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 li... more

4.9

396396 ratings

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FAQs about Vegetarian Zen:

How many episodes does Vegetarian Zen have?

The podcast currently has 861 episodes available.

Vegetarian Zen episodes:

May 16, 2021 VZ 384: 10 of The MOST Delicious Vegan Chips
This episode of the Vegetarian Zen podcast isn’t quite the healthiest episode we’ve ever done but, life is all about balance right? Today, we’re talking about the top 10 vegan chips as voted on by us and by our trusted Peas and Carrots Society.

We started Vegetarian Zen in 2013 and we like to stay on top of food trends. Things are changing so fast in the plant-based world and that’s a great thing because the more vegan and vegetarian options there are, the more people are inclined to give it a try.

So today we’re going to be talking about vegan chips which again, isn’t the healthiest, but allows people to make choices and have options that allow them to still stay on track with respect to their own plant-based journey.
...more
29min
May 02, 2021 You Need These Delicious Vegan Coffee Creamers In Your Life! (VZ 383)

Vegan coffee lovers, rejoice! With the rise in popularity of vegan plant-based milk over the past several years, there are PLENTY of vegan coffee creamers to choose from to take your morning cuppa Joe from drab to fab. Even if you aren’t vegan but are simply looking to reduce dairy, these non-dairy options won’t disappoint.
In this episode of the podcast we break down the most popular vegan coffee creamers and tell you a little about each so that you can decide for yourself if they’re right for you.
No time to listen? No problem! Read on for a summary of what we discuss.
Not All Non-Dairy Creamers Are Vegan
Before we get started with our list, it’s important to remember that not all non-dairy creamers are necessarily “vegan.” Unless the product specifically states that it’s vegan you still need to check the ingredients list to ensure there aren’t animal products such as whey, casein, or lactose. If you are a vegan (or are just trying to reduce animal products in your diet) you should steer clear of these ingredients.
We’ve made it easy for you by curating this list of vegan creamers. Some of these creamers we’ve tried ourselves while others come highly recommended by members of our trusted closed Facebook group, The Peas and Carrots Society — our #1 trusted resource for recommendations. Let’s get started!

Our List of Top Vegan Coffee Creamers

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Trader Joe’s Coconut Creamer

I’ve used this one in the past and absolutely love it. Larissa isn’t a coconut lover so this isn’t one of her favorites. From my perspective, the coconut is not overpowering but it does give the creamer it a great flavor. You can find Trader Joe’s Original Coconut Creamer as well as their soy creamer at your local TJ’s.

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Nut Pods

Made from almonds and coconuts, one of the first things I noticed with Nut Pods coffee creamers was their fun flavor options. Their current vegan creamer offerings are:

* Original
* French Vanilla
* Caramel
* Cinnamon Swirl
* Toasted Marshmallow
* Cotton Candy
* Confections Collection
* Coconut Macaroon

You can also pick up a variety pack to try out a few different flavors.

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Starbucks

In 2020, Starbucks made vegan options more accessible by launching a line of non-dairy creamers nationwide. The new flavors are inspired by customers’ favorite in-store beverages, including the Hazelnut Latte and Caramel Macchiato. They’re crafted with sweet, buttery caramel and hints of vanilla flavor.
Starbucks creamers are made with a blend of almond and oat milks.

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Califia Farms

This is another creamer that I have tried and really like. One sad piece of news is that the founder of Califia, Greg Steltenpohl, passed away in 2021. You can read more about the mission of Califia Farms on their About Us page.
Califia has a wide array of flavors that will suit anyone’s ta...
...more
32min
May 02, 2021 VZ 383: You Need These Delicious Vegan Coffee Creamers In Your Life!
Vegan coffee lovers rejoice! With the rise of vegan plant-based milk over the past several years, there are PLENTY of vegan coffee creamers to choose from that can take that morning cuppa Joe from drab to fab! Even if you aren't a vegan but are simply looking to reduce dairy, these non-dairy options won't disappoint.

In this episode of our podcast, break down the most popular vegan coffee creamers and tell you a little about each so that you can decide for yourself if they're right for you!
...more
32min
April 18, 2021 Crafting Seitan with Skye Michael Conroy (aka The Gentle Chef) (VZ 382)

In this episode of the Vegetarian Zen podcast we welcome Skye Michael Conroy, aka The Gentle Chef.
Skye is a vegan chef and author of several vegan cookbooks including his latest, Crafting Seitan: Creating Homemade Plant-based Meats.
Skye talks to us about his journey to becoming vegan and shares how he became a vegan chef. We’ll also talk about his book, Crafting Seitan, which can help you break away from commercial mock meat products and learn to make your own delicious versions, complete with all the trimmings!
If you enjoy our podcast, we’d greatly appreciate you leaving us a rating! We read all of our 5-star ratings on the show!
Disclaimer: Information on this site is presented for educational purposes only. Always speak to your doctor before beginning any new diets or supplements. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Who is Skye Michael Conroy?
Skye Michael Conroy began his journey to becoming a vegan chef as a hobby. He soon began studying the culinary arts in-depth and in 2014 received the plant-based professional certificate of completion from Rouxbe Cooking School taught by chef Chad Sarno. For more information about Skye, please visit thegentlechef.com.

