A delicious taste that is all plant-based

BY: ELLEN ROCKSON

Once you understand the phrase health is wealth it kind of sums up the entire reason why you need to prioritize your health.

Inyoto’s Plant-Based Milkshakes is a dairy-free drink company that stands for a natural way of life and reaching the full potential of your core within.

The unique Toronto beverage company adds major nutrients to your body while tasting delicious and mimicking the same texture as a milkshake. One of the key ingredients is sea moss. Sea moss is a type of red algae that can be found on the Atlantic coast. The nutrient-dense sea vegetable contains 92 of the 102 minerals our bodies need. Some of the health benefits include improving metabolism, thyroid function, digestive regularity and boosting immunity. 

Before starting up her business in December of 2017, Inyoto felt the need to make changes in her own life first. She went from a typical diet filled with a lot of animal products such as meat and dairy. She then switched to a cleaner diet, centered around whole foods like fruits and veggies.

“I had to change the way I cooked, experiment a lot in the kitchen, try new foods and along the way I also discovered a lot of foods that exist in this world that the average person just doesn’t know anything about.”

Another natural ingredient used is their homemade walnut milk. Walnuts are a good source of omega 3’s and are rich in antioxidants. They can aid in maintaining a healthy gut and support brain function as well as healthy aging. In-house, it only takes only five minutes to make three bottles of milk. As for sugar, all the sweetness in the milkshake comes from fruit. Inyoto says “you’re getting the real sugar that is meant for you from nature.”  To avoid using preservatives the shakes are made daily during the week, each bottle taking about five minutes to make. Currently, the company works out of local kitchens in the neighbourhood. Inyoto says, “We usually rent a kitchen and make the shakes within that facility.” During the weekdays, Inyoto focuses on promotion, handling pre-orders and making shakes. Saturdays and Sundays are for delivery.  The inspiration behind the beverages was to provide a nutritious alternative to a delicious drink.

“Today, young people are dying or getting sick and a lot of that has to do with diet. The food that we consume is directly linked with how our health.”

The first people to try her shakes were her two sisters.

“They really enjoyed it, they had some really good feedback on it and so I decided that I would make this available to the public to purchase seeing that a lot of people aren’t very health conscious and some people who are, we don’t have a lot of healthy options in stores, so that was in mind when making this product.”

However, she would like more people to have the opportunity to enjoy her product despite their dietary restrictions. 

“We come across a lot of people who are actually allergic to nuts and bananas so that sets some limitations.”

Walnuts and bananas are used in both their strawberry banana and mango pineapple shakes. Currently, Inyoto’s Plant-Based Milkshakes are trying to find ways they can make their beverage without their main ingredients. Other than her milkshakes and organic maca root powder, Inyoto has other product ideas up her sleeve. She believes that children are important targets when it comes to wellness and health because their eating habits are instilled in them.

“I would want to come up with crackers, preferably raw crackers something that is not cooked at a very high degree so it will still keep its benefits and nutrients as much as possible.”

In addition to developing a healthy snack for both children and adults, the 26-year-old business owner is coming up with new flavors. Right now, the number one seller is mango banana pineapple. Inyoto believes her upcoming flavors might knock their top seller out of the park. She shares that “We are working on a chocolate flavor that should come out next year. I’m also looking into making something with papayas as well. Papaya is really good for people who have diabetes.”  The company’s priority lies in the well-being of others not only with their product but in the community too.

“Two times a year we will go around the city and provide free shakes for the homeless. The money to do this actually comes from a percentage of the sales that we make.”

Not only do they provide fresh shakes but during the winter they also give out clothing items such as gloves and scarves to help the homeless stay warm during the cold months. Even after all her accomplishments, Inyoto still remains humble.

“I don’t think too much of it, I feel like it’s what I am supposed to be doing right now, so it doesn’t really feel like I have accomplished too much or accomplished too little, I feel like I’m at the right place at the right time.”

In the future, Inyoto would like to open up her own smoothie, shakes and juicing bar that will leave people instantly energized without the artificial flavors or chemicals. “A space where people can come in and become a community and an environment just full of positive affirmation, full of beautiful visuals and art.”

If you would like to order one of these bomb tasting shakes be sure to make your pre-orders through the website at Inyotoshop.com.