PODCAST · health
Vegetarian Zen
by Vickie Velasquez and Larissa Galenes
Vegetarian and vegan information, tips, recipes, and more presented in a light, conversational, and nonjudgmental manner. We welcome input and feedback from our followers regarding issues you would like us to address as well as ways in which we can improve. Please don't hesitate to contact us and let us know how we can help. If you enjoy and find value in our podcast, we would very much appreciate a favorable review on iTunes. This would help us tremendously. Thanks, and we hope you enjoy Vegetarian Zen.
Episodes
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VZ 481: Simple Blue Zone Diet Meal Plan For Vegetarians and Vegans
Try this 5-day Blue Zone diet meal plan with a plant-based twist! Includes free printable planner and easy Blue Monday challenge. Check out the plan here.
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VZ 480: 25 Flavor-Packed Vegan Slow Cooker Recipes You'll Love
Discover 25 vegan slow cooker recipes for easy, flavorful plant-based meals. Perfect for meal prep, cozy dinners, and hands-off cooking. Check out the full show notes and links to all the recipes here.
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VZ 479: 12 Easy Vegan Meal Prep Ideas That Will Transform Your Weeknights
Get 12 proven vegan meal prep ideas that simplify your cooking routine. Easy plant-based recipes for stress-free weeknight dinners. Try them now! You can find links to everything in the show notes.
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VZ 478: Unleash Big Flavor: Best Vegan BBQ Recipes for Summer
Fire up the grill with these vegan bbq favorites—mains, sides, and sauces bursting with flavor. Perfect for summer cookouts. Find your new go-to recipe here! You can check out the show notes here.
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VZ 477: Are Plant-Based Meats Healthy? What You Need to Know
Are plant-based meat substitutes healthy? Learn the pros, cons, and what to watch for when adding these meat-free alternatives to your diet. Check out the full show notes here.
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VZ 476: 10 Easy Summer Meals That Are Delicious AND Meatless
Cool off with these 10 easy summer meals—fresh, meatless recipes perfect for hot days. Discover flavorful vegetarian and vegan dishes you'll love. Check out the full show notes here.
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VZ 475: Where To Find the Best Vegetarian Fast Food in 2025
Craving vegetarian fast food? Discover the best plant-based menu items at major chains like Taco Bell and Burger King—plus insider tips for smart ordering. Check out the full show notes here.
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VZ 474: The Mixed Veggies Episode For June 2025
In this episode of The Vegetarian Zen podcast, Larissa and Vickie share some updates to include personal projects as well as business happenings. You can check out the show notes here.
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VZ 473: The Best Stores To Buy Plant-Based Groceries
Discover the best stores to buy plant-based groceries, from pantry staples to plant-based meats. Stock your cart with tasty, nutritious vegan options. Check out the full show notes here.
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VZ 472: 20 Vegetarian Freezer Meals That Make Weeknights a Breeze!
Discover 20 delicious vegetarian freezer meals perfect for meal prep. Say goodbye to mealtime stress with these easy, freezer-friendly recipes. Check out the full show notes here.
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VZ 471: How Can I Purify Air Naturally at Home (Without Spending a Fortune)?
Breathe cleaner air today. Discover how to purify air naturally at home using plants, ventilation, and simple tricks to reduce indoor air pollution and boost health. You can check out the full show notes here.
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VZ 470: Eat the Rainbow: The Colorful Path to Health
Eat the rainbow for real health benefits! Discover how colorful foods boost heart health, brain function, and more—with tips you can actually stick to. Check out full show notes here.
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VZ 469: Move More Month: 10 Fun Ways to Be More Active
Struggling to fit exercise into your routine? Celebrate Move More Month with these 10 fun and creative ways to stay active—no gym required! Check out the full show notes here.
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VZ 468: Pi Day Perfection: 10 Vegan Pies You Need to Try!
