Vegetarian Zen

VZ 297: The Konmari Method for Your Home and Life

In this episode of the Vegetarian Zen podcast, we’re going to talk about how Marie Kondo’s method of organization, called the Konmari Method, can help you declutter your home and your life!

VZ 296: What To Do If You Find a Stray Cat or Dog

Several weeks ago, we rescued a stray dog at a park near our neighborhood. It was a stressful experience that thankfully had a happy ending, and it led us to want to have this discussion on the podcast about how to best help strays like the sweet boy we helped. In this episode, we’ll share more about our experience and give you some steps to take should you encounter a stray dog or cat.

VZ 295: 6 Ways to Celebrate a Cruelty-Free & Environmentally Friendly Valentine’s Day

Despite its theme of love, Valentine’s Day can be a high-pressure holiday. What to give your spouse of 30 years “who has everything”? You’ve only been on two dates with someone—do you give them a gift? Should you declare your undying love for your secret crush??  Being a cruelty-free, eco-conscious shopper can make preparing to celebrate this day of love even more stressful. In this episode of the Vegetarian Zen podcast we’ll share some tips and ideas for finding animal- and planet-friendl...

VZ 294: Buddha Bowls - What They Are and Why You Need Them In Your Life

In this episode of the Vegetarian Zen podcast, we talk about Buddha bowls. We're going to discuss what they are, 3 reasons why you need these in your life, how to make one, and some tips for making your bowl the best it can be!

VZ 293: Vegan Pop-Up Tailgate Party with Kimberly Barnes of Might Be Vegan

This episode of the Vegetarian Zen podcast started out as one thing, which was going to be about vegan and vegetarian tailgate party recipes but took a bit of a detour after I shared a news article from VegNews about a Free Vegan Tailgating Party that will be launching for the Super Bowl. Someone, who I didn’t know at the time reached out to me on Twitter adding some more info about this event and it turns out, this person was is actually the organizer and host of the entire party! In th...

VZ 292: 6 Things We’ve Learned in 6 Years of Being Vegetarian

In this episode of the Vegetarian Zen podcast, we’re going to share our top 6 things we’ve learned in 6 years of being vegetarian.

VZ 291: How the Call-Out Culture Is Hurting the Plant-Based Community

This episode of the Vegetarian Zen Podcast might be a bit controversial but we think it’s important to discuss this topic because it seems that our world is the most divided it’s been on so many topics and veganism and vegetarianism are no exception. With a record number of people signing up for Veganuary giving veganism a try, it’s more important than ever that we help positively promote the benefits of a plant-based lifestyle but unfortunately, we’ve seen a lot of shaming and finger poin...

VZ 290: Vegetarian Sandwich Recipes for the PBJ Weary

Last month, Peas and Carrots Member Annie Sargent asked the group to share their favorite vegan sandwich recipe stating that she needed some inspiration. Indeed, sandwiches are one of those types of foods that can get boring very quickly if you’re having the same sandwich over and over again. In this episode of the Vegetarian Zen podcast we’re going to share some Vegetarian Sandwich ideas for the PBJ weary.

VZ 289: 7 Blackstrap Molasses Benefits and Some Recipes!

Blackstrap Molasses is something we first talked about waaay back in episode 33 of the podcast where we talked about reasons to give up dairy and then again in episode VZ 149: The Importance of Iron (and How to Get Enough When You Follow a Plant-Based Diet). Well this episode is 100% dedicated to blackstrap molasses! We’re going to discuss some of the benefits and share a few recipes. Check out the show notes for more info and links! 

VZ 288: 8 Awesome Vegan Baking Tips and Some Yummy Recipes!

Tis the season for baking! Many folks love to bake warm yummy goodies in the colder winter months so we thought this would be a perfect time to share some awesome vegan baking tips provided by our Peas and Carrots closed Facebook Group!

