Shows
Vegetarian ZenVZ 474: The Mixed Veggies Episode For June 2025In this episode of The Vegetarian Zen podcast, Larissa and Vickie share some updates to include personal projects as well as business happenings. You can check out the show notes here.2025-06-0835 minVegetarian ZenVZ 465: 10 Easy Ways to Embrace a Plant-Forward LifestyleLearn 10 easy ways to embrace a plant-forward lifestyle with tips to reduce meat, enjoy plant-based meals, and create healthier, sustainable habits. Check out the full show notes here. 2025-02-0229 minVegetarian ZenVZ 464: From Savory to Sweet: Easy Vegan Popcorn Seasoning IdeasDiscover the ultimate vegan popcorn seasoning ideas for your next movie night! From cheesy flavors to spicy kicks, make every bite unforgettable. Check out the full show notes here. 2025-01-1929 minVegetarian ZenVZ 463: 7 Tips for a Successful Veganuary and Beyond!Have you been thinking about trying out a vegan diet but not sure if you’re ready? Every January, the annual month-long challenge known as “Veganuary” is a great opportunity to explore a plant-based lifestyle. Whether you’re curious about a vegan diet, inspired by compassion for animals, or motivated by health benefits, Veganuary is for you. It’s encouraged millions of people to rethink their food choices and embrace plant-based alternatives for a healthier planet and a kinder way of living. Ready to give it a try? Here are seven practical tips to help you make the most o...2025-01-0523 minVegetarian ZenVZ 462: 10 Yummy Vegan Christmas Cookies Your Family Will Love!The holiday season is here, and you know what that means—it's time for delicious sweet treats like vegan Christmas cookies! Who doesn't love cozying up with a cup of hot cocoa and a plate of delicious cookies while watching a favorite holiday movie (National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation for me!)? Vegan Christmas cookies are the perfect way to spread holiday cheer with family and friends. In this episode, we'll share 10 yummy vegan Christmas cookie recipes plus some tips to help ensure your cookies come out perfect every time. You can check out the ful...2024-12-1532 minVegetarian ZenVZ 461: 10 Vegan Holiday Appetizers That Will Wow Your GuestsWow your guests with these vegan holiday appetizers! From creamy dips to crispy bites, these easy, delicious recipes will make your party unforgettable. Check out the show notes for a full list of tips for hosting plus all of the recipes. 2024-12-0127 minVegetarian ZenVZ 460: Talking Turkeys and Vegan Gifts!In this episode of The Vegetarian Zen podcast, we discuss 5 places you can adopt a turkey plus 25 awesome vegan gifts everyone will love! You can check out links to everything we discuss in the show notes. 2024-11-1730 minVegetarian ZenVZ 459: 22 Meatless Monday Dinner Ideas Your Family Will LOVE!If you’re not quite ready to go vegetarian or vegan, how about a Meatless Monday? These 22 family-friendly are a perfect way to ease into meatless meals. You can check out the show note with links to all of the recipes here. 2024-08-1134 minVegetarian ZenVZ 458: The Ultimate Guide to the Vegetarian Mediterranean DietThe Vegetarian Mediterranean Diet combines plant-based eating with Mediterranean flavors. Discover the health benefits, foods to eat, and delicious recipes! Check out the full show notes here. 2024-07-2830 minVegetarian ZenVZ 457: The Best Clean Beauty Brands You Need to Know AboutIf you're listening to this, I'd bet money that you're someone who pays attention to what goes on your body as much as you pay attention to what goes in it. Harmful chemicals you might be putting on your body worry you just as much as harmful additives in your food. Because people are starting to understand the harm that harsh chemicals have on their bodies and the planet, they’re turning to clean beauty brands that prioritize natural ingredients and avoid harmful chemicals. These brands offer a safer, healthier approach to beauty, making it eas...2024-07-1427 minVegetarian ZenVZ 456: International Plastic Bag Free Day: How You Can Make a DifferenceJuly 3rd is International Plastic Bag Free Day (yep…there really is a day for everything!). The goal of International Plastic Bag Free Day is to eliminate the use of single-use plastic bags by encouraging individuals, communities, and governments to rethink their reliance on plastic bags and adopt more eco-friendly alternatives. In this episode of the Vegetarian Zen podcast, we’ll share: the history of plastic bag free day some impacts that plastic bags have on animals, the environment, and humans 7 ways you can celebrate International Plastic Bag Free Day You...2024-06-3024 minVegetarian ZenVZ 455: Meet 8 of the Best Animal Dads In The WildDiscover the best animal dads in nature and their unique parenting skills in this detailed exploration of top animal fathers. Check out the show notes for more about these amazing dads! 2024-06-1633 minVegetarian ZenVZ 454: Happy Pride! 