About Me

Welcome To The Sweet Dairy Free Foodie Cravings

Hi there, I’m Bonnie aka The Sweet DF Foodie, a Toronto-based food blogger who shares about my fave & the best dairy free bakeshops from my hometown city, Toronto as well as I love discovering new ones in various cities across the GTA, Ontario and more for my love & cravings for sweet dairy free desserts and baked goods as I’m living on a dairy free diet.

My goal is I want to help people who are on a dairy free diet who loves desserts and sweets just as much as I do where to find the best dairy free and vegan bakeshops in Toronto and other cities to satisfy their sweet cravings without dairy. How can anyone resist a sweet & irresistible dessert?? Certainly not me lol!!

My Lactose Intolerance Diagnosis

I was diagnosed with lactose intolerance in the Spring of 2017. I was experiencing digestive issues & severe stomach pains for over a few months and couldn’t figure out why. When I got the results from the doctor after many tests, I was surprised to find out in my mid-30s that I had severe allergy and digestive issues to dairy when all my life I haven’t had an issue with dairy. The doctor explained to me and from research online that apparently you can develop lactose intolerance when you are older.

There was one more issue to deal with besides the lactose intolerance diagnosis is the doctor said my digestive system in my body showed a low fiber intake, which was part of the cause of my abdominal pain I was having. The Doctor suggested eating more high fiber foods or taking a supplement of fiber to help increase the amount of fiber in my diet if I wasn’t getting enough fiber in my foods.

So I started right away to implement my new dairy free and high fiber diet to my new healthy lifestyle. What a difference it was going diary free, I struggle a bit in the beginning but once I researched and discovered which dairy free products was right for me and which ones I liked (taste wise) that works for my body. I didn’t know there was lots of options for dairy free substitutes using from almond, oat, soy & more. I was so excited to discover all these new dairy free products, it was almost like a kid in a candy store. I loved discovering new vegan and dairy free brands that is why I want to share them with people like me.

I discovered being on a dairy free diet was a change I needed for a more healthier lifestyle and I was pain free after taking dairy out of my system. It took me awhile to find the right combination of foods and fiber foods (which I ended up taking a supplement of fiber on a daily basis to help with my fiber intake) that worked for my body, but I’m so glad that I found my new path to a more healthy life.

**Me with one of my first dairy free ice cream from Eva’s Original Chimney**

With my healthier path, I sometimes choose gluten free desserts and baked goods because they have healthy high fiber ingredients like buckwheat, oats, rice, quinoa and more that works with my diet.

I’m not a vegan, but I love incorporating plant-based foods in my new healthy diet now because after finding out that plant-based ingredients are in most of the delicious dairy free desserts and baked goods that I now enjoy. It was natural for me to try some plant-based foods like plant-based burgers, plant-based pepperoni and more that I ended up enjoying these foods as well. I continue to incorporate both plant-based foods and meat products, which is the best of both combinations for my new healthy diet.

I’m so happy & excited the way my life has changed for the better & more healthier since my lactose intolerance diagnosis.

Starting The Blog

I started my original blog way back in 2014 while working as a Real Estate Administrative Assistant to document my fave bakeries that I discovered in Toronto and I always loved to share where I got delicious desserts and baked goods because my family and friends always ask where I find these amazing desserts. Because I always had a passion for food esp desserts even when I was younger capturing photos of foods that I ate as it was inspired by my wonderful mom who loves to cook for my family and also loves taking photos of food too. When my family dined out at restaurants, we always took lots of food photos as well. That is how my initial foodie side of me started.

Because of my diagnosis with being lactose intolerance, it initiated me to find my passion for writing and helping people like me who have a dairy allergy or on a dairy free diet where to find delicious and dairy free desserts and baked goods at Toronto bakeshops or bakeries and in other cities. I wanted to share that being lactose intolerance doesn’t limit your food choices especially for desserts. Back then, there wasn’t as many vegan and dairy free bakeshops compared to today.