Pi Day is March 14. If you're not sure what Pi Day is, it's a math-inspired holiday honoring the number π (3.14). What's to celebrate about that? You can find out more at Piday.org. But, if you landed on this page, I'm guessing you're here for the P-I-E kind of pie. When it comes to dessert, I'll...
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VZ 467: 25 Awe-Inspiring Wildlife Quotes to Celebrate World Wildlife Day
In this article, we're going to share information about a special day every year where wildlife gets the spotlight, World Wildlife Day. We'll tell you a bit about this important day and share some powerful wildlife quotes to help inspire action. Check out the full show notes here.
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VZ 466: 6 Best Vegan Frozen Pizzas You Need to Try
In this episode of The Vegetarian Zen podcast, we're sharing a detailed frozen pizza review of 6 of the best vegan frozen pizzas out there. From crispy sourdough crust pies to rich, cheesy pepperoni vegan pizza, we'll share some of the current faves. Full disclosure, to make sure this list wasn't...
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VZ 465: 10 Easy Ways to Embrace a Plant-Forward Lifestyle
Learn 10 easy ways to embrace a plant-forward lifestyle with tips to reduce meat, enjoy plant-based meals, and create healthier, sustainable habits. Check out the full show notes here.
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VZ 464: From Savory to Sweet: Easy Vegan Popcorn Seasoning Ideas
Discover the ultimate vegan popcorn seasoning ideas for your next movie night! From cheesy flavors to spicy kicks, make every bite unforgettable. Check out the full show notes here.
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VZ 463: 7 Tips for a Successful Veganuary and Beyond!
Have you been thinking about trying out a vegan diet but not sure if you're ready? Every January, the annual month-long challenge known as "Veganuary" is a great opportunity to explore a plant-based lifestyle. Whether you're curious about a vegan diet, inspired by compassion for animals, or...
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VZ 462: 10 Yummy Vegan Christmas Cookies Your Family Will Love!
The holiday season is here, and you know what that means—it's time for delicious sweet treats like vegan Christmas cookies! Who doesn't love cozying up with a cup of hot cocoa and a plate of delicious cookies while watching a favorite holiday movie (National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation for me!)?...
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VZ 461: 10 Vegan Holiday Appetizers That Will Wow Your Guests
Wow your guests with these vegan holiday appetizers! From creamy dips to crispy bites, these easy, delicious recipes will make your party unforgettable. Check out the show notes for a full list of tips for hosting plus all of the recipes.
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VZ 460: Talking Turkeys and Vegan Gifts!
In this episode of The Vegetarian Zen podcast, we discuss 5 places you can adopt a turkey plus 25 awesome vegan gifts everyone will love! You can check out links to everything we discuss in the show notes.
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VZ 459: 22 Meatless Monday Dinner Ideas Your Family Will LOVE!
If you're not quite ready to go vegetarian or vegan, how about a Meatless Monday? These 22 family-friendly are a perfect way to ease into meatless meals. You can check out the show note with links to all of the recipes here.
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VZ 458: The Ultimate Guide to the Vegetarian Mediterranean Diet
The Vegetarian Mediterranean Diet combines plant-based eating with Mediterranean flavors. Discover the health benefits, foods to eat, and delicious recipes! Check out the full show notes here.
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VZ 457: The Best Clean Beauty Brands You Need to Know About
If you're listening to this, I'd bet money that you're someone who pays attention to what goes on your body as much as you pay attention to what goes in it. Harmful chemicals you might be putting on your body worry you just as much as harmful additives in your food. Because people are starting to...
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VZ 456: International Plastic Bag Free Day: How You Can Make a Difference
July 3rd is International Plastic Bag Free Day (yep…there really is a day for everything!). The goal of International Plastic Bag Free Day is to eliminate the use of single-use plastic bags by encouraging individuals, communities, and governments to rethink their reliance on plastic bags and…
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VZ 455: Meet 8 of the Best Animal Dads In The Wild
Discover the best animal dads in nature and their unique parenting skills in this detailed exploration of top animal fathers. Check out the show notes for more about these amazing dads!