15 LGBTQIA2S+ Vegans, Vegetarians, and AlliesIn this episode, in honor of Pride Month, we'll highlight 15 LGBTQ+ celebrities and famous people who have chosen vegan or vegetarian lifestyles. These folks are using their fame to advocate for compassion, health, and the planet, showing that even small choices can lead to big impacts. You can check out our full show notes here. 2024-06-0238 minVegetarian ZenVZ 453: The Best Vegan Hot Dogs For Summer GrillingIn this episode of the podcast, we’re talking about some of the best veggie hot dogs on the market today with a little help from our closed Facebook group the Peas and Carrots who voted on theirs. Check out the full show notes here.2024-05-1933 minVegetarian ZenVZ 452: Nature's Nurturers: A Tribute To Awesome Animal Moms!Discover the remarkable world of animal moms and their nurturing ways. Explore the depths of maternal instincts across wildlife species. Check out the full show notes here. 2024-05-0529 minVegetarian ZenVZ 451: Fuel Your Life At Fruitive: A Chat With Gregg RozeboomIn this episode of Vegetarian Zen, we’re pleased to welcome Gregg Rozeboom, owner of Fruitive, a 100% organic, vegan, and sustainable restaurant located in Virginia Beach and in Washington DC. We’re going to talk to Gregg about his inspiration for opening a 100% plant-based restaurant and about some of the yummy offerings on his menu. You can check out our full show notes with links to everything we discuss here. 2024-04-2138 minVegetarian ZenVZ 450: 10 Energizing High Protein Vegan Breakfast Recipes You'll LoveIn recent years, there’s been this huge protein push with a lot of companies trying to convince us that we’re protein deficient, especially if you’re plant-based or plant-based leaning. While a lot of this is media hype, there is some truth to the importance of making sure you have enough protein in your diet. In this episode of the Vegetarian Zen podcast, we’re sharing some High Protein Breakfast Ideas to help you start your day with a protein-packed meal with zero animal products. We’re going to discuss some of the benefits of m...2024-04-0734 minVegetarian ZenVZ 449: 10 Ways You Can Celebrate National Garden MonthApril is National Garden Month, a perfect time to embrace the warmer weather, get your hands dirty, and indulge in the many joys and benefits of gardening. Larissa and I have experimented with vegetable gardening over the years. We’ve had some very knowledgeable gardeners on the show in the past, including our friends Augie Sanchez (The Unkempt Gardener) and Megan Cain (The Creative Vegetable Gardener). These days, however, we’re sticking to flower gardens as they are easier for us to keep up with. Whether you're cultivating a lush flower garden, starting a vegetable garden...2024-03-2429 minVegetarian ZenVZ 448: Why I Stopped Being An Angry Vegan With Kate GalliIn this episode of the Vegetarian Zen podcast, we’re pleased to welcome Kate Galli, a visionary vegan health coach who's been at the forefront of the fitness industry for over a decade. What really interested me about Kate’s story is that she focuses a lot of what she teaches on mindset, which I feel is critical to accomplishing anything…including making changes to your health. Whether you're a vegetarian ready to go vegan, a vegan who just needs a bit more motivation, or an omnivore looking to start eating less meat, mindset is key to making...2024-03-1036 minVegetarian ZenVZ 447: We Love Casseroles! 10 Tasty Vegetarian CasserolesIn this episode of the Vegetarian Zen podcast, Larissa and I will be talking about vegetarian casseroles. The reason we want to talk about casseroles is that, much like a lot of topics we discuss on the podcast, they are a big interest to us primarily because of how much time we’ve been saving by making casseroles to have throughout the week. Meal planning and meal prep can be a big challenge for a lot of people so, much like our beloved Buddha Bowls, casseroles have come to our rescue when it comes to quick meals th...2024-02-2544 minVegetarian ZenVZ 446: 2024 Food and Beverage Trends That Sound Awesome!In this episode of the Vegetarian Zen podcast, we’re going to be discussing some food and beverage trends expected this year. Neither Larissa nor I consider ourselves “trendy” but when it comes to all things veg, it’s neat to see how much people are adapting even more flexitarian lifestyles whether it be because of their own health, the animals, the environment, or a combination of these. Check out this page for full show notes. 2024-02-1124 minVegetarian ZenVZ 445: The One About UsThis episode of the Vegetarian Zen podcast is all about us! One of our longtime listeners requested that we do a show letting eveyrone know what we're up to so here we are! You can get links to everything we discuss in the show notes. 2024-01-2840 minVegetarian ZenVZ 444: Ed and Natasha Tatton of BReD - Organic Sourdough and Baked GoodsIn this episode of the Vegetarian Zen podcast we’re pleased to welcome Ed and Natasha Tatton, co-founders of BReD–Organic Sourdough, a 100% plant-based café and bakery in Whistler, British Columbia. We talk to Ed and Natasha about vegan baking and their new book, BReD: Sourdough Loaves, Small Breads, and Other Plant-Base Baking, a complete plant-based book for bakers that goes beyond just making bread. With their cookbook, bakers of all skill levels can create gorgeous vegan baked goods from cakes, muffins, and scones to biscuits, cookies, and tarts. You can learn more about Ed and Nat...2023-11-1240 minVegetarian ZenVZ 443: What's New in Plant-Based News October 2023In this episode of The Vegetarian Podcast, Larissa and I talk about 3 recent