**My sister and I at the Food and Drink Festival in 2017**

During those times, the vegan community and plant-based foods were emerging to be a popular trend in Toronto & Canada, which helped me learn more easily and discover new dairy free desserts in Toronto bakeshops and products. As a foodie, it’s always exciting because I loved attending vegan and dairy free food festivals to mingle, meet new people and check out new & exciting plant-based and dairy free foods and desserts along with new dairy free bakeshops to check out to share with you all.

I also joined the Food Bloggers of Canada association to connect with other bloggers and learned more about blogging, marketing and more in order to become a successful blogger as I was still a beginner blogger. I enjoyed learning the aspects of the blogging community through Food Bloggers of Canada. I even attended several conferences that they held in Canada, which I loved travelling to Ottawa and Montreal cities for a few of their conferences.

With my love for travelling, food was always part of the reason why I enjoyed travelling so much. I love looking for delicious and new creative foods and desserts to try and even sometimes trying out new types of foods I normally don’t eat while travelling. I always love to share new desserts that I discovered. Food and travel are the perfect pair together and that’s why I love both. As I always love discovering new cities or my fave cities I been to while at the same time searching for new and delicious, sweet desserts and foods to enjoy.

**Me by the waterfront in one of my fave travel destinations, Kingston, ON.**

A New Beginning & Chapter

While I continue my journey as The Sweet Foodie blogger, I still continue my work in Administration only part time now to balance my work schedule, but more time dedicated to focus on my blog, which is where my passion lies.

Now in 2021, I’m so excited to finally start this brand new chapter as its been a long time coming since 2019 been thinking back then to revamped this blog, but never got done as back then things were so busy and crazy.

So it’s finally here, my new blog & new brand name, The Sweet Dairy Free Foodie Cravings.

I’m ready and excited to continue my sweet dairy free journey with you guys.

Whether you follow a dairy free diet for health reasons or for your personal food preference, all I want is to help you to find delicious and good quality dairy free and vegan desserts whether it’s at Toronto bakeshops or other cities because being dairy free doesn’t mean you can’t still enjoy delicious and sweet yummy and even healthier desserts and baked goods.

**My family – my mom, my 2 younger sisters, my niece and me at our fave end of summer fair – C.N.E. in 2018**

Some Fun Facts:

I have 2 younger sisters and 1 niece
Born and raised in Toronto, ON
I love watching sports especially tennis, baseball and basketball (hard core tennis fan though)
Love going to concerts as I love music
My fave travel destinations include: Las Vegas, Kingston, Niagara Falls, Jamaica, and Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
I love going to beaches as I prefer the ocean even though I’m a city girl
I love discovering waterfalls so beautiful to enjoy
I’m a bubble tea lover as I can’t live without having a bubble tea
I’m also a Starbucks and tea lover (I don’t drink coffee). My fave tea is Earl Grey tea. I drink mostly Starbucks cold ice teas and hot teas.
I don’t eat spicy foods
I also love watching t.v. including lots of food shows on Food Network like Top Chef, Buddy Vs Duff, Spring/Holiday Baking Championship and not on Food Network – Masterchef and Hell’s Kitchen. Yes, Gordon Ramsey is one of my fave chefs. As well I watch quite a few reality t.v shows such as Big Brother, Survivor, Jersey Shore, Million Dollar Listing and more.

Wanna Chat?

Hopefully this helps to get to know me a little bit better.

I love hearing from you and always happy to help if I can.

If you have any questions or know a dairy free or vegan bakeshop or bakery for me to check out or a question about being lactose intolerant or dairy allergy or post ideas, please feel free to message me or send over an e-mail to me.

Please e-mail me at blooi24@hotmail.com.

You can follow me and my foodie and travel adventures along with my latest updates, daily activities and my Foodie baking shows on both Instagram & Twitter,