VZ 287: What is Ayurveda? Interview with Ayurvedic Wellness Practitioner Shivani Gupta

In this episode of the podcast, we interview Shivani Gupta. Shivani Gupta, is an Ayurvedic wellness practitioner and serial eco- and social -entrepreneur. Born and raised in Houston, Texas to a loving traditional Indian family, she first learned about healthy eating, organic foods, and effective supplements from her father, who brought ancient Ayurvedic practices into the family’s daily lives. Shivani took this knowledge to the next level obtaining a Ph.D. in Ayurvedic studies. She is the f...

VZ 286: Are Fritos Vegan? (And Other Surprisingly Vegan & Non-Vegan Foods)

Back in Episode 48 of the podcast, we did an episode called “Foods that Seem Vegetarian But Are Not. Episode 48 was recorded back in 2014 so we wanted to take another look at this topic since it sparked a great conversation in our closed Facebook group (Whaddup Peas and Carrots!) about what foods seem like they should be vegan or vegetarian but aren’t. In today’s episode of the podcast, we’re going to play a game I’m going to mention a food and we’ll let you guess whether it’s vegan/ veget...

VZ 285: The Mise En Place Mindset

In the episode of the Vegetarian Zen Podcast, we’re going to take a deeper look at the Mise En Pace mindset and talk about its implications not only for cooking but for your life! 

VZ 284: 7 Amazing Benefits of Gratitude

A few days ago, those of us in the United States celebrated Thanksgiving which is a day of friends, family, and good eats. It’s also a day to pay special thanks to the blessings in our lives. While having a day dedicated to being thankful for all of the good things in our lives is great, living a life of gratitude can provide us with some amazing benefits. In this episode of the Vegetarian Zen podcast, we’re going to share 7 Amazing Benefits of Gratitude and also provide 3 simple tips for ...

VZ 283: Talking Turkey with Gene Baur of Farm Sanctuary

In this episode of the Vegetarian Zen podcast we're joined by Gene Baur, President and Co-Founder of Farm Sanctuary. Gene is a National Best-Selling author and a pioneering animal activist. We talk animal activism, healthy and unhealthy behaviors within the plant-based  community, and about Farm Sanctuary's Adopt-A-Turkey program.

VZ 282: 8 Simple Vegan Turkey Substitutes That Don't Suck

Yes, the holiday season is officially upon us! Being meat-free doesn’t mean that you need to miss out on amazing foods. In fact, there are so many meatless alternatives to the traditional “holiday roast” these days that you might even find your carnivore friends envying what is on your plate! In this episode we share 8 simple vegan turkey substitutes that don't suck! 

VZ 281: 10 Easy, Powerful Food Combining Tips That Actually Boost Your Health

If you lead a healthy plant-based lifestyle, you know that there are a TON of amazing foods with so many different health benefits but did you know that there is a way to make those foods healthier than they already are by pairing them with another awesome food? In this episode of the Vegetarian Zen Podcast we’re going to talk about food combing and share 10 powerful food pairings to help you boost your health!

VZ 280: Health Benefits Chickpeas and Vegan Chickpea Recipes That Aren’t Hummus!

When most people think of chickpeas, they think of hummus which is something many of us are familiar with. They also think of healthy food but do you know what the specific health benefits of chickpeas are?   In this episode of the Vegetarian Zen podcast, we’re going to discuss chickpeas. More specifically, we’ll discuss what they are, what are the health benefits of chickpeas and we’ll also share some chickpea recipes brought to you by our Peas and Carrots Society.

VZ 279: Cage Free vs. Free Range vs Pasture-Raised Eggs : Demystifying Egg Labeling

As we’ve discussed many times on the show, food labeling needs a BIG-TIME redo. Going to the grocery store and trying to decipher labels can become an exercise in frustration since many companies intentionally try to mislead us, the consumer. Egg labeling is no exception. In this episode of the Vegetarian Zen podcast, we’re going to help demystify some of those confusing egg labels. We’ll discuss, cage-free, free-range, and pasture-raised eggs and provide you with some tips for choosing eg...

VZ 278: Holistic Healing Delicious Healing with Dr. Tumi Johnson

Dr. Tumi Johnson is an Integrative Holistic medical doctor.  She is board certified in Internal Medicine and is also a diplomat of the American Board of Integrative Holistic Medicine. 