news articles that caught our attention. Things are moving so fast in the plant-based space that we like to discuss topics here. You can check out the full show notes and links to the articles here. 2023-10-2924 minVegetarian ZenVZ 442: What Is World Vegetarian Day? 8 Ways to Celebrate VegetarianismWe’re in October (already…can you believe it?!) and smack dab in the middle of Vegetarian Awareness Month. In this episode, we discuss 8 ways you can celebrate vegetarianism this month. You can check out the show notes here. 2023-10-1523 minVegetarian ZenVZ 441: 15 Delicious Vegan Fall Desserts You Need to Try!In this episode of the Vegetarian Zen podcast, we share 15 vegan fall desserts. We'll also share a quick vegan baking primer to help you swap ingredients in your own favorite dessert recipes to make them vegan. Check out the full show notes with links to all the recipes here. 2023-10-0130 minVegetarian ZenVZ 440: Protein Power! 5 High Protein Milk Alternatives We LoveIn this episode of the Vegetarian Zen Podcast, we're revisiting the topic of high protein milk alternatives. The state of the plant-based milk industry is certainly booming so we're sharing the latest plus 5 of our own recommendations. 2023-09-1728 minVegetarian ZenVZ 439: 10 Vegetarian Lunch Ideas We’re Trying This Month!In the quest to find healthy, satisfying, and delicious meals, vegetarian lunch ideas often top the list. Forget boring salads; we're talking about hearty salads, grain bowls, and so much more. This month, we've curated a list of 10 vegetarian lunch ideas we can't wait to try. These recipes are packed with simple ingredients that provide a complete meal, boasting both rich, savory flavor and vital nutrients.2023-09-0332 minVegetarian ZenVZ 438: What's New In Plant-Based News: August 2023In this episode of The Vegetarian Zen podcast, Larissa and Vickie discuss 3 recent news articles and share their opinions and perspectives. You can get links to the articles plus full show notes here. 2023-08-2029 minVegetarian ZenVZ 437: Reimagining Leather With Stephanie Downs Of Uncaged InnovationsIn this episode of The Vegetarian Zen podcast, we’re chatting with Stephanie Downs, CEO and Co-Founder of Uncaged Innovations, a company that creates material that mimics leather without sacrificing the characteristics that make it a desired material for the fashion, automotive, and home goods industries. We chat with Stephanie about her journey to veganism and her inspiration for creating Uncaged Innovations. You can check out the full show notes here. 2023-08-0642 minVegetarian ZenVZ 436: Plant-Based Cooking Made Easy With Diane Rose-SolomonToday, Larissa and I are thrilled to have Diane Rose-Solomon on the show. Diane's an animal rescue advocate, award-winning author, filmmaker, and the creator of "What's Plant-Based Cooking Good Looking?". A certified Humane Education Specialist, Diane has transformed her life and others through her dedication to animal welfare and plant-based cooking. We’ll talk to her about her journey of companion animal rescue and the power of plant-based cuisine. Check out the full show notes here. 2023-07-2342 minVegetarian ZenVZ 435: Embracing the Reducetarian Lifestyle: Brian Kateman's Vision of a Healthier PlanetIn this episode of the Vegetarian Zen podcast, we’re pleased to welcome Brian Kateman. Brian is the President and co-founder of The Reducetarian Foundation. He coined the term reducetarian, which we’ve often used on this show. A reducetarian is a person who is deliberately reducing their consumption of meat but not necessarily going all-in on a plant-based diet. We recently watched a documentary he produced based on his book Meat Me Halfway which explores reducetarianism through the lens of his own personal decision to eat less meat. Meat Me Halfway (2021) is a groundbreaking invest...2023-07-0937 minVegetarian ZenMycoprotein: What Is It and Why Your Body and Planet Will LOVE It!Over the weekend I read an article in the Vegconomist on the topic of mycoprotein. “What is mycoprotein?”, you might be asking. Mycoprotein is a plant-based protein made from a fungus, and it’s something you may want to pay attention to whether you’re vegan, vegetarian, or are just looking to have less meat on your plate. We're going to discuss how this meat alternative is shaking up the food industry by introducing a whole new dimension to the vegan diet. You can check out the full show notes here. 2023-06-1819 minVegetarian ZenVZ 433: The Ultimate Guide To Potluck Etiquette: How To Make Sure EVERYONE Has A Good Time!Potluck etiquette is like the secret sauce that turns a good food fest into a great one. Picture this: your friends, family, and neighbors getting together for a massive feast, each showcasing their kitchen prowess and favorite recipes. Sounds pretty amazing, right? It’s a cost-effective way to have a good time and indulge in an array of delicious home-cooked meals. But as with any successful gathering, a few unspoken guidelines help keep potluck parties running smoothly. When the guest list includes vegetarians, vegans, and those with food allergies, these potluck rules of thumb become al...2023-06-0429 minVegetarian ZenVZ 432: Is Being Vegetarian Healthy? Our Journey And What We've Discovered So Far2023 marks 10 years since Larissa and I made the decision to become vegetarians and we’ve learned a lot along the way. One question we hear every now and then from people not familiar with plant-based diets is, “Is being vegetarian (or vegan) even healthy?” Well, we thought the 10-year anniversary of when we made the decision to go veg would be a great time to discuss this and to look back on all we’ve learned so far. Check out the full show notes here with links to everything we discuss. 