In 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…

In 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 …

Whether you are a “sweet” or “salty” type of snacker, there are really a LOT of choices available to you when it comes to vegan snacks! Here is a list of the top 15 vegan snacks we’re noshing on in 2024. This will be a mix of off-the-shelf prepackaged snacks as well as ones you can easily make yourself at home. There is also a mix of the healthy an…

April 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 Gar…

In 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 …

In 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 …

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, th…

This 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.By Vickie Velasquez & Larissa Galenes

There’s Still Nothing Like Picking Up a Good Magazine! Books and the Internet aren’t the only way to learn about plant-based recipes and tips or cruelty-free products. Magazines can be great resources as well. Let’s take a look at some of the best vegetarian and vegan magazines available. Vegetarian Zen is reader-supported. When you buy through lin…

In 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-ba…

In 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.By Vickie Velasquez & Larissa Galenes

We’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.By Vickie Velasquez & Larissa Galenes

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.By Vickie Velasquez & Larissa Galenes

In 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.By Vickie Velasquez & Larissa Galenes

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…

In 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.By Vickie Velasquez & Larissa Galenes

In 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…

Today, 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 cooki…

In 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 pla…

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…

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 …

2023 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 g…

Discover 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.By Vickie Velasquez & Larissa Galenes

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.By Vickie Velasquez & Larissa Galenes

In 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 o…

In 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-…

It’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 opt…

In this episode we share 7 tips to help you succeed through Veganuary and beyond!By Vickie Velasquez & Larissa Galenes

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.By Vickie Velasquez & Larissa Galenes

Looking 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.By Vickie Velasquez & Larissa Galenes

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 …

Larissa and Vickie discuss some hot topics in plant-based news. Check out the articles and show notes here.By Vickie Velasquez & Larissa Galenes

We'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.…

Whether 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.By Vickie Velasquez & Larissa Galenes

This 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 t…

In 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 w…

When 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…

In 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…

In 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 impro…

A 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.…

In 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.By Vickie Velasquez & Larissa Galenes

These 15 zero waste swaps are not only great for the planet but can save you money in the long run.By Vickie Velasquez & Larissa Galenes

In 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.By Vickie Velasquez & Larissa Galenes

In 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.By Vickie Velasquez & Larissa Galenes

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.By Vickie Velasquez & Larissa Galenes

In 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.By Vickie Velasquez & Larissa Galenes

In 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 …

Larissa and Vickie discuss 3 recent articles impacting the plant-based industry.By Vickie Velasquez & Larissa Galenes

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 th…

Larissa 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 …