Vegetarian Zen

In today's episode of the Vegetarian Zen podcast we are joined by Marly McMillen Beelman who is the founder and creative director of Namely Marly, a blog focused on providing resources for healthy lifestyles, creative living, and healthy vegan recipes. Marly just released a book earlier this month called The Everything Vegan Meal Prep Cookbook .

You 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.

In this episode of the Vegetarian Zen podcast we chat with Stacy Ramirez who is a member of our Golden Apple Roundtable, the folks who support us through Patreon. We talk about being a "weekday vegetarian", her Reiki coaching business, and her take-aways from the book Radical Beauty by Deepak Chopra and Kimberly Snyder.

It seems that there has been a recent exodus of Vegan Youtube personalities and social media influencers and the call-out culture is alive and well.  Besides the rude and sometimes threatening comments there are a few still plant-based Youtubers who have taken to the internet to post their own videos calling out these ex-vegans. We're not going to name names because that's not how we roll and we d...

In this episode of our podcast, we are very pleased to share an interview with someone who has been a friend of mine for 10 years or so now. I met him while working in my corporate job and we've stayed in touch even after he left. His name is Augie Sanchez and he's also a gardener. I've always known that Augie loved to garden but didn't realize how much of a passion this was for him until reading...

There 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...

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 De...

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...

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 elephant...

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...

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...

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 bene...

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...

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 th...

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. Shi...

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 goin...

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 pod...

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!