More Books By Skye
Here are a few more books by Skye Michael Conroy you may be interested in:

All The Places to Find The Gentle Chef

* Website
* Facebook (page)
* Private Facebook Group
* Instagram

Check out Skye’s recipe for vegan pepperoni!
A Special Thanks To:
Thanks for listening!
Peace and Veggies,
Vickie and Larissa

Affiliate links: Please note that some of the links on this page may be affiliate links. That means at no additional cost to you, we will earn a commission if you decide to make a purchase through one of our links. We never recommend or provide affiliate links to products or services we do not use ourselves or that come from a trusted resource. Our ultimate goal is to provide helpful products and advice to you, our readers, and listeners.
...more
40min
April 18, 2021 VZ 382: Crafting Seitan with Skye Michael Conroy (aka The Gentle Chef)
In this episode of the Vegetarian Zen podcast, we welcome Skye Michael Conroy aka The Gentle Chef. Skye is a vegan chef and author of several vegan cookbooks including his latest, “Crafting Seitan: Creating Homemade Plant-based Meats.”

Skye talks to us about his journey to becoming vegan and shares how he became a vegan chef. We’ll also talk about his book, Crafting Seitan, which can help you break away from commercial mock meat products and learn to make your own delicious versions, complete with all the trimmings!
...more
40min
April 04, 2021 Unreal Deli is the REAL Deal! Chatting with Founder Jenny Goldfarb (VZ 381)

In this episode of The Vegetarian Zen Podcast we welcome Jenny Goldfarb, the founder of Unreal Deli, the finest plant-based deli meats inspired by over 100 years of New York deli history.
We talk to Jenny about what inspired her to create Unreal Deli and about her experience on Shark Tank, where she struck a deal with Mark Cuban.
If you enjoy our podcast, we’d greatly appreciate you leaving us a rating. We read all of our 5-star ratings on the show.
Disclaimer: Information on this site is presented for educational purposes only. Always speak to your doctor before beginning any new diets or supplements. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Who Is Jenny Goldfarb?
Jenny Goldfarb, aka Mrs. Goldfarb, is the founder of Unreal Deli.
She grew up on the Standard American Diet (SAD) and in her early 30s learned about the plight of animals on factory farms, which led her to adopt a plant-based diet. After much trial and error, she became a wiz in the plant-based kitchen and realized the thing she missed most after becoming vegan was premium NY-style deli meat.

The Beginning of Unreal Deli
Born in NYC and as the great-granddaughter of New York delicatessen owners, Jenny Goldfarb uses her roots in the New York deli business to truly bring Unreal Deli to life.
Jenny created Unreal Corn’d Beef as a response to the NY-style deli meat she craved but could no longer enjoy after becoming vegan.
With one little oven to cook her meats (and a bun in the oven!), Jenny shopped Unreal Deli sandwiches around the big delis of LA and found places on their permanent menus. This got the attention of Whole Foods and landed her on Shark Tank, where Mark Cuban offered her more than double the cash she was asking for.
“Unreal has a chance to be the leading provider of plant-based deli counter meats in the country. Every great company starts with a great entrepreneur, but needs great products to really grow into powerhouse. Unreal has both.” –Mark Cuban

What Are the “Meats” Made From?
Unreal Deli makes their meats from plants rather than creating them in a lab as some other faux meats are. They are complete proteins and contain a wide range of vitamins and nutrients.
They are:

* Plant-based
* Kosher
* Animal-Free
* Cholesterol-Free
* Nitrate-Free
* Low-Carb
* Protein-Packed

Where Can I Buy Unreal Deli Products?
As of early 2021, Unreal Deli products can be found in thousands of stores across the country. Nearly every major supermarket chain in the US is falling in line to carry Unreal Deli products including here in Texas, where they’ll be carried at HEB stores! YEAH!
You can find a Store Locator on her website to find places near you.

Where You Can Find Jenny

* Unreal Deli (website)
* Count Your Colors (website)
* Instagram
* Facebook

...more
43min
April 04, 2021 VZ 381: Unreal Deli is the Real Deal! Chatting with Founder Jenny Goldfarb
In this episode of The Vegetarian Zen podcast, we welcome Jenny Goldfarb, the founder of Unreal deli the finest plant-based deli meats inspired by over 100 years of New York deli history.

