Vancouver Mom to Follow: Gayle McLeod of The Soup Solution
This week’s Vancouver Mom to Follow is soup(er) star, Gayle McLeod! She calls the Dunbar area of Vancouver home where she lives with her husband and two children. An enthusiastic family-feeder, Gayle is the owner and creative force behind her business, The Soup Solution, delivering locally-made, wholesome comfort foods to Greater Vancouver. Experiencing first hand how challenging it is to feed a busy family scratch-made meals, Gayle launched her service in 2014, offering convenient, real food solutions to help take some of the pressure off at mealtimes. The only thing Gayle loves more than food is taking photos of food, so following her on Instagram is a fabulous idea!
Five of Gayle’s favourite places in Vancouver
Pacific Spirit Park
One step into these woods and you’ll forget about your to-do lists and laundry piles while your kids burn off some energy. We stroll these trails year-round, and our favourite trail to bike is Council, exiting the woods close to Westbrook Village. The nearby Menchie’s is an excellent motivator.
Doughgirls Comfort Kitchen and Bakeshop
A somewhat hidden gem of homemade goodness in UBC’s Westbrook Village. We love the cheerful, relaxed vibe and order both savoury and sweet items to share (the sausage pasty is a fav!). Don’t forget to take home a loaf of their fresh-baked raisin bread!
3322 Shrum Lane, Vancouver, (604) 333-5474
Mr Red Cafe, Kits
Lunch dates with my girl are always for pho. Mr. Red has a warm, friendly atmosphere with amusing décor. The food here is incredibly fresh and thoughtfully prepared. Try the green mango salad with prawns or the crab and pork spring rolls – they’re perfect for sharing.
2680 W Broadway, Vancouver (604) 559-6878
Spanish Banks beach
At low tide, this flat beach offers hours of free-range fun for all ages. Skimboarding is a recent obsession for our kids and there’s nothing like a barefoot stroll to soak up some restorative vitamin sea. Tip: the further west you go, the quieter.
4707 Marine Drive NW, Vancouver
Purpose Smoothie Co.
{Photo Credit: Kayla Mann}
Steveston is an ideal spot for a combination of outdoor fun and food – a recurrent theme on our family outings. The first stop on our list is Purpose Smoothie Co. for their breezy, fresh interior and menu of energizing, health-conscious smoothies. The Little Smoothie is perfect for kids.
115-3900 Bayview St, Richmond, (604) 6686
Isn’t it time you followed Gayle & The Soup Solution!
Harriet Fancott is the Editor and Social Media Manager for Vancouver Mom. She has over 20 years experience in the arts, tech and mom-based blogging arenas. She lives in East Vancouver with her husband and son where they enjoy exploring all that Vancouver has to offer from festivals and events to playgrounds and beaches to sushi and ice cream (although not together).