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

Danielle Fried (who we affectionately call “Listener Zero”) has been a friend of ours for almost as long as we’ve been podcasting. She became a vegetarian very close to the same time we did (about 6 years ago) and was one of the first people to reach out to us commenting on the podcast.   Very similar to us, Danielle became decided to give vegetarianism a try after watching Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead and Vedgucated along with a couple of other documentaries. Danielle is a very active member of our Peas and Carrots Society offering friendly advice to fellow members. In this very special episode of our podcast, we talk to Danielle to get to know her a little more and to hear her recent experience with meal kit delivery services  and their plant-based options.

Back in episode 8 of the podcast, we did an episode titled “All About Tofu” where we talked about what it was and gave a few tips for cooking with it. Today’s episode was inspired by our Peas and Carrots member Ron Kaufman-Schmick who stated in the group, “Looking for new ways to marinate tofu please…..annnnnd go!” As usual, our fellow Peas and Carrots members jumped in with some great ideas!  In today’s episode of the podcast, we’re going to share some of their suggestions along with some tips for ensuring that your tofu is the best that it can be!

We’ve made it a goal for 2019 to share more interviews with members of our Vegetarian Zen community. This week we are happy to welcome artist Sherri Lewis to share her wonderful art and insights with us. Sherri is a woodworker who creates amazing pieces using a technique called intarsia (she’ll explain all about it shortly). Her art is inspired by a truly worthy cause...the plight of wild elephants and rhinos, whose numbers are dwindling quickly due to poaching. We talk to Sherri about her love of woodworking, her commitment to protecting these wild animals, and the techniques of creating her pieces (including using reclaimed/upcycled wood!).

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!

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.

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-friendly Valentine’s Day gifts. 

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!

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 this episode of the Vegetarian Zen podcast, we talk to Kimberly Barnes, who is a vegan chef and founder of the site Might Be Vegan.

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.

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 pointing out there which definitely doesn’t help the cause. In this episode of the Vegetarian Zen Podcast, we’re going to talk about heathy and unhealthy behaviors within the plant-based community and discuss why the battle between some vegans, vegetarians, and reducetarians is one where everyone loses including the animals.

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.

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! 

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!

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 founder of Fusionary Formulas and author of Conscious Pregnancy.

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/ vegetarian-friendly or not. Just a note, “vegan or vegetarian friendly” doesn’t mean ‘healthy” but it just means that the food doesn’t contain ingredients that would exclude them from being vegan or vegetarian.

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! 

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 creating a gratitude practice.

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.

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! 

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!