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VZ 454: Happy Pride! 15 LGBTQIA2S+ Vegans, Vegetarians, and Allies
In this episode, in honor of Pride Month, we'll highlight 15 LGBTQ+ celebrities and famous people who have chosen vegan or vegetarian lifestyles. These folks are using their fame to advocate for compassion, health, and the planet, showing that even small choices can lead to big impacts. You can...
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VZ 453: The Best Vegan Hot Dogs For Summer Grilling
In this episode of the podcast, we're talking about some of the best veggie hot dogs on the market today with a little help from our closed Facebook group the Peas and Carrots who voted on theirs. Check out the full show notes here.
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VZ 452: Nature's Nurturers: A Tribute To Awesome Animal Moms!
Discover the remarkable world of animal moms and their nurturing ways. Explore the depths of maternal instincts across wildlife species. Check out the full show notes here.
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VZ 451: Fuel Your Life At Fruitive: A Chat With Gregg Rozeboom
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...
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VZ 450: 10 Energizing High Protein Vegan Breakfast Recipes You'll Love
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...
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VZ 449: 10 Ways You Can Celebrate National Garden Month
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,...
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VZ 448: Why I Stopped Being An Angry Vegan With Kate Galli
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...
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VZ 447: We Love Casseroles! 10 Tasty Vegetarian Casseroles
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...
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VZ 446: 2024 Food and Beverage Trends That Sound Awesome!
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…
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VZ 445: The One About Us
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.
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VZ 444: Ed and Natasha Tatton of BReD - Organic Sourdough and Baked Goods
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...
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VZ 443: What's New in Plant-Based News October 2023
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.
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VZ 442: What Is World Vegetarian Day? 8 Ways to Celebrate Vegetarianism
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.
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VZ 441: 15 Delicious Vegan Fall Desserts You Need to Try!
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.
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VZ 440: Protein Power! 5 High Protein Milk Alternatives We Love
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.
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VZ 439: 10 Vegetarian Lunch Ideas We're Trying This Month!
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...
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VZ 438: What's New In Plant-Based News: August 2023
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.
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VZ 437: Reimagining Leather With Stephanie Downs Of Uncaged Innovations
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...
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VZ 436: Plant-Based Cooking Made Easy With Diane Rose-Solomon
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…
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VZ 435: Embracing the Reducetarian Lifestyle: Brian Kateman's Vision of a Healthier Planet
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...
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Mycoprotein: What Is It and Why Your Body and Planet Will LOVE It!
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…
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VZ 433: The Ultimate Guide To Potluck Etiquette: How To Make Sure EVERYONE Has A Good Time!
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...
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VZ 432: Is Being Vegetarian Healthy? Our Journey And What We've Discovered So Far
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…
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Vegetarian and vegan information, tips, recipes, and more presented in a light, conversational, and nonjudgmental manner. We welcome input and feedback from our followers regarding issues you would like us to address as well as ways in which we can improve. Please don't hesitate to contact us and let us know how we can help. If you enjoy and find value in our podcast, we would very much appreciate a favorable review on iTunes. This would help us tremendously. Thanks, and we hope you enjoy Vegetarian Zen.
HOSTED BY
Vickie Velasquez and Larissa Galenes
CATEGORIES
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Vegetarian Zen have?
Vegetarian Zen currently has 483 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Vegetarian Zen about?
Vegetarian and vegan information, tips, recipes, and more presented in a light, conversational, and nonjudgmental manner. We welcome input and feedback from our followers regarding issues you would like us to address as well as ways in which we can improve. Please don't hesitate to contact us and...
How often does Vegetarian Zen release new episodes?
Vegetarian Zen publishes regularly with 483 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.
Where can I listen to Vegetarian Zen?
You can listen to Vegetarian Zen on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Vegetarian Zen?
Vegetarian Zen is created and hosted by Vickie Velasquez and Larissa Galenes.
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