Steele Global warming is a crisis  that is slowly overtaking us. We can do…
  • How to Pay Less For Healthy Food

    Think that you can’t afford to eat a whole foods plant-based diet? You can’t really afford not to. Is it expensive to eat healthfully? Well . . . that depends. Because of course, if you’re talking about an exclusively organic, entirely whole foods diet, and you’re comparing it to the…
  • Can We End Alzheimer’s?

    Alzheimer’s disease is the fastest growing health threat in the United States, according to a new landmark report from researchers at the University of Washington in Seattle. The numbers are staggering. A 2013 study in the journal Neurology found that the number of people with Alzheimer’s disease will jump from…
  • Community Gardening Primer

    Leo Tolstoy once wrote, “Spring is the time of plans and projects”. Ample evidence of this can be seen by wandering past Vancouver’s many community gardens in the spring! Community gardens provide valuable space for local food production. Vancouver’s climate supports one of the longest growing seasons in Canada, and…
  • Holiday Helper

    Festive dinner turning into fight night? Try these holiday helper tips and have yourself a gracious gathering... You accepted the invitation; you knew there would be animal products on the table. The holidays may not the best time to make your case, but an excellent time for grace. Here are…
  • Could Lab Meat Be The Answer?

     By David Steel, president of Earthsave Canada Meat is terrible stuff. Behind it lies horrible suffering, environmental degradation and even damage to our health. The vast majority of animals raised for meat, eggs and dairy are raised on so-called Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs), a.k.a. “factory farms.” As undercover video…
  • The Problem With Palm Oil

    By David Steele, President of Earthsave Canada Insidiously it creeps, seemingly into most everything we buy. Killer palm oil sneaks into our lives. Vast swaths of rainforest are being razed to produce the stuff and the effects are terrible. Tens of thousands of orangutans are dead because of it. Elephants,…
  • World water Crisis Demands Diet Change

    Growing crops to feed humans, instead of livestock, could help end world hunger Global warming, it seems, is upon us with a vengeance. Most of North America baked in record heat this summer. Arctic sea ice reached its lowest level in recorded history. NASA reports that the year July 2011-July…
  • Your Veggie Dog

    by The Doggess Well over 10 million people in North America consider themselves vegetarian (and  millions more flexitarians). An estimated 1 in 4 veggie households are dog loving ones. That means there are literally millions of peeps wondering if Fluffy or Fido could thrive on lentils too. This is a…
  • Earthsave Canada presents: Dairy-free Living – Thrive Without Dairy

    Yes, you can thrive without dairy! Register for our half-day course on Dairy-free Living and TASTE 30+ dairy-free products: milk, cheese, ice cream, and more! Register for our half-day course on Dairy-free Living and TASTE 30+ dairy-free products: milk, cheese, ice cream, and more! LEARN from two authoritative speakers: - Élise…
  • Vancouver Farmer’s Markets are back! Fall in love with local produce…

    The Farmer’s Markets are back!  Pack your reusable bags, hop on your bike, and head to one of the farmers markets for the very best in local produce. (with thanks to Greenest City for the links) Vancouver Farmers Markets •    Kerrisdale Village – Saturdays from 10am-2pm, June 14-Oct 11 •   …
  • Earth Day & the Meatless Monday Connection 35 Countries, 1 Global Pledge

    Earth Day & the Meatless Monday Connection 35 Countries, One Global Pledge: Go Plant-powered for the Planet Tuesday, April 22, 2014 is Earth Day, an annual event (44 years strong) to honor the sanctity of the little blue planet we call home. If you’re wondering what you can do to…
  • Fundraising Dinner at Graze Wed Mar 19, 2014 – A delicious way to support Earthsave!

    Restaurant on March 19th, and we will donate 20% of all dinner sales to Earthsave Canada All you have to do is make a reservation referencing Earthsave and enjoy a fabulous meal! To make your reservation please call: 604-620-8822 or email info@grazerestaurant.ca Check out the menu here: http://grazerestaurant.ca/ Thank you…
  • Good News! You can SAVE $$$ and support Earthsave Canada too!

