Vegetarian Zen

Despite the decades-long campaign that milk and other dairy products are essential for a healthy body, current evidence shows exactly the contrary.  The fact that humans are the only species that drink the milk of other animals should be a pretty big clue that it is not meant for us. In-depth research has proven that […] The post VZ 033: Reasons to Eat Less Dairy appeared first on Vegetarian Zen .

The season of nasty colds, ugly flu viruses and winter allergies is upon us.  Coughing, chest congestion, itching and achiness conspire to make us miserable.  Television, magazine ads and conventional medicine have taught us to rush to the drugstore and load up on cough syrups and drops, pills for congestion,itching, sniffling and sneezing, medicines to […] The post VZ 032: Fight Illness and Aller...

The beginning of a new year is a good time to reflect on the wins and losses of the previous year.  Because this month is also our one-year Veggie-versary, we thought it would be the perfect time to record a retrospective episode of sorts.  We discuss the things we think we did well as new […] The post VZ 031: Lessons Learned in a Year of Being Vegetarian appeared first on Vegetarian Zen .

Becoming a vegetarian or vegan is a big decision, one which family and friends may or may not agree with.  In the end, of course, it is completely personal but as with any major life change, having the support of those around you can make the transition easier. Certain stereotypes about vegetarians and vegans exist […] The post VZ 030: Coming Out As A Vegetarian appeared first on Vegetarian Zen .

From the time we are kids we hear about New Year's resolutions.  Adults make them…and break them.  Kids emulate their parents and make them…and break them even faster!  What kid wants to actually keep a resolution to clean her room or be nice to his little brother? Although the practice has its origins in pre-Christian […] The post VZ 029: New Year's Resolutions appeared first on Vegetarian Zen .

This episode features our very first interview, with none other than the voice of our podcast intro track, Tim Paige!  Besides being a fellow vegetarian, Tim is the co-host, with John Lee Dumas, of the Love Your Leap podcast.  Love Your Leap is focused on helping individuals make the transition from a corporate job to […] The post VZ 028: Tim Paige Interview appeared first on Vegetarian Zen .

We're all busy during the holiday season.  Buying and wrapping gifts, making cookies, attending and/or hosting parties, making airport runs, keeping the kids busy, and so much more.  With so much going on, sometimes pets can fade into the background a bit.  Not that we don't love them less during this busy time, of course, […] The post VZ 027: Keeping Pets Safe & Healthy During the Holidays appear...

It'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...

We all want to protect our kids from harm.  We teach them to not talk to strangers and to look both ways when crossing the street. We feed them healthy foods and encourage other healthy habits.  We want them to be happy and entertained, so we buy them fun and educational things they want to […] The post VZ025: Tips for Avoiding Toxic Toys appeared first on Vegetarian Zen .

When we come together to celebrate the holidays, food is,usually the focal point around which we gather.  Further, the centerpiece of most of our holiday meals is meat.  Turkey for Thanksgiving.  Turkey or goose for Christmas.  Ham for New Year's and Easter. Barbecue for Memorial Day, Labor Day and the Fourth of July.  We can't […] The post VZ 024: Thanksgiving Tips for Vegetarians appeared first...

Even the most dedicated fitness fanatics sometimes find it challenging to get the job done.  For those who don't enjoy it in the first place, the challenge can sometimes be overwhelming!  In this episode, we discuss tips to help keep you motivated and moving toward your fitness goals. We include a wide range of exercise […] The post VZ 023: Exercise Hacks appeared first on Vegetarian Zen .

  Unfortunately, GMOs (genetically modified organisms) have become pervasive in our society today.  Often under the guise of increasing crop yields, drought tolerance, or nutritional values, biotechnical companies have created "Frankenfoods" that have delivered on none of these promises.  Instead, the primary advantage of these genetically engineered crops is that they are resistant to the […] The...

  "Buy organic" seems to be a popular buzz phrase these days.  With all the talk about genetically-modified foods, the overuse of chemical fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides, and the connection of these chemicals with deadly diseases such as cancer, understanding the importance of buying and consuming organic foods is crucial. In this episode, we explore […] The post VZ 021: The Importance of...