2023-05-2131 minVegetarian ZenVZ 431: Vegan Charcuterie Boards: Enchant Your Guests with These Plant-Based MasterpiecesDiscover the world of vegan charcuterie boards! Explore creative ideas to craft stunning, mouthwatering plant-based spreads for any occasion. You can check out the show notes for this episode here. 2023-05-0730 minVegetarian ZenVZ 430: Is Yeast Vegan? Let's Have Some Fungi Fun!If you've ever wondered, "Is yeast vegan?" this one's for you! We'll answer the question and provide some yeast health benefits plus recipes! You can check out the full show notes here. 2023-04-2320 minVegetarian ZenVZ 429: Tostada-rific! 10 Vegan Tostada Recipe Ideas for Busy WeeknightsIn this episode of the Vegetarian Zen Podcast, we’re going to share 10 vegan tostada ideas for busy weeknights. Larissa and I appreciate quick easy meals as I’m sure a lot of you do as well. Tostadas are a meal we have in our rotation but they can sometimes get a little boring so we’re going to share some ideas we’ll be trying soon. You can check out the show notes here. 2023-04-0233 minVegetarian ZenVZ 428: Toni Okamoto Shares How to Be Plant-Based on a BudgetIn this episode of the Vegetarian Zen podcast, we welcome Toni Okamoto who is the founder of Plant-Based on a Budget, the popular website and social media platform that teaches millions how to eat more plants without breaking their budget. She’s also the author of the book Plant-Based on a Budget Quick & Easy cookbook, and the co-host of The Plant-Powered People Podcast. We talk to Toni about her own plant-based journey and she'll also share some tips for being plant-based on a budget. Be sure to check out the full show notes here. 2023-03-1945 minVegetarian ZenVZ 427: Satisfy Your Sweet Tooth With These Vegan Girl Scout CookiesIt’s that time of year again! The Girl Scouts of America will be out in full force, green sashes and all, peddling their delicious boxes of cookies. But if you’re vegan, are you able to partake of this yearly deliciousness? The short answer is YES. There are some delicious vegan Girl Scout Cookies to choose from! Let’s go over your vegan cookie options. You can check out our full show notes here. 2023-03-0516 minVegetarian ZenVZ 426: 7 Tips for a Successful Veganuary and Beyond!In this episode we share 7 tips to help you succeed through Veganuary and beyond! 2023-01-2920 minVegetarian ZenVZ 425: 10 Years of Vegetarian Zen!In this episode of the Vegetarian Zen podcast, we celebrate 10 years of the podcast by reminiscing about some of our favorite guests. You can check out our full show notes here. 2023-01-1521 minVegetarian ZenVZ 424: Vegetarian Zen Presents Your 2022 Vegan Gift GuideLooking for some great gift ideas for your favorite vegetarian or vegan? Check out our 2022 vegan gift guide for some of our faves! You can find a link to all of the products we mention in the show notes. 2022-11-2732 minVegetarian ZenVZ 423: Vegan Thanksgiving To Go? Yup! 5 Places You Can Get it Now!In this episode of the Vegetarian Zen podcast, we’re talking about something that is relatively new — vegan Thanksgiving to go! If you're not in the mood to cook your turkey-free feast this year, don't fret! Several meal delivery services now offer holiday menus that you can have delivered to your door (or available for pick-up). You can check out links to everything we talk about here. 2022-11-1317 minVegetarian ZenVZ 422: New in Plant-Based News (Oct 2022)Larissa and Vickie discuss some hot topics in plant-based news. Check out the articles and show notes here. 2022-10-3027 minVegetarian ZenVZ 421: 20 Vegan Halloween Candy Favorites Your Trick or Treaters will LOVEWe're keeping the spooky season theme going from our last episode and sharing 20 awesome vegan Halloween Candy treats! These are store-bought candies that are pretty easy to find. So pop in a scary movie and get your sweet tooth ready for some of these awesome vegan Halloween candy options! You can check out the show notes here. 2022-10-1627 minVegetarian ZenVZ 420: Trick or Treat! 12 Fun Vegan Halloween Recipes To TryWhether you’re heading to a Halloween get-together or just want to enjoy some fun foods at home, these 12 Vegan Halloween treats will add some delicious fun to the season! Check out the full show notes here. 2022-10-0223 minVegetarian ZenVZ 419: Is Tofu Vegan? Benefits Plus 5 Awesome Recipes To TryThis episode of The Vegetarian Zen podcast is about Tofu. We talked about tofu a loooong time ago. Since then, we’ve learned a TON about cooking with tofu so we wanted to recap some of the benefits of cooking with tofu and also share 5 of our favorite recipes. Be sure to check out the show notes where we share more about how to press and marinate tofu. 2022-09-1822 minVegetarian ZenVZ 418: Say Pleese Cheese! Chatting with Kobi Regev of Pleese FoodsIn This episode of the Vegetarian Zen podcast, we welcome Kobi