VZ 277: CBD Oil - What is It? Is it Legal? What are the Benefits and the Risks?

CBD Oil is something I had heard about but hadn’t really done much research into until we discovered our dog, Cosmo, is having some issues with his leg. The issue may require surgery so as with anything, Larissa and I do a lot of research and due diligence before we make any big decisions especially when it comes to the well-being of our furry kids. I wrote a post on Facebook asking my friends and family for veterinarians they would recommend to provide us with a second opinion and a coul...

VZ 276: Fake Meats Are Making Some People Very Angry! Here’s Why

Fake meat, yes it actually makes some people very angry! Why? I was really curious about this after having read some angry comments on a Tweet where someone shared a picture of a vegan brisket. While most of those comments were simply irrational people just looking to argue, I really wanted to know why something as simple as a fake brisket could spark such outrage. In this episode, we’ll share four primary criticisms along with a few speaking points should you ever find yourself in need of e...

VZ 275: The Rise of Vegan Athletes

Recently there seems to be an explosion of the number of vegan athletes who are grabbing headlines by crushing the competition in their respective sports and who cite their vegan plant-based diets as a significant competitive edge. In this episode of our podcast, we’re going to discuss this trend of athletes going vegan, some tips for how they ensure a balanced diet, and we will also provide you with a few resources to get you motivated with respect to eating foods that fuel your body for sp...

VZ 274: 5 Big Take-Aways from the Forks Over Knives Cooking Course

In today’s episode of the Vegetarian Zen Podcast, we’re going to provide you with a high level summary of the Forks Over Knives online course and how it’s broken down (in case you missed episode 265) and I’m also going to discuss my top 5 take-aways from the course.

VZ 273: Vegan Clothing – The Latest and Greatest!

When Larissa and I first became vegetarians 5 years ago, vegan clothing was VERY different than it is today. What we mean by that is that the offerings were very slim and quite honestly, not that attractive.  Back in episode 180 of our podcast (Nov 2016) we published an episode titled, “All about Vegan Fashion”. However over the years, much like the trends we’ve seen in plant-based foods, there is a growing demand for clothing, furniture, and other products that are made without any animal p...

VZ 272: 10 Tips for Better Meal Planning

In this episode of the Vegetarian Zen Podcast, we’re going to share 10 meal planning tips that can help you stay on target with your health and financial goal.

VZ 271: IBS and the Low FODMAP Diet for Vegans and Vegetarians

IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome) can but challenging enough to manage in itself but as a vegan or vegetarian it can be even more challenging. In this episode, we discuss IBS, why IBS can be particularly challenging for vegans and vegetarians, and how an approach called the low FODMAP plan can help you manage IBS.In this episode of the Vegetarian Zen Podcast, we discuss the Low FODMAP Plan for Vegans and Vegetarians with IBS.

VZ 270: Vegan Trader Joe’s

Trader Joe's is a popular store for many folks within our Vegetarian Zen community. Why? Maybe it's because of the great Vegan Trader Joe's offerings! In this episode of the Vegetarian Zen podcast, Larissa and I share our very first legit visit to Trader Joe’s. We say “legit” because we were on a mission to do our weekly shopping exclusively from Trader Joe's armed with a list of Vegan and Vegetarian Trader Joe’s must-try’s from our Peas and Carrots Society. What did we try? Find out in th...

VZ 269: 8 Things You Can Do To Help Animals in Need in Your Community

In today’s episode of the Vegetarian Zen podcast, we’re going to discuss 8 ways that you can help animals in your community.

VZ 268: The Peas and Carrots Society Presents – 5 Favorite Vegan Cookbooks

In this episode of the Vegetarian Zen podcast, The Peas and Carrots Society present, 5 of their Favorite Veg Cookbooks!

VZ 267: 9 Ways to Combat Stress and Anxiety Naturally

VZ 266: Rise of the Non Dairy Milk Industry and What You Can Do to Keep it Going!

