Hey there, I’m Maia!
Welcome to the Royal City Vegan, where I share the vegan recipes I create and whatever else I think might be of interest to my fellow plant-based pioneers. Traveling to Saskatoon, Saskatchewan and not sure where to eat? I’ve got you covered. Need to make some quick, healthy snacks for a toddler? No problem.
How it started
I’ve always loved to write and I’ve always loved food, but I wasn’t always vegan and I wasn’t all that good of a cook. So how did I start writing vegan recipes you ask? Great question!
It all started with a move from Vancouver, British Columbia, to the nearby suburb, New Westminster, a.k.a. the Royal City. I was experimenting with a plant-based diet watching the documentary, Cowspiracy, and there were plenty of vegan options at restaurants all over Vancouver. But once I relocated to New West, it was a different story.
Without the plethora of vegan food at my fingertips, I started printing (I know, I know, such an old millennial) vegan recipes I found online and trying them out. I quickly realized that not only was vegan cooking easy, tasty, and cheap, it was fun! I also started to feel better. I had the urge to run — and NEVER enjoyed running before.
How it’s going
I was a vegetarian on and off since high school, but I always fell off the wagon because I was travelling somewhere or dating someone and I didn’t want to cause a fuss. Now, I’ve been sticking to a primarily plant based diet and I’ve got my entire household on board thanks to these tasty recipes.
When I became pregnant in early 2020 (yep, we have our very own pandemic baby), I made sure I was getting all the nutrients I needed while sticking to a plant based diet. Truthfully, the thought of eating meat or dairy — especially in the first trimester — made my stomach turn. I craved fresh fruit, veggies and carbs (hello pasta, my old friend). My partner still talks about my cantaloup phase to whomever will listen.
Our baby is now a happy, healthy toddler who loves to eat the same foods as his folks. Tofu, sweet potato, vegan spanakopita, three-ingredient pancakes, pumpkin and sage penne — the list goes on! He also loves being in the kitchen with us, helping with cooking (read: making a mess) and we hope his enthusiasm for food keeps growing along with him.