Regev, CEO and Co-Founder of Pleese Foods, a company specializing in plant-based cheese made from a proprietary blend of bean and potato proteins. We talk to Kobi about his own plant-based journey and about his inspiration for creating Pleese Cheese. Check out the links for everything we discussed here. 2022-09-0437 minVegetarian ZenVZ 417: These Amazing Vegan Fashion Brands Are Shaking Up The Fashion IndustryWhen it comes to vegan clothing and cruelty-free beauty products, the fashion industry is taking notice. How do we know this? Because the competition is ramping up when it comes to vegan products. When we started the Vegetarian Zen podcast in 2013, there wasn't a ton of brands or products to talk about in the vegan lifestyle space. Sure, there were some but when you compare it to the offerings these days, it doesn't even compare. Even for those not living a vegan lifestyle, there is a lot more concern about the environmental impact our daily c...2022-08-2138 minVegetarian ZenVZ 416: Actor Torrey DeVitto On Conscious Consumerism and Cruelty-Free FashionIn this episode of The Vegetarian Zen podcast, we welcome Torrey DeVitto. Torrey is an actor and musician who has recently wrapped up 6 seasons on Chicago Med. In addition to being an actor, Torrey is a passionate animal advocate. We’re going to talk to her about her own plant-based journey and how she incorporates eco-conscious sustainability into her life. You can check out some of the cruelty-free products and vegan fashion Torrey mentions in the show notes. 2022-08-0745 minVegetarian ZenVZ 415: Body On Fire with Dr. Monica AggarwalIn this episode of the Vegetarian Zen podcast, we’re pleased to welcome Dr. Monica Aggarwal, MD, co-author of the book, Body on Fire Anti-Inflammatory Cookbook: Your Guide to eating Plant Foods that Fight Disease We’ll speak to Dr. Aggarwal about how improving your diet is one of the most important things you can do to reduce inflammation and improve your health. You can find the show notes here.2022-07-2437 minVegetarian ZenVZ 414: 8 Simple Tips for Eating Plant-Based on a BudgetA common misconception about eating a plant-based diet (besides a lack of protein) is that plant-based eating is way more expensive than eating an omnivore diet. In this episode of The Vegetarian Zen podcast we’re sharing 8 tips for eating plant-based on a budget. Links to everything we discuss on the in this episode can be found in the show notes.2022-07-1026 minVegetarian ZenVZ 413: The Top Vegan Ice Cream Brands of 2022In this episode of our podcast, Larissa and I talk about the top brands creating deliciuos non-dairy frozen desserts. We take a deeper look into our favorite brand, Ben & Jerry's.2022-06-2626 minVegetarian ZenVZ 412: 15 Easy Zero Waste Swaps The Planet Will Love You For!These 15 zero waste swaps are not only great for the planet but can save you money in the long run. 2022-06-1243 minVegetarian ZenVZ 411: Vegetariana: A Mix of Wit, Lore, and Delicious Vegan Recipes with Nava AtlasIn this episode of the Vegetarian Zen podcast, we welcome Nava Atlas, author of multiple vegetarian and vegan cookbooks. We’re going to talk to Nava about her recently updated book, Vegetariana that was just re-released in it’s 4th edition.2022-05-2940 minVegetarian ZenVZ 410 Vegan Fitness Coach Gabriel Zhanay On How to Empower Yourself and OthersIn this episode of the Vegetarian Zen podcast, we welcome Gabriel Zhanay, a vegan fitness coach who helps empower vegans through health and fitness. We’ll talk to Gabriel about his own plant-based journey and how his coaching program helps empower fellow vegans.2022-05-1545 minVegetarian ZenVZ 409: Rym Selmi of MiiRO Talks Vegan Chocolate Bars & Treats!In this episode of the Vegetarian Zen podcast, we welcome Rym Selmi, CEO of Miiro, a company that makes wholesome chocolate treats and baking goodies. We’re going to talk to Rym about her own plant-based journey and also about her inspiration for creating Miiro.2022-05-0143 minVegetarian ZenVZ 408: Easy Vegan Home Cooking With Laura TheodoreIn this episode of The Vegetarian Zen podcast, we welcome back one of our greatest inspirations for our podcast, Laura Theodore, aka, The Jazzy Vegetarian. Laura is back to talk about her new book, “Easy Vegan Home Cooking”. You can find all the links to the show notes here. 2022-04-1736 minVegetarian ZenVZ 407: Vegan Life Coach, Ella Magers, on Being a Sexy Fit VeganIn this episode of The Vegetarian Zen Podcast, we welcome Ella Magers of Sexy Fit Vegan. Ella has been a dedicated vegan since the age of 7 and is on a mission to transform the culture of the vegan movement from the inside out. We talk to talk to Ella about what it was like becoming vegan at such an early age and about her coaching program to help empower fellow vegans with the tools they need to heal themselves.2022-04-0343 minVegetarian ZenVZ 406: New In Plant-Based News (March 2022)Larissa and Vickie discuss 3 recent articles impacting the plant-based industry. 