Back in episode 78 we did our first episode on plant milks titled “The Delicious World of Plant Milks” and in a recent episode 253, we talked specifically about peanut milk. In today’s episode, we are going to discuss the plant based milk industry overall and where it seems to be headed. Hint: We think you are going to like where it’s headed! As an added bonus, we’re going to give you 5 tips to help contribute to this growing trend of reducing dairy in your diet.

VZ 265: Forks Over Knives Course – How is Vickie Doing?

In early June, I started a Forks Over Knives Cooking Course in an effort to get more creative and knowledgeable in the kitchen. Not having enough variety in our meals has caused Larissa and I to drift back into some old bad habits like relying on a lot of processed foods and even fast food. I wanted to take charge of finding ways to come up with different meals while learning and enjoying the process.

VZ 264: Eating Vegan at the Ballpark

  Many Americans enjoy this time of year because it means BASEBALL. While we don’t follow a team, we do love getting outside and enjoying the activity of being at a ballpark with people, watching sports, and eating some good food. Before we became vegetarians, we ate burgers, hot dogs, corn dogs, and things of […] The post VZ 264: Eating Vegan at the Ballpark appeared first on Vegetarian Zen.

VZ 263: Tips for Affordable Plant Based Eating

  When we hit a financial rough patch it’s easy to cut back on non-essential expenses like extra cable channels or dining out. But sometimes that’s not enough and budgeting enough for basic food expenses can become a challenge. In this episode of the Vegetarian Zen podcast we’ll share some tips for affordable plant based […] The post VZ 263: Tips for Affordable Plant Based Eating appeared first on Vegetarian Zen.

VZ 262: Essential Oils 101

  We have recently started including aromatherapy using essential oils as part of our monthly massages and we both love it. In this episode of the Vegetarian Podcast, we discuss the basics of essential oils–what they as well as some benefits and risks associated with their use.   Thanks for tuning in to this episode […] The post VZ 262: Essential Oils 101 appeared first on Vegetarian Zen.

VZ 261: Are You Really Hungry…Or Just Bored?

  In this episode of the Vegetarian Zen podcast, we springboard off of a post in our closed Facebook group, The Peas and Carrots Society, about how to know if you’re eating because you’re hungry, or if you’re just bored. We share some information about how to distinguish actual physical hunger from the desire to […] The post VZ 261: Are You Really Hungry…Or Just Bored? appeared first on Vegetarian Zen.

VZ 260: Cruelty-Free Pet Products

  In this episode of the Vegetarian Zen podcast, we’ll be shedding (get it, shedding??!) some light on cruelty-free pet products, including food, treats, grooming products, and flea medicines.   Thanks for tuning in to this episode of the Vegetarian Zen Podcast! If you find value in our podcast and listen on iTunes, please consider […] The post VZ 260: Cruelty-Free Pet Products appeared first on Vegetarian Zen.

VZ 259: Air Frying – Is It Awesome or Just a Bunch of Hot Air?

  In this episode of the Vegetarian Zen podcast, we investigate air frying. Wait…what? How can you fry something without a ton of oil? And even if you can, how many vegetarian things can you actually fry? You’re about to find out! Thanks for tuning in to this episode of the Vegetarian Zen Podcast! If […] The post VZ 259: Air Frying – Is It Awesome or Just a Bunch of Hot Air? appeared first on Vegetarian Zen.

VZ 258: Let’s Wok and Roll (Cooking with a Wok)

  In this episode of the Vegetarian Zen podcast we’re all set to wok and roll! (see what we did there?) We’ll be discussing all things wok cooking, including the types of woks, necessary tools, what you can do in a wok besides stir frying, and best practices for making great food in a wok. […] The post VZ 258: Let’s Wok and Roll (Cooking with a Wok) appeared first on Vegetarian Zen.

VZ 257: Dr. Greger’s Daily Dozen Challenge

In early May, Larissa and I challenged the members of our closed Facebook Group, The Peas and Carrots Society to Dr. Michael Greger’s Daily Dozen Challenge. You might remember that Dr. Michael Greger is the founder of Nutritionfacts.org, which is a website we dedicated an entire episode of our podcast to because we thought it was […] The post VZ 257: Dr. Greger’s Daily Dozen Challenge appeared first on Vegetarian Zen.

