Vegetarian Zen: Nutrition, Recipes, Cooking Tips, Natural Remedies & More For Vegetarians, Vegans, & The Veg-curious.

Whether you’re a guest or hosting a holiday , being a vegetarian, vegan, or reducetarian can be a bit tricky to navigate socially.   In this episode, we give you 5 tips to help you navigate the holiday season as a vegan or vegetarian.

Tis the season for some hot comfort food and the one we’re going to talk about today will NOT disappoint.  Today we’re going to talk about instant pot vegetarian chili.  Now, we’re from Texas so we take are chili VERY seriously!  So be sure to stay tuned as we discuss a great instant pot vegetarian chili recipe!

The perfect sauce can take a dish from bland to simply AMAZING!  Here are 8 awesome vegan sauces that you need to give a try!

Back in episode 275 we did an episode called The Rise of the Vegan Athlete that talked about how many athletes were turning to a plant-based diet. If you listened to that episode, you might recall that I was particularly excited about this because, as a former athlete, I know there are a lot of stereotypes and misinformation about vegans being unable to get the nutrition they need to perform at the top levels of their given sport. Today, we’re going to  review a recent documentary called The Game Changers that talks all about the rise of plant-based diets in sports and helps to dispel some of the previous negative mindset and stereotypes.

Who doesn’t love a good piece of chocolate? I know we do!  In this episode of the Vegetarian Zen podcast, we’re going to talk ALL about chocolate and more specifically, VEGAN chocolate. First, we’re going to talk about  What makes chocolate vegan Whether chocolate is good for you or not Where you can buy vegan chocolate How to make your own vegan chocolate

When we first became vegetarians in 2013, the state of vegan fashion wasn’t nearly what it is now. That was only 6 years ago!  Today, because people are starting to understand that we don’t need to use animals for food and clothing, demand for vegan and cruelty-free products is WAY up!  One of those products is vegan leather. While vegan leather has existed for a while, the types of materials now being used to substitute for leather made from animal skin is expanding greatly!  Today we’re going to talk about vegan leather and share a few places where you can buy it!

Well just like that, we’re already into the November and Thanksgiving is just around the corner.  I’ve mentioned in the past that Larissa and I tend to be “just the sides’ type of gals. This year though, we’re looking for a genuine vegetarian or vegan “main dish” that we can take to our family get together.  Along with some input from our ever-helpful Peas and Carrots Society (Private Facebook group), we’re going to share 8 of our top contenders!

In this episode of the Vegetarian Zen podcast we’re discussing a few (10) of our favorite things, just in time for Christmas!  Not all of the items or services we discuss today are necessarily vegetarian/ vegan related but these are things that have made life a little easier, or a little more fun for us this year. 

Dustin Harder is the host and creator of the original vegan travel culinary series The Vegan Roadie. When not traveling, he works as a personal chef, recipe developer, and culinary instructor. As a graduate of the Natural Gourmet Institute, Dustin has been featured in such publications as Eating Well, VegNews, Vegan Lifestyle Magazine, and Paste Magazine. His second book, Epic Vegan, is the follow-up to The Simply Vegan Cookbook recently making the Forbes list of "Best Vegan Cookbooks".

In this episode of the Vegetarian Zen podcast, we’ll be joining in on the pumpkin fun and talking all about pumpkins!  We’ll be share what pumpkin is, some health benefits of pumpkin, and yes, of course we’ll be sharing some recipes!  

Our guest today is Eric Brent, the founder and director of HappyCow.  HappyCow was founded in 1999 as a public service to assist travelers and people everywhere find plant-based / vegan options and healthy food. It’s vegan-run, from a vegan perspective, and staffed by vegans and vegetarians. Today, their online community has grown to include members from around the world who are passionate about the vegan lifestyle as a healthy, compassionate, and environmentally sustainable way of living.  More than simply a restaurant and health food store guide, HappyCow is an ever-evolving online hub that serves millions worldwide each month.

For years, The Forest Feast blog readers have been transported to Erin Gleeon’s picturesque cabin in the woods through her stunning photography of magic gatherings and vibrant vegetarian cooking. Her latest book, The Forest Feast: Mediterranean will transport readers to France, Portugal, Spain, and Italy via recipes she created that were inspired by her trip to this part of the Mediterranean.

In this episode of the Vegetarian Zen podcast, we interview Samita Sarkar author of Taste Tests, The Science of Simple Healthier Desserts. The book contains over 50 easy-to-follow, completely vegan recipes to help people who are new to dessert preparation get a grasp on the basics. This includes cakes, cupcakes, cookies, and even homemade icing.  Because baking is just as much a science as an art, the book also includes short, digestible scientific tidbits explaining the chemistry of the recipes and the ingredients, and why they react the way that they do.

We LOVE talking to our community whether it be through emails, voice messages, in the Pareon forum, or in the Facebook group, The Peas and Carrots Society. In this episode of the Vegetarian Zen podcast, we asked you to ask us anything and you did so today, we’re answering your questions. 

Fall is just around the corner — the first day of Fall is September 23. This is really our FAVORITE season. It’s time for football and cooler weather, both of which mean it’s time to bake!  In this episode of the Vegetarian Zen podcast, we’re going to talk about baking bread. Specifically, we’ll discuss: -The benefits of making your own bread versus buying -Essential ingredients -Supplies

Have we mentioned it’s hot outside? Here in south Texas we are in the triple digits--just stepping outside for a few minutes can really get the sweat going!   The last thing you want when you’re hot and sweaty (besides a broken AC) is for your deodorant to quit working.  Another thing you don’t want is to choose a deodorant brand that uses animals in testing their products. In this episode of the Vegetarian Zen podcast, we’re going to talk about 8 of the BEST cruelty-free AND vegan deodorants that have been either tried by us OR recommended by our trusted closed Facebook community, the Peas and Carrots Society.

In this episode of  the Vegetarian Zen podcast, we are pleased to speak with Niki Turner-Parker, the co-founder Aloe-Me Holistic Health. Together with her wife and business partner, Allie (Turner-Parker), they formed Aloe-Me with the goal of creating a worldwide platform for connecting people who share the common interests of self-care and holistic health.  Their desire is to empower people through education and experiences, based on the principle, "when you start with healing yourself, then you can heal the world."

In episode 319 of the Vegetarian Zen podcast, we gave you 7 Awesome refrigerator organization tips to help you stop wasting food. In today’s episode, we’re going to share 7 tips for getting your pantry in shape. Why? Because throwing away food hurts! Not only does it waste money but it also hurts the planet as the waste takes up room in landfills.  So let’s get organizing!

In today’s episode of the VZ podcast, we’re going to talk about car restraints for your dog. This was an eye-opening episode for us so even if you don’t have your own dog, chances are you know someone who does so the information we’re going to share today may help you save the life of a beloved pet.

Dr. Brooke Goldner cured herself of Lupus and in this interview, she shares how she did it. Follow her 6 steps for healing to improve your own health!