2022-03-2024 minVegetarian ZenVZ 405: 10 Immune-Boosting Meals That Will Make Your Body Happy!As we write this in February 2022, the world is experiencing a pandemic and many people are concerned with keeping themselves as healthy as possible. It’s important to make sure our immune systems are functioning at their best. This is especially true for people with pre-existing conditions; exposure to any type of illness can further compromise their health. One way to help ensure a healthy immune system is by incorporating immune-boosting foods into your diet. Eating immune-boosting foods regularly keeps the immune system strong and makes it better prepared to fight off sickness and infection. You can ch...2022-03-0628 minVegetarian ZenVZ 404: 9 Tips For An Amazing Vegan WeddingLarissa and I were married in 2015 (we’ve been together since 2002). We’ve discussed our wedding here and there on this show but we thought it might be a good time to discuss how we had a vegan wedding without people even realizing that it was vegan! As things are starting to open (with the caution of course during a pandemic) we thought this year and this month (February) would be a great time to talk about how we planned our wedding to help anyone out there planning a plant-based wedding. Even if you aren’t planni...2022-02-2020 minVegetarian ZenVZ 403: Plan To Eat Is The Best Meal Planning App We’ve Tried! Here’s WhyPlan to Eat is definitely our favorite meal-planning app by far. In this review, we’ll explain some of the great features that have kept us loyal Plan to Eat customers for years.2022-02-0629 minVegetarian ZenVZ 402: Malibu Mylk with Brittany FuiszIn this episode of the Vegetarian Zen podcast, we welcome Brittany Fuisz, CEO and Founder of Malibu Mylk, a sustainable, allergen-free alternative milk. We talk to Brittany about her background, how she created Malibu Mylk, and also, let you know where you can find MM. Brittany also has a generous offer for our community so be sure you listen all the way through!2022-01-2331 minVegetarian ZenVZ 401: Veggie-Only Burgers with Jason Rosenbaum of Actual VeggieVegetarian Zen LOVES to celebrate awesome plant-based businesses because we think they are a big part of what helps make life easier for vegetarians and vegans while also helping to show those who aren’t vegetarian or vegan that life is without meat is possible and, in fact, can be quite delicious! In this episode of the Vegetarian Zen podcast, we welcome Jason Rosenbaum, Co-Founder of Actual Veggies, delicious chef-crafted fresh and refrigerated burgers that celebrate vegetables because they are ALL vegetables!2022-01-0936 minVegetarian ZenVZ 400: Celebrating 400 Episodes of Vegetarian ZenIn this episode of the Vegetarian Zen podcast, we celebrate 400 episodes! Larissa and I discuss what we've learned, some of our favorite episodes, and what the future holds for Vegetarian Zen. 2021-12-2629 minVegetarian ZenVZ 399: 14 Delicious Vegan and Vegetarian Christmas Dinner RecipesThe holiday season is my absolute FAVORITE time of year! For me, it's always meant Christmas Eve with family, friends, and a great Christmas meal. Contrary to many stereotypes, being a vegan or vegetarian doesn't mean missing out on a great dinner! Here are 14 vegan and vegetarian Christmas dinner ideas that will satisfy vegetarians, vegans, and even your omnivore family members.2021-12-1227 minVegetarian ZenVZ 398: 20 Vegan Costco Finds That Make The Membership Worth It!Recently, a Costco opened up just down the street from our house and we were SUPER excited! In this episode of the podcast, we share 20 awesome vegan Costco finds that make the price of membership TOTALLY worth it! Check out links to the products we discuss in the show notes.2021-11-2837 minVegetarian ZenVZ 397: 5 Tips for Making Amazing Vegan TamalesIn this episode of The Vegetarian Zen podcast, we share 5 tips for making AMAZING vegan tamales along with 5 recipes. You can find all the links to the recipes here. 2021-11-1427 minVegetarian ZenVZ 396: 12 Great Gifts for Vegans and Vegetarians in 2021'Tis the season for gift-giving! We've curated 12 great gifts for vegans, vegetarians, and well, just about anyone who enjoys a great gift! 2021-10-3127 minVegetarian ZenVZ 395: Building Better Human and Dog Relationships with Heather Beck of K9 LifelineIn this episode of the Vegetarian Zen podcast, we welcome Heather Beck of K9 Lifeline, a company that specializes in training, education, and care of dogs. Larissa and I first learned about K9 Lifeline when we were watching one of our favorite shows, “The Profit” on MSNBC with Camping World CEO Marcus Lemonis. Heather and K9 Lifeline were the focus of one of the episodes and we were very moved by her mission to provide training and education to dogs and dog owners in order to help prevent surrenders, or even worse, DUMPED dogs! You c...2021-10-1745 minVegetarian ZenVZ 394: Saving our Seas with Doug Hines of Atlantic Natural FoodsIn today’s episode of The Vegetarian Zen podcast, we welcome J. Douglas Hines, founder of Atlantic Natural Foods, a company that produces convenient plant-based products. Prior to founding Atlantic Natural Foods, Mr. Hines was a leader in the global seafood industry for more than 40 years. The abuse of our oceans by commercial fishermen is what inspired him to leave the fishing industry. For more about Doug, check out the show notes!2021-10-0337 minVegetarian ZenVZ 393: 10 of The Best Vegetarian Cookbooks for BeginnersIn this episode of The Vegetarian Zen podcast, we discuss 10 of the best vegetarian cookbooks for beginners. 