This week’s “BC Parent Profile” is with Rebecca Coleman, a Vancouver-Based food blogger, author, teacher, and mother. She loves nothing more than baking for her friends and family. “Baking is my love language,” she jokes. “But more and more of my friends and family are identifying food allergies, or choosing a more plant-based diet.” Her second book, Vegan Baking Made Easy, 60 Foolproof, Plant-Based Recipes, is being published by Rockridge Press August 10, 2021 and is available for pre-order now.
Where is your Hometown: Vancouver. I’m bi-costal, though. I spent a chunk of my teens and twenties living in Newfoundland.
Describe yourself: I’m a nerd. A giant nerd. I love geeking out on technology and the science behind baking and other cooking techniques. This is a trait that was super useful while I was writing my new book, “Vegan Baking Made Easy.”
Describe your family: There are three of us; myself, my teenage son, Michael (also a nerd), who just graduated from high school and is looking at Langara in the fall, and our very weird (but we love her anyway, she fits right in) tuxedo cat. We live in a 900-ish square foot downtown, two-bedroom apartment, and Stanley Park is our backyard.
Current job/career: Instructor in the Marketing department (Social Media) at BCIT. Writer. Recipe developer. Cookbook Author. Content Creator. Social Media Manager.
What’s the most challenging part of being a parent? For me, it’s always been figuring out the balance of when to push him and when to let him be. And trusting in the process. I’m not naturally the most patient person in the world. Though in general, I have to say I consider myself to be so lucky, because he’s such a great kid. I loved every stage with him, but I’m still really new to this whole “parent of an adult” stage and am trying to wrap my head around it.
What do you love the most? My friends. I have the greatest support. I love exploring and learning new things, meeting people, trying new food. But I also love that moment when I come home again.
What is the best advice you ever received as a parent? I remember when I was struggling with potty training, and someone said to me “no kid has ever worn diapers to their high school graduation.” They do things in their own time, you have to trust that they will do it when they are ready.
What is your favourite go-to dinner recipe when you are short on time? Pasta. I always have frozen homemade tomato sauce on hand, in the summer it’s more likely to be pesto and fresh veg. That plus a Caesar salad—we eat it about once a week.
What is your go-to family-friendly BC-based activity? We love to hike! We just recently did the Whistler Train Wreck hike for Michael’s birthday. We also regularly ride our bikes to Second Beach pool in the summer for swims.
If you want to learn about a few other BC Parents – check out their profiles here.