In today's episode I'll be answering a question I get a lot, and that is, "is vegan cooking harder than meat-based cooking?". I'll give you my honest answer, tell you what that has to do with Thai food, and I'll also give you my favorite tips for getting started, from shopping, to cooking, to basic vegan cooking techniques and so much more. If you love good food and you want to learn the basics when it comes to cooking plant-based recipes, this is a great place to get started.

For all the photos and links mentioned in today's episode, click here!

Today we're having a more relaxed and personal episode, all about a little adventure we went on recently. It involves the wilderness, our dogs, a town of twelve, a sad carton of eggs, a picnic blanket, and lots of lessons learned. Y talk about some personal struggles related to getting rid of anxiety, incorporating a mindfulness practice into your life, vegan ramblings and so much more! It's going to be fun and more off the cuff than usual since this one will only be available in audio format.

Still, we have lots of pictures from our trip to show you! To take a look, click here.

In today's episode I'm giving you my favorite tips for navigating a relationship in which our partner isn't vegan. From the emotional side of things, to understanding where they're coming from, and of course all the practical aspects of living with a non-vegan such as shopping, cooking, prepping, etc. I also share a bit of what it was like for us as a couple when I decided to go vegan many moons ago. 

For all the links mentioned in the episode, click here.

In today's episode we're going to tackle the topic of how to handle conversations and communication when we have an unhealthy and resistant parent, partner or other family member, and we want to share what we've learned and help them make changes. It's a hard situation to navigate through, and sometimes all we can do is lead by example, but today I'm giving you some tips that will hopefully help both inspire loved ones as well as keep the peace if we're met with resistance.

For all the links mentioned in the episode, click here.

In today's episode we talk about the very simple things you can do to your groceries when you come back from the store, so that it saves you a ton of time throughout the week. It's what I call grocery day meal prep, and it goes beyond my usual recommendation of making a pot of beans and a pot of grains or the larger staples, yet it's much simpler! I also introduce you to the person I call my Brazilian magic kitchen fairy, aka the wonderful blogger behind Minha Cozinha Virou Um Jardin and her fantastic instagram stories in which she takes us along her meal prep sessions every Saturday. Don't forget to follow us on instagram as well, since we've added some story highlights to showcase some of the things we do on our meal prep day.

Links mentioned in the video:

- For the post that goes with this episode where you can find all the links and see all the photos of what I talk about click here.

- For our instagram account @brownble, click here.

- For Verena's blog click here.

- For Verena's instagram account click here.

- For our meal prep Pinterest board click here.

One of the questions we get the most frequently from people who are switching to a vegan diet is "is this normal?". By "is", I mean any worry or change the person is going through, either physically or mentally. Recently, a lot of you have been asking me about possible emotional problems or difficulties after going vegan. Some of our readers have asked us if depression, sadness or anxiety is normal when switching to a vegan diet. Today we tackle the topic of making this big change in our way of eating, and whether emotional changes are part of those common side effects when going vegan. Of course I also give you lots of tools and tips that can help you find balance with a vegan diet, leaving worry, anxiety, and unease behind.

For the links, photos and videos mentioned in this episode, click here!

The Scandinavians really know how to do it right. They just might have discovered the magic key to mindfulness and self-care which you know I LOVE to talk about in this podcast! It goes by the name of Hygge, the Danish philosophy of doing anything and everything with a spirit of coziness. Think lit fireplaces, cozy blankets and socks, Santa, stew and garlic bread, and anything else that makes you feel like you're in a log cabin in the woods surrounded by cozy pleasures. Today we talk all about Hygge, and I tell you why I don't think it's just funny fluff, but actually, a great daily reminder to put yourself first and treat yourself with kindness. Of course we also talk about yummy vegan comfort food. It's the ultimate Hygge guide!

For all the photos and links mentioned in the episode, click here.

Today's episode is the final installment of our body image series, and we're going deep into what lies behind a big roadblock on our path to loving our bodies: the need to control. When we're trying to learn how to improve our body image, we need to go deep into the issues that have caused us to develop the different voices we all have, that tell us we're unworthy, that convince us to go beyond self care and into perfectionism. I also share wonderful TED talks on the subject of body image, and give you a wonderful exercise to help you on your body love and body positivity journey.

Click here to visit the post for all the videos, links and photos mentioned in the episode.

In today's episode we're tackling part 3 of our body image series with a very personal story. We'll be discussing body image in the context of having a different body, either due to illness, disability, or brought on by particular circumstances. I tell you about my personal experience in this area, and whether you are disabled, ill, were born into a different body, or not, you will get a ton out of this episode when it comes to realizing that we are NOT just our bodies, and that we can live happy joyful lives regardless of the cards we were dealt. Tons of TED Talks, a great exercise for adding more joy to your life, and delicious body positive quotes included too!

For the links, photos and videos mentioned in this episode, click here.

In today's episode we're tackling part 2 of our body image series. We talk about what the studies have shown when it comes to improving your body image and body confidence, we talk about the revolutionary concept of body image resilience, we discuss the importance of self care and body kindness to help you improve your body image and much more. To take a look at the videos, links and photos that go with this episode, click here!