Toyota became a vegetarian when she was 12 and had to cook her own food.[1] In 2003, she graduated from Durham College with a degree in Music Business Management.[2]
Career
Lauren Toyota and John Diemer, "Hot For Food," 2013
Toyota began her career in Canadian Television, as a host for MTV Canada,[1][2] a former MuchMusic VJ,[1][2] and a co-host of 969.[1][2] In 2014, she gave up her work in television, in order to develop her vegan blog and YouTube channel, Hot for Food.[1] Canada's Impact magazine listed Toyota as one (out of 12) of "Canada's Top Vegan Influencers."[3]
Food & Wine named her 2021 cookbook Hot for Food All Day: Easy Recipes to Level Up Your Vegan Meals, as one of "The 18 Best Vegan Cookbooks for Every Type of Meal" in 2023,[4] and VegNews named her 2018 cookbook, Hot for Food Vegan Comfort Classics: 101 Recipes to Feed Your Face, as one of the "Top 100 Vegan Cookbooks of All Time," in 2024.[5]
Refinery29 included Toyota in their 2018 list of "Canadian Women Killing It".[6] OptiMYz listed her in their list of "Top 100 Health and Fitness Influencers of 2019".[7]
Awards
2019: Gourmand Cookbook Award: Hot for Food Vegan Comfort Classics[8]
2018: VegNews Veggie Award for Best Vegan Cookbook: Hot for Food Vegan Comfort Classics[9]
