Our Founder
Danielle Arsenault
Pachavega Living Foods Education
Danielle Arsenault, founder of Pachavega Living Foods Education, is a lover of many things. She is a passionate Holistic Plant-Based Wellness Educator & Raw Vegan Chef, outdoor enthusiast, mountain lover, ukulele player and singer-songwriter, fluent Spanish speaker, cookbook author, humanitarian, environmentalist, vegan and mama. It is her dream to educate the world about the healing power of plant-based whole foods and a healthy lifestyle rooted in compassion for the planet. For almost 10 years, she travelled the world and discovered isolated corners of over 25 countries (and counting). The subsequent 8 years, she lived in a van. Minimalist and free. (She eventually upgraded to an RV).
In 2011 a near-death rock climbing accident changed her relationship with the world and life as she knew it. It gave her the realization that we are truly blessed to be alive. We can achieve anything we put our minds to and we have the ability to make our dreams come true. Always with an eye for fresh foods, Danielle has discovered endless combinations and hidden secrets in nutrition – especially in raw, living foods. After the accident, she found herself rapidly healing with no lingering pains whatsoever. She attributes this vitality to the food that she eats and this sparked her passion to share this lifestyle with the world. She knew it was her calling to educate herself in depth about the healing power of whole foods and a healthy lifestyle.
Background
Danielle received a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Drama Education and a post grad degree from the Master of Teaching Program both from the University of Calgary, a Living Foods Lifestyle Education Certification from the Ann Wigmore Institute in Puerto Rico, a Raw Food Educator Certificate from the Raw Foundation Culinary Arts Institute in Vancouver and is also certified as a Colon Hydrotherapist. Her professional career includes a stint as professor at Pacific Rim College in Victoria BC, Canada where she developed and taught several plant-based nutrition courses, a Raw Food Chef and Nutrition Consultant at Aqua Wellness Resort in Nicaragua where she redesigned their menu with a new focus on healthy, gourmet, plant-based meals and the host of her own TV miniseries, Heal and Ignite Across Canada, a travelling culinary adventure show.
While living in South Korea, she collaborated with the lovely Jessica Perlaza by co-creating a vegan, gluten-free cookbook series inspired by seasonal, whole foods. They call themselves the Kitchens of Pinch and Dash and wrote four books together. Danielle has also published her own recipe book, Heal and Ignite; 55 Whole Food, Plant-Based Recipes to Heal your Body and Ignite your Spirit.
Danielle has been featured as a summit speaker along side the brilliant minds of Dr. T. Colin Campbell, Dr. Brian Clement, Dr. Joel Fuhrman and Will Tuttle, PhD. She has also contributed recipes and articles to several popular health blogs and magazines, including youngandraw.com, elephant journal, Edible: Vancouver Island, Calgary Alumni Magazine, as well as being a regular contributor to the popular Canadian fitness and running magazine, Impact magazine. She has also appeared on many podcasts including; Eat Real to Heal Podcast, The Game Changers Mentality Podcast, Dirt in Your Skirt, The Vegan Troubadour Show, Power Plant Body Podcast, Think Plant Based, Vegan Boss Radio, Mindalia TV in English among others. She has also been featured in the books, Legends of Change, A Revolution Powered by Womankind and Pursuit 365, becoming an Amazon Best Selling Co-Author. Her TEDX Talk, “The Power of Plants” has almost 90,000 views.
Grounding Roots
Looking for some grounding roots, Danielle founded Pachavega Living Foods Education in 2013 with a powerful vision—to inspire people to take charge of their happiness and health by embracing mindful eating.
In the pursuit of her mission, Danielle established a remarkable vegan culinary school, offering internationally recognized Raw Food Chef Certification courses. Her expertise and passion have guided over 300 students through the art of plant-based culinary mastery, unleashing a wave of compassionate chefs ready to revolutionize the way we nourish ourselves and the world.
Ever the visionary, Danielle also created the Pachavega Culinary Arts Institute Online, a virtual platform that offers unique plant-based nutrition fundamentals courses and advanced living foods chef certifications. Through this digital haven, her wisdom and knowledge are accessible to anyone seeking to embrace the transformative potential of plant-based living.
Beyond her accolades and achievements, Danielle’s personal journey of resilience is an inseparable part of our mission. Having healed herself from the rock climbing accident and witnessing the miraculous recovery of her daughter from a near-drowning tragedy, she stands as a testament to the healing power of a well-planned plant-based whole foods diet.
With boundless dedication, Danielle now resides full-time in Nicaragua with her beautiful daughter, Indira, where she continues to spread the seeds of health and vitality through her life’s work.
She believes that with every nourishing bite and each inspired culinary creation, we forge a path to a healthier, happier, and empowered existence for all. Let us unite as a global community, awakening to the profound potential within ourselves and the world around us.
It is my calling to find deep inner peace and to cultivate joy from within. Through food as medicine we can awaken to our highest selves.
Danielle Arsenault