    FUNDRAISING DEAL ENDS JAN 31! GET YOURS NOW! VANCOUVER: Remember the Green Zebra Coupon Guide? Now LIFE: Vancouver is available online and saves you $1,000s on great food, outdoor fun and conscious shopping. You pay only $29 (plus shipping) and 50% of your purchase supports Earthsave Canada!  BUY now! https://my.life.is/earthsavecanada/…
  • VEG DIRECTORY 2014 – Is your info up to date? Reply by Jan 20!

    Make sure the FREE listing for your veg-friendly business is updated in time for our 2014 printing. Have your hours changed? New location or web site? New twitter, Facebook, page to list? Special menu items or deals we should know about? Would love to see you folks looking good in…
  • Monday June 10th, 2013 proclaimed as the CITY OF VANCOUVER’s first official Meatless Monday

    Monday June 10th, 2013 proclaimed as the CITY OF VANCOUVER's first official Meatless Monday As you may have heard, the City of Vancouver proclaimed Monday June 10th, 2013 as the city’s first official Meatless Monday. Vancouver is the first Canadian city to do so. A presentation to The Vancouver Food…
  • TAKE THE VEGGIE CHALLENGE!

    TAKE THE VEGGIE CHALLENGE! Sign-up for one week of exciting emails customized to your situation. Tips for shopping and meal preparation, Recipes and meal plans, Recommend books and videos, Where to get protein, iron, B12, etc, Nutrition myths (and a daily quiz). This all new stand alone web site is…
  • The Ghosts In Our Machine – missed the film? take the journey online now

    BACK IN VANCOUVER AUGUST 2013! On May 9th we went to see a new documentary by film maker Liz Marshall called The Ghosts In Our Machine. This is a truly captivating film that allows us to 'look' long enough to see the individuals that haunt our current system. The Vancouver…
  • Earthsave Spring News: New Veg Directory, GMOs, Neal Barnard, Ghosts In Our Machine

    Our Spring 2013 newsletter is ready! And coming to your mailbox very soon (along with a copy of our freshly updated 2013 Veg Directory) ! You can also download a copy of the Spring newsletter here (pdf): ESC-Spring2013-Newsletter.pdf Feature: Why Say No To GMOs? by Dave Steele Recipe - Morning…
  • Earthsave Winter News: Climate Change, Bif Naked, Coconut Bacon, Make a difference in 2013

    Our Winter newsletter is ready! Feature: Climate Change Blind Spot Recipe - Coconut Bacon (!), Lemon Lentils, Smokey Bean Dip, and Movie Night Popcorn Blends! Article - Food Equity Transitions - Bif Naked News - Vegan Prom, 2012 restaurant round up. Coming to your mailbox soon! You can also download…
  • Gluten-free baking tips for the plant-based people

    If GF is your new BFF, our new VP has got some baking tips for you. Considering cutting gluten from your diet but nervous that such a decision would mean the end of delicious baked goodness for you and your loved ones? Right when you mastered plant-based baking (goodbye butter,…
  • Earthsave needs your help!

    A message from our office manager Carolyn V. Mill Our organization has been doing some rather important work for the animals, people and planet. By changing our food habits, we can make an incredibly huge difference. As an individual it is the single biggest impact you can make (short of running…
  • Meatless Meetup at Terra V

    Hi there! It's Nathalie, the new Earthsave intern, just updating you on my adventures in the veggie community. Last Friday, I attended my first Meatless Meetup and met some of you Earthsavers in person. We went to Terra V, a vegetarian burger restaurant in Kitsilano, of course featured in our…
  • Vancity Fresh Air Movie Tour Events

    Moreover, I went to two Vancity Fresh Air Movie Tour Events to spread the word about Earthsave and our new Veg directory in Port Moody and Burnaby. Our humble Earthsave booth. Thanks for stopping by! Many other of Vancity’s partners such as as Fairy Cakes or Biggest Little Garden in…
  • Check-in from the HQ: Nat’s first week

    Hi there Earthsavers! It's Earthsave's new office intern Nathalie checking in from our headquarters.So, a lot has happened since my first daiya. I've been having more delightful lunches with Carolyn, our office manager. Gardein's mandarine orange crispy chick'n on udon noodles with snap peas, sesame seeds and soy sauce for…
  • Nathalie’s first Daiya

    Our new intern from Germany started her first full day at the Earthsave office this week. Not being from North America, she had only heard of our fabled vegan cheese, but was unable to taste until now. Our lunch of rice crackers, castelvetrano olives and celery, was made magical with…