Vegetarian Zen Archive (episodes 1 - 100): Nutrition, Recipes, Cooking Tips, Natural Remedies & More For Vegetarians, Vegans,

Two of the biggest obstacles to eating healthy meals during the week are time and effort.  How often do we come home tired from a long day at work and end up eating pre-packaged, easy to cook foods or take-out fast food? In this episode of the podcast, we offer seven meal planning tips that will … The post VZ 040: Meal Planning 101 appeared first on Vegetarian Zen.

One of the biggest arguments against eating fresh, wholesome, healthy foods involves time.  After a long day at the office and a long commute home, many people say it’s just too late to make a healthy meal and still eat at a decent hour.  It’s much easier and faster to go through a drive-through, pick … The post VZ 039: Meal Prepping Shortcuts appeared first on Vegetarian Zen.

A Super Size Me Review! Did you know that when “Super Size Me” was filmed back in 2004 only seven McDonald’s menu items (hash browns, sausage, chicken McNuggets, coffee, tea and diet coke) did not contain sugar?  How about the fact that a today’s ten-piece order of chicken McNuggets contains 470 calories, 30 grams of … The post VZ 038: A Review of the Documentary”Super Size Me” appeared first on Vegetarian Zen.

Raising animals for human consumption has a tremendous negative impact on our environment.  Grazing animals such as cattle, sheep and goats release harmful gases into the atmosphere as part of their digestive process.  The estimated number of cattle currently being farmed worldwide is 1.5 billion.  Add to this number billions of other grazing animals, both … The post VZ 037: Vegetarianism and The Environment appeared first on Vegetarian Zen.

So, you’ve been juicing for a while now (like we have), and you love it (we do too).  But how do you know for sure you’re “doing it right”?  Are you prepping your fruits and veggies correctly?  What should you peel, and which peels are okay to leave on?  Which foods are beneficial for which … The post VZ 036: More About Juicing appeared first on Vegetarian Zen.

One of the questions most persistently asked of vegetarians and vegans is “How do you get enough protein?”  As any veg*n will tell you, this question gets old fast.  But how do we, especially at breakfast, which really is “the most important meal of the day”. In this episode, we discuss how some traditional breakfast … The post VZ 035: Breakfast Protein Options for Vegetarians appeared first on Vegetarian Zen.

I’m sure many of you have had that ugly, burning feeling in your stomach or throat.  You know the one, where it feels like acid is burning holes in your gut.  This is a fire that water doesn’t put out, and don’t dare drink milk, which is a notorious acid-producer! Of course modern medicine has … The post VZ 034: Natural Remedies for Acid Reflux appeared first on 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 … The post Reasons Why You Should Eat Less Dairy (VZ 33) 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 Allergies Naturally appeared first on Vegetarian Zen.

Lessons We Learned During Year 1 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 … The post Lessons Learned in a Year of Being Vegetarian (VZ 31) 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 appeared first on Vegetarian Zen.

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 to Eat More Vegetables & Fruits appeared first on Vegetarian Zen.

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 on Vegetarian Zen.

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 post VZ 022: Oh No! GMO! appeared first on Vegetarian Zen.

Do I Need to Buy Everything Organic? “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 … The post VZ 021: The Importance of Buying Organic appeared first on Vegetarian Zen.