Vegetarian Zen

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...

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,...

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...

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 throug...

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!

If 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 opti...

In this episode of the Vegetarian Zen podcast, we're going to discuss 8 Awesome Tips to help you organize your fridge in a way that helps you reduce waste and avoid throwing your money down the drain.

Summertime, and the livin' is easy...and the grilling can be too! Being plant-based doesn't mean missing out on amazing flavorful grilled foods--in fact, there are more vegetables (and fruits!) to throw on the grill than there are meats. In this episode of the podcast we'll share eight tips for making easy grilled vegetables that will take your summer meals from so-so to sizzling.

Since vegans are folks who do not eat any animal products whatsoever, eggs are something that are not on the menu. If you're thinking, "But wait! I know I've seen vegan egg dishes and baked goods! What do vegans use instead of eggs?" In this episode of the vegetarian Zen podcast, we're going to cover that question and also talk about some popular egg replacements. Now, you don't have to be a vegan...

As vegan and cruelty-free businesses continue to boom, more mainstream companies are taking notice and beginning to offer more products that are considered vegan and/or cruelty-free.  In this episode, we're going to focus on shampoos that are vegan AND cruelty-free (and no, they aren't necessarily the same!). We'll explain what it means to be vegan AND cruelty-free and also share seven brands that...

When I say the word, "Malt", what do you think of? If you're like most people, you probably think of malted milkshakes, beer, malt liquor, or maybe malted milk balls.  I never really thought of malt as a healthy supplement but our guest today is a Registered Dietician who is going to give us the scoop on malt.  In this episode of the Vegetarian Zen podcast we talk to Registered Dietitian, Jilian G...

What do you think of when you think of summer? Being from South Texas,  I think of triple digit HEAT! Then I think about ways I can keep cool. Yes, a nice dreamy swimming pool is an awesome way to cool off but a DELICIOUS way to cool off is by enjoying some creamy ice cream! But we're not just talking about any old ice cream.  We're talking VEGAN ice cream! Today on the podcast, we'll be talking a...

Vegan, 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 enc...

A few weeks ago, we did a live Facebook video just to chat with folks in the Peas and Carrots Society (our closed Facebook group). One of the participants in that chat, Melissa Grove, mentioned that she uses Imperfect Produce, a fresh produce subscription service that offers perfectly good, although slightly irregular, fruits and vegetables. Because several other group members use Imperfect Produc...

June 5th is World Environment Day, a day designated by the United Nations to spread awareness about our environment and how we can protect it. In this episode of our podcast, we're going to give a bit of history behind WED, discuss the theme for this year, and also let you know what you can do to get involved.

In this episode of the Vegetarian Zen podcast, we talk to Lindsey White of ChickensMatter.org. Lindsey tells her story of moving from a farmer to a chicken rescuer. We'll get to know some of her rescues and talk about her organization, Chickensmatter.org. Incidentally, this month is also International Respect for Chickens month and we think this interview with Lindsey is a great way to cap off the...

In this episode of the Vegetarian Zen podcast, we're going to discuss the documentary What the Health , which, like most documentaries on the topic of food and health, tends to ruffle quite a few feathers. We're going to give a high level overview of the documentary and then talk about some of the arguments on both sides.

In this episode of the Vegetarian Zen Podcast, we're going to discuss pea protein. We've discussed plant-based proteins in past episodes (we'll have links in the show notes to some of our previous discussions about plant-based proteins) but haven't really done a "deep-dive" into any of them. Today we'll take a closer look at what pea protein is, learn about some of its benefits, and share what to...

In this episode of the Vegetarian Zen Podcast, we talk to Golden Apple Roundtable member Harlie Pruder about her plant-based journey to Flexitarianism.