2021-09-1932 minVegetarian ZenVZ 392: Teaching Kids to Grow, Cook, and Taste the Seasons with Joanne RoachIn this episode of the Vegetarian Zen podcast, we welcome Joanne Roach of The Foodies (thefoodies.org) which is a site that helps children understand where food comes from. It’s all about trying new things to make the link between the seasons and their plates. Check out the show notes here.2021-09-0537 minVegetarian ZenVZ 391: No Oil? No Problem! How to Cook Without OilIn episode 390 of the podcast, we talked about some simple swaps you can make in cake mix to make it a vegan cake mix. Inspired by that discussion, we’re going to expand our discussion of “swaps” in the oil space. In this episode of The Vegetarian Zen podcast, we’re going to give you some tips for cooking without oil. Yes, it is possible!2021-08-2227 minVegetarian ZenVZ 357: 7 Things You Should Know About a Plant-Based Diet and Diabetes A plant-based diet is a powerful tool in helping you manage your diabetes. It can even reverse it! A few weeks ago, Larissa had a bit of a scare with her blood-sugar levels shooting up. Because she can’t take any medicines such as Metformin to help her control her diabetes, she needs to ensure she’s eating right and moving. This recent scare made us go back and review some of the basics about controlling diabetes. In this episode of the VZ podcast, we’re going to share 7 things you should know about being...2020-05-0320 minVegetarian ZenVZ 334: 8 Vegetarian and Vegan Thanksgiving Main Dish IdeasWell 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!2019-11-1020 minVegetarian ZenVZ 320: The Whole Enchilada! Your Guide to Vegetarian EnchiladasIf you’ve listened to the show for a while, it’s no secret that Vickie’s favorite type of food is Mexican food. With her Mexican and Central American grandparents, she grew up eating some wonderful Latin food. Luckily, Latin food is VERY adaptable to a vegetarian (and vegan!) cuisine! Enchiladas are especially versatile because so many vegetables make delicious fillings and there are multiple options for sauces. In this episode of the Vegetarian Zen podcast, we’re going to focus on preparing some awesome vegetarian enchiladas, all of which can be easily adapted to vegan...2019-08-0417 minVegetarian ZenVZ 313: The Rise of Vegan Businesses with Jonny Edwards of Nuzest-USAVegan, plant-based, cruelty-free, and eco-friendly businesses have been on the rise in the past few years. When Larissa and I became vegetarians in 2013, there weren’t nearly as many vegan businesses or products. I remember looking for vegan fashion and was very disappointed at the lack of available products. Flash forward to 2019 and we seem to be in a vegan product and services boom! It’s so encouraging to see new choices popping up in so many different industries. Today on the show, we are excited to talk to Jonny Edwards, the CEO of one such...2019-06-1641 minVegetarian ZenVZ 305: Birding 101 with LarissaYou don’t have to be a Bird Nerd to get outdoors and do a little bird watching on National Go Birding Day (April 27). Even if you’ve never cracked open a field guide to identify a bird or ventured out to look at birds beyond your own backyard, we’ve got some basic information to get you started.2019-04-2143 minVegetarian ZenVZ 301: 5 Awesome Health Benefits of PotatoesThere are several foods that cause a lot of controversy regarding their overall healthiness. One of these foods is the potato. If you Google “Are Potatoes Good for You?” you’ll find plenty of articles arguing each side of the issue, all citing studies in defense of their perspective. Larissa and I believe moderation is key in most things, so in today’s episode of the podcast we won’t address the “great potato controversy.” Instead we’ll just talk about some of the known benefits of incorporating potatoes into your diet.2019-03-2421 minVegetarian ZenVZ 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 could of friends asked me if I...2018-10-0724 minVegetarian ZenVZ 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 products. That means, a LOT has changed since November 2016! In today’s episode of the Veget...2018-09-0934 minVegetarian ZenVZ 270: Vegan Trader Joe’sTrader 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 this episode! 2018-08-1936 minVegetarian ZenVZ 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.2018-07-2528 minVegetarian ZenVZ 257: Dr. Greger’s Daily Dozen ChallengeIn 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.2018-05-2026 minVegetarian ZenVZ 233: Avocados This episode of the Vegetarian Zen podcast is all about avocados! If you’ve been listening for a while, you know that Larissa doesn’t care for avocados but, she knows most of our VZ community is crazy about them as am I. In today’s episode we’re going to give you a few avocado fun facts, […] The post VZ 233: Avocados appeared first on Vegetarian Zen.2017-12-0327 minVegetarian ZenVZ 167: Restrictive Eating and a Vegetarian Lifestyle In today’s episode of the Vegetarian Zen podcast, we’re going to talk about something that is very close to us…the problems associated with restrictive eating. While not technically classified as an eating disorder, restrictive eating can be very damaging and very hard to address and overcome. Vickie will share some personal experiences, as well […] The post VZ 167: Restrictive Eating and a Vegetarian