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 Valen...
Feb 10, 2019•31 min
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!
Feb 03, 2019•36 min
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 episo...
Jan 27, 2019•39 min
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.
Jan 20, 2019•27 min
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 o...
Jan 13, 2019•30 min
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.
Jan 06, 2019•35 min
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!...
Dec 30, 2018•26 min
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!
Dec 23, 2018•28 min
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 founde...
Dec 16, 2018•46 min
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-...
Dec 09, 2018•29 min
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!
Dec 02, 2018•25 min
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 creati...
Nov 25, 2018•32 min
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.
Nov 18, 2018•31 min
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!
Nov 11, 2018•29 min
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!
Nov 04, 2018•33 min
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.
Oct 28, 2018•39 min
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 eggs tha...
Oct 21, 2018•35 min
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.
Oct 14, 2018•51 min
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 fr...
Oct 07, 2018•24 min
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 expla...
Sep 30, 2018•24 min
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 sports...
Sep 23, 2018•34 min
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.
Sep 16, 2018•27 min
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 produc...
Sep 09, 2018•34 min
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.
Sep 02, 2018•34 min
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.
Aug 26, 2018•26 min
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 this epi...
Aug 19, 2018•36 min
In today’s episode of the Vegetarian Zen podcast, we’re going to discuss 8 ways that you can help animals in your community.
Aug 12, 2018•28 min
In this episode of the Vegetarian Zen podcast, The Peas and Carrots Society present, 5 of their Favorite Veg Cookbooks!
Aug 05, 2018•30 min
Jul 29, 2018•34 min
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.
Jul 25, 2018•29 min•Ep. 266