We talk to Jenny about what inspired her to create Unreal Deli, what it’s like running her plant-based business and also, about her experience on Shark Tank where she landed a deal with Mark Cuban.
...more
43min
March 21, 2021 Overcoming Obstacles to Going Vegan With Certified Life Coach Michele Olender (VZ 380)

Going Vegan Can Have Its Challenges
With any challenges, having the right people in your support system can help make you successful.
In this episode of The Vegetarian Zen podcast we talk to Certified Life Coach Michele Olender about some common challenges people face when going vegan — and how they can tackle those challenges head-on!
Disclaimer: Information on this site is presented for educational purposes only. Always speak to your doctor before beginning any new diets or supplements. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Who is Michele Olender?
Michele Olender is a Certified Life Coach and podcaster committed to helping people limit or eliminate their consumption of animal products and build a vegan / vegetarian / whole food plant-based practice.
Through her coaching business and podcast, Vedge Your Best, Michele presents tools and ideas that encourage you to pick a big goal and start right where you are now with what you’ve got. Whether it’s trying out a meatless Monday or taking on Veganuary, Michele is your coach!
Michele earned a BA in Russian at Smith College and an MA in the History of Art from the University of Massachusetts, and has successfully completed the Plant-Based Nutrition Certificate Program through Cornell University.
Michele’s “impossible goal” is to help encourage a million people to move toward veganism by coaching individuals one-on-one and partnering with vegetarian and sustainable startups, side gigs, communities, and thought leaders.

All The Places to Find Michele

* Website
* On Facebook
* On Instagram

If you enjoy our podcast, we’d greatly appreciate you leaving us a rating! We read all of our 5-star ratings on the show!
Please note that some of the links on this page may be affiliate links. That means at no additional cost to you, we will earn a commission if you decide to make a purchase through one of our links. We never recommend or provide affiliate links to products or services we do not use ourselves or that come from a trusted resource. Our ultimate goal is to provide helpful products and advice to you, our readers, and listeners.

A Special Thanks To Our Sponsors:
Thanks for listening!
Peace and Veggies,
Vickie and Larissa
...more
53min
March 21, 2021 VZ 380: Overcoming Obstacles to Becoming Vegan With Certified Life Coach Michele Olender
In this episode of the Vegetarian Zen podcast, we welcome Certified Life Coach Michele Olender. Michele specializes in helping people eliminate consumption of animal products and helps existing vegetarians/vegans take on challenging new goals.
...more
53min
March 07, 2021 What Is Black Salt? Benefits, Side Effects, Plus 5 Savory Recipes (VZ 379)

In this episode of The Vegetarian Zen podcast, we talk about black salt, also known as Himalayan black salt or kala namak. We discuss its benefits and side effects, share where you can buy it, and provide a few recipes to kickstart your adventures in cooking with this seasoning.
No time to listen? No problem! Read on for a quick summary of what we discuss.
If you enjoy our podcast, we’d greatly appreciate you leaving us a rating! We read all of our 5-star ratings on the show!
Disclaimer: Information on this site is presented for educational purposes only. Always speak to your doctor before beginning any new diets or supplements. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
What is Black Salt?
Black salt is one of those things I had never heard of before I became plant-based. As I researched my new lifestyle I began seeing this ingredient in plant-based recipes.
It is a type of rock salt commonly used in Asian and Indian food, primarily for its umami flavor.
It comes from salt mines in Nepal, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and a few other Himalayan Mountain locales, which is why it’s also known as Himalayan black salt. It can also be produced synthetically.
It consists of sodium chloride plus trace amounts of sodium sulfate, sodium bisulfate, sodium bisulfite, sodium sulfide, iron sulfide, and hydrogen sulfide.
Despite being called “black salt,” some varieties can have more of a pinkish or gray hue.

What Does It Taste Like?
Black salt has an umami taste, making it great for Indian and Asian foods. Umami is one of the 5 basic tastes and is described as savory and even “meaty.” This is also why black salt works well in plant-based cuisine–it adds the taste without the meat!
In addition to being savory, black salt also has a sulfurous taste and smell that is similar to eggs. Some plant-based dishes like vegan tuna and scrambled tofu may include black salt as a way of adding eggy flavor.

Health Benefits of Black Salt
Kala namak has been around for a long time and is often associated with Ayurvedic medicine and holistic healing. While these holistic healing claims are primarily anecdotal, some benefits do have scientific backing.

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Good For Digestion

Black salt is said to have a “cooling effect” on the body and has been used to treat gas, heartburn, bloating, and indigestion. This is primarily because it helps your liver make bile and ramps up your body’s ability to absorb vitamins in the small intestine.

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Lower Sodium Than Regular Table Salt

Because it has a slightly lower sodium content than traditional table salt, black salt can be a great way to season your food without all of the extra sodium. Don’t go overboard, though! It still has sodium so if this is something you’re concerned with, use it moderately.

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Fewer Additives

Because black salt is less processed than traditional table salt, it contains fewer potentially harmful additives such as anti-caking ingredients.

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Use In Body Scrubs

Salt scrubs in general are great for removing dry, dead skin and improving circulation. The magnesium in salt can also help to flush away toxins.
...more
25min

FAQs about Vegetarian Zen:

How many episodes does Vegetarian Zen have?

The podcast currently has 861 episodes available.

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