VZ 256: Deodorant – The Good, the Bad, and the Homemade

  In this episode of the Vegetarian Zen podcast, we’ll share some helpful information about commercial versus homemade deodorants (and how to make your own). Thanks for tuning in to this episode of the Vegetarian Zen Podcast! If you find value in our podcast and listen on iTunes, please consider leaving us a rating and […] The post VZ 256: Deodorant – The Good, the Bad, and the Homemade appeared first on Vegetarian Zen.

VZ 255: Animal Abuse Legislation in the U.S.

  While our core mission here at VZ is to promote the positive aspects of living a healthier plant-based lifestyle, we also want to ensure we are passing along to you any opportunities you have, as a citizen of your country, to have your voice heard on behalf of animals. In this episode of the […] The post VZ 255: Animal Abuse Legislation in the U.S. appeared first on Vegetarian Zen.

VZ 254: Some Facts About Foodborne Illness

  Widespread outbreaks of illness resulting from contaminated produce have been in the news a lot recently. In this episode of the Vegetarian Zen podcast, we’ll present some facts about foodborne illness, including how it happens and how you can lower your risk of getting sick.   Thanks for tuning in to this episode of […] The post VZ 254: Some Facts About Foodborne Illness appeared first on Vegetarian Zen.

VZ 253: Peanut Milk

  In this episode of the Vegetarian Zen podcast we’ll be talking about a new nut milk that’s poised to become a staple in plant-based households…PEANUT MILK!   Thanks for tuning in to this episode of the Vegetarian Zen Podcast! If you find value in our podcast and listen on iTunes, please consider leaving us […] The post VZ 253: Peanut Milk appeared first on Vegetarian Zen.

VZ 252: 5 Years Later — Revisiting the Mission of Vegetarian Zen

  In this episode of the Vegetarian Zen podcast, we revisit the mission of Vegetarian Zen. We’ve been podcasting now for 5 years on a weekly basis and we have learned a LOT through our own research and through our community members and listeners. Since we just rounded episode 250, and have seen our community […] The post VZ 252: 5 Years Later — Revisiting the Mission of Vegetarian Zen appeared first on Vegetarian Zen.

VZ 251: What’s the Deal with Palm Oil?

  In this episode of the Vegetarian Zen podcast, we discuss palm oil–what it is, how palm oil production is harming our planet, and some ways you can help mitigate that damage.   Thanks for tuning in to this episode of the Vegetarian Zen Podcast! If you find value in our podcast and listen on iTunes, please […] The post VZ 251: What’s the Deal with Palm Oil? appeared first on Vegetarian Zen.

VZ 250: Rice! (Types, Health Benefits, & More)

  This episode of the Vegetarian Zen podcast is all about rice. We discuss some of the most common types of rice (white, brown, red, and black), the health benefits of eating rice, and also some of the warnings about eating rice (especially regarding its arsenic content). We also share some tips for reducing the […] The post VZ 250: Rice! (Types, Health Benefits, & More) appeared first on Vegetarian Zen.

VZ 249: Healing Properties of Herbs

In this episode of the Vegetarian Zen podcast, we’ll be sharing some information about the healing properties of herbs. Thanks for tuning in to this episode of the Vegetarian Zen Podcast! If you find value in our podcast and listen on iTunes, please consider leaving us a rating and review. Please note that some of […] The post VZ 249: Healing Properties of Herbs appeared first on Vegetarian Zen.

VZ 248: Tips for Oil-Free Cooking

  In this episode of the Vegetarian Zen podcast, we provide some tips for oil-free cooking. What this episode is NOT: because we are not trained in nutrition or in the medical industry, our goal is not to convince you to either use oil in your cooking or not use it. This is something you […] The post VZ 248: Tips for Oil-Free Cooking appeared first on Vegetarian Zen.