  Kids love candy,  adults love candy…Halloween is awesome!  We all know that candy and other sweet treats are not exactly nutritionally valuable, so in this episode we discuss ways to make Halloween activities a little more healthy for you and your family. From trick-or-treating strategies to healthier candy options for giving (as well as […] The post VZ 020: Tips for a Healthy Halloween appeared...

  The Fall season brings us a bounty of wonderful, healthy fruits and vegetables.  From the many varieties of winter squash (including the Halloween vegetable mascot, the pumpkin) to apples, pomegranates, cauliflower, root vegetables and dark, leafy greens, Mother Nature provides us an endless supply of healthy meal and snack options. Join us on this […] The post VZ 019: What's In Season? Fall Fru...

  It's all too easy to blame our moods on purely external circumstances beyond our control. A bad day at the office caused you to be irritable. You're tired because you didn't sleep well last night, or maybe you're just bored.  Even positive moods are generally thought to be caused by things that happen to us […] The post VZ 018: Food and Mood appeared first on Vegetarian Zen .

  Beans and other legumes just may be the vegetarian's and vegan's best friends.  Pinto, kidney, red, pink, Great Northern, lima…no matter which one you choose, you'll be picking a winner.  Beans — as well as other legumes such as peas, lentils and peanuts — are amazing sources of protein, fiber and complex carbohydrates as […] The post VZ017: All About Beans appeared first on Vegetarian Zen .

  National Kale Day is coming up on Wednesday, October 2, and Vegetarian Zen is on board to celebrate it. As NKD ambassadors, we are spreading the word about kale far and wide.  To that end, this episode of the podcast is all about kale and its special day. We introduce listeners to the brains […] The post VZ 016: Let's Celebrate National Kale Day! appeared first on Vegetarian Zen .

Are foods derived from animals the only source of protein for humans?  Is drinking cow's milk necessary for humans in order to get enough calcium?  If you answered "no" to both of these questions, you would be correct. You would also be among a small segment of the American population who agrees with you. These […] The post VZ 015: A Review of the Documentary Film Forks Over Knives appeared first...

In this episode, we take on some of the most common myths about vegetarianism and veganism.  Before becoming vegetarians, we actually held some of these beliefs ourselves.  Once we made our lifestyle changes, we began to learn how mistaken we were.  For example, we've learned that these common misconceptions just aren't true: Vegetarians do not […] The post VZ 014: Our Favorite Myths About Vegetar...

  Common sense tells us that skim milk is healthier than whole milk, correct?  Less fat equals healthier.  But what is healthier than skim milk?  How about plant and nut milks: soy, almond, hemp, rice, or coconut?  Generally lower in fat content (although coconut milk has a high fat content, it is plant-derived, not animal) […] The post VZ 013: This for That – Healthy Recipe Substitutions appeared...

  When we first became vegetarians, we simply stopped eating meat without changing our other bad eating habits. Consequently, we discovered that we did not initially feel as great as we thought we would.  We had fallen into an all-too-common trap…we had become Junk Food Vegetarians! Healthy vegetarianism and veganism are about more than just […] The post VZ 012: Tips to Avoid Being a Junk Food Veg...

  Football season is once again upon us!  Whether you're an NFL fan, a college follower or both, you'll need to have good strategies in place to maintain your vegetarian or vegan lifestyle while attending tailgate parties, fantasy draft parties, or the games themselves.  You can even play host to a party or two yourself without scaring off […] The post VZ 011: Surviving Football Season as a Vegeta...

  Getting ready for back-to-school is hectic, no doubt.  Lots to do, too little time to get it all done.  Summer was too short (for the kids, anyway!).  On top of shots, new clothes, school supplies and convincing the kids that this year is going to be GREAT, you want to ensure that you feed […] The post VZ 010: Back To School the Healthy Way appeared first on Vegetarian Zen .

  When we first became vegetarians, we also became juicers.  We did a lot of reading online, of course, but the first book we bought was Farnoosh Brock's The Healthy Juicer's Bible: Lose Weight, Detoxify, Fight Disease, and Live Long.  It quickly became our go-to reference for all things juicing, from selecting a juicer to […] The post VZ 009: Why We Love "The Healthy Juicer's Bible" appeared firs...