Lifestyle appeared first on Vegetarian Zen.2016-08-2832 minVegetarian ZenVZ 160: Re-examining Living with Diabetes In this episode of the Vegetarian Zen podcast we revisit a topic we first discussed back in episode 88 – living with diabetes. Larissa has continued her struggle since that episode aired in February of 2015, and we talk about setbacks and how to deal with them. Thanks for tuning in to this […] The post VZ 160: Re-examining Living with Diabetes appeared first on Vegetarian Zen.2016-07-1036 minVegetarian ZenVZ 151: The Low Carb Vegetarian In this episode of the Vegetarian Zen podcast we discuss the possibility of being a low carb vegetarian (yep…you can totally do it). Special thanks goes out to Andrea Gaietto and Elizabeth McGrath for suggesting this topic in response to a request for topic ideas that Vickie posted in the Peas and Carrots group on […] The post VZ 151: The Low Carb Vegetarian appeared first on Vegetarian Zen.2016-05-0837 minVegetarian ZenVZ 149: The Importance of Iron (and How to Get Enough When You Follow a Plant-Based Diet) In this episode of the Vegetarian Zen podcast we’ll share what we’ve learned about iron as a result of Larissa’s recent diagnosis of severe iron deficiency. 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 149: The Importance of Iron (and How to Get Enough When You Follow a Plant-Based Diet) appeared first on Vegetarian Zen.2016-04-2423 minVegetarian ZenVZ 145: 8 Brain-Boosting Foods for Vegetarians This episode of the Vegetarian Zen Podcast is all about brain-boosting foods for vegetarians. Vickie became interested in this after we recorded our last episode on MSG and really began to analyze some of the foods in our pantry. Much to our dismay, we still found more junk food than we cared to admit. […] The post VZ 145: 8 Brain-Boosting Foods for Vegetarians appeared first on Vegetarian Zen.2016-03-2737 minVegetarian ZenVZ 122: Zen and the Art of Being Me In this episode of the Vegetarian Zen podcast we have fun recapping Vickie’s wildly successful TED-like presentation called “Zen and the Art of Being Me”. She delivered this 16-minute speech to a group of 300 peers from her corporate job, and did a fantastic job! Once the video clip is made available to her […] The post VZ 122: Zen and the Art of Being Me appeared first on Vegetarian Zen.2015-10-1837 minVegetarian ZenVZ 115: Are You Getting Enough Iodine? Your Thyroid Might Not Think So! In this episode of the Vegetarian Zen podcast, we discuss thyroid issues and iodine deficiencies, and why they are of special interest to vegetarians and vegans. Vickie discloses a personal story and shares why thyroid and iodine issues recently became important to us. Disclaimer: Everything we discuss is based STRICTLY on our own research […] The post VZ 115: Are You Getting Enough Iodine? Your Thyroid Might Not Think So! appeared first on Vegetarian Zen.2015-08-3031 minVegetarian ZenVZ 106: Vegetarian Cookout with Vickie and Larissa In this episode of the Vegetarian Zen podcast we’re getting ready for a Fourth of July vegetarian cookout. We’ll talk about all the great foods you can grill BESIDES meat, as well as some strategies for going to cookouts away from home. Thanks for tuning in to this episode of the Vegetarian Zen Podcast! […] The post VZ 106: Vegetarian Cookout with Vickie and Larissa appeared first on Vegetarian Zen.2015-06-2829 minVegetarian ZenVZ 093: Coffee Talk with Vickie and LarissaThis episode of the Vegetarian Zen podcast is all about coffee. You’ll learn about some of the purported benefits of this magic brown liquid, as well as some things to look out for. We’ll also discuss the importance of buying organic, fair-trade coffee. After doing the research for this episode we checked the coffee we […] The post VZ 093: Coffee Talk with Vickie and Larissa appeared first on Vegetarian Zen.2015-03-2933 min
Vegetarian ZenVZ 026: Our Lift Coaching Plan to Eat More Vegetables & FruitsIt’s official…we’ve published our very first Lift Coaching Plan, aptly entitled “Eat More Vegetables and Fruits“! We’ve discussed the Lift app before on our podcast, and Vickie wrote a comprehensive blog post, “Three Reasons I Love the Lift Habit-Tracking Application for iPhone”, back in October explaining exactly what Lift is and how it works. Recently […] The post VZ 026: Our Lift Coaching Plan to Eat More Vegetables & Fruits appeared first on Vegetarian Zen.2013-12-0827 min
Vegetarian ZenVZ 004: Juice It Up! This episode of the podcast is all about juicers and juicing. Vickie explains the differences between juicing and blending, and why they are both important, albeit for unique reasons. We go on to discuss the different types of juicers, exactly how each type works, and the benefits and shortcomings of each. We then launch […] The post VZ 004: Juice It Up! appeared first on Vegetarian Zen.2013-07-0731 min
Vegetarian ZenVZ 003: Time Is On My Side One of the most often-used excuses for not living a healthy, active lifestyle is that “there’s not enough time”. In this episode, we offer lots of helpful, time-saving tips for healthy eating, fitting exercise into your daily routine, and being more productive at work and in your personal life. Larissa presents some simple ways […] The post VZ 003: Time Is On My Side appeared first on Vegetarian Zen.2013-06-2649 min