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 links on our site, we may earn a monetary commission. Additionally, the information presented is for educational purposes only. Always consult with your doctor. Learn More. Our Top 6 Vegetarian and Vegan Magazines 1. VegNews At the tip of our list of one of the best vegetarian and vegan magazines is VegNews. VegNews is a publication that quickly became a “go-to” for Larissa and me when we became vegetarians AND when we created the podcast! You can read more about when our vegetarian journey began here. What we really like about this publication is that it provides diverse topics such as news, recipes, interviews, product reviews, and lifestyle topics. VegNews is a quarterly publication that has both print and digital options available. 2. Forks Over Knives Magazine When we became vegetarians in 2013, the Forks Over Knives documentary was one of the first films we watched. It helped us get off of the “junk food vegetarian” path and on track to eating healthier. I was so inspired that I also took the Forks Over Knives Cooking class offered by Rouxbe. Check out My 5 Biggest Take-Aways from the Forks Over Knives Cooking Course for more info and a review. Just like the film, the Forks Over Knives magazine offers health and nutrition information, delicious recipes, tips from experts, and real-life success stories for healthful, happy living. 3. Vegetarian Times Magazine When Larissa and I first became vegetarians in 2013, the Vegetarian Times Magazine was one of our ultimate...

Comfort food is like a warm hug on a plate, especially when it’s vegetarian. Whether it’s a creamy soup on a chilly evening or a hearty casserole that feels like home, these dishes deliver pure coziness with every bite. But comfort food doesn’t have to mean heavy or boring—vegetarian recipes can be just as satisfying, packed with rich flavors, hearty textures, and wholesome ingredients. In this roundup, we’re sharing 12 of our all-time favorite vegetarian comfort food recipes. From our own creamy vegetarian pot pie to classics like mac and cheese and savory soups, these dishes are perfect for chilly evenings, busy weeknights, or whenever those comfort food cravings strike. Ready to get inspired? Let’s dig into these delicious recipes! Vegetarian Zen is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn a monetary commission. Additionally, the information presented is for educational purposes only. Always consult with your doctor. Learn More. Some foods are so comforting, so nourishing of body and soul, that to eat them is to be home again after a long journey. To eat such a meal is to remember that, though the world is full of knives and storms, the body is built for kindness. The angels, who know no hunger, have never been as satisfied. — Eli Brown, from the novel Cinnamon and Gunpowder   12 Delicious Vegetarian Comfort Food recipes to Keep You Warm and Cozy 1. Creamy Dreamy Vegetarian Pot Pie (Our Recipe) There’s nothing quite like a warm, flaky pot pie fresh out of the oven. Our creamy vegetarian pot pie is packed with tender veggies like carrots, peas, and mushrooms, all nestled in a rich, savory sauce. Whether you prefer a biscuit crust or traditional pie crust, this pot pie is super satisfying. The best part? This recipe is surprisingly easy to make, thanks to a simple ingredient list and straightforward steps. It’s comfort food at its finest—perfect for chilly evenings or when you want something cozy and homemade. Pro Tip: Double the recipe and freeze one for later. Pot pie leftovers are just as delicious, making it an excellent option for meal prep! Now that we’ve kicked things off with our house favorite, let’s explore 11 more vegetarian comfort food recipes you’ll love. 2. Vickie’s Vegan Black Bean Chili This hearty, plant-based chili is one of our personal favorites from Vegetarian Zen. Packed with bold flavors, satisfying black beans, and just the right blend of spices, it’s a true comfort food classic. The recipe is simple but delivers big on taste, making it perfect for busy weeknights or meal prep. What sets this chili apart is its rich, smoky flavor, balanced perfectly with a hint of spice.

Whether you are a &#8220;sweet&#8221; or &#8220;salty&#8221; 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&#8217;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 and not-so-healthy list since some are processed food on our list but an indulgence every now and then is not the end of the world! As we always say, it&#8217;s not all or nothing! You can listen to the episode of our podcast below to hear us discuss some of our favorite vegan snacks read on for a quick summary. Please note, the article below has been updated for 2023 so you may hear some different snacks mentioned on the accompanying podcast. We strive to always bring you the most up-to-date information. Vegetarian Zen is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn a monetary commission. Additionally, the information presented is for educational purposes only. Always consult with your doctor. Learn More. What Are Our Favorite Vegan Snacks of 2024? Here they are! Let&#8217;s not waste ANY time sharing our top nom-noms. 1. Angie&#8217;s Boom Chickapop Vegan Salted Caramel Popcorn * The first thing you notice when you pop a few pieces of Angie&#8217;s Boom Chickapop in your mouth is how light the pieces feel in your mouth. That&#8217;s because there aren&#8217;t a whole lot of ingredients in this snack. They keep it simple which keeps it delicious and one of the healthier off-the-shelf snacks. You can also make your own air-popped popcorn at home which we sometimes do when we are out of Boom Chickapop. One of my favorite ways to add some great flavor to air-popped popcorn is to sprinkle it with nutritional yeast. 2. Primal Spirit Vegan Jerky We were big fans of beef jerky before going plant-based in 2013. Luckily it wasn&#8217;t too long before we discovered the deliciousness of vegan jerky!  Primal Spirits offers some great flavors you can check out. I recommend trying out their sampler pack to find your favorite! 3. Earth Balance Cheddar Squares We love Earth Balance products and their Cheddar Squares are definitely on our list of top 5 products from them.  These are awesome for movie night or anytime you&#8217;re craving something a bit salty. 4. Pumpkin Seeds <a href="https://www.amazon.

Recently in the Peas and Carrots Society Facebook group, a member posted a question asking, &#8220;What is nooch?&#8221; What followed was an AMAZING discussion among members about these mysterious yellow flakes, including some really yummy-sounding and creative ways to use them. You can listen to us discuss nutritional yeast here or read on for a quick summary. Vegetarian Zen is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn a monetary commission. Additionally, the information presented is for educational purposes only. Always consult with your doctor. Learn More.   What is Nooch (aka Nutritional Yeast)? Nutritional yeast is deactivated yeast related to brewer&#8217;s yeast which is used as a fermentation agent in beer making. Some brands use molasses, then harvest, heat, dry, and crumble for the final product. Nutritional yeast has a nutty savory taste which makes it such a great substitute for dairy cheese. We consider it one of our veg pantry staples!     What are the Health Benefits of Nooch? Nutritional yeast is a great source of: * Magnesium  * Copper  * Manganese  * Thiamin  * Riboflavin  * Niacin  * Vitamin B6  * Folate  * Vitamin B12  * Zinc * Protein * Dietary Fiber Additionally, it&#8217;s low in saturated fat, cholesterol, and sodium. It&#8217;s also typically gluten-free but you should check the label just to be sure!   Where Can I Buy It? Nutritional yeast is easy to find. You can find it at most grocery stores or you can order it online. We usually use Bragg&#8217;s brand of nooch but there are several others on the market such as: * Bob’s Red Mill  * Red Star  * Kal  * Dr. Fuhrman  * Frontier Co-op  * NOW Foods  * Whole Foods (Can find it in the bulk section of Whole Foods)      Some Ways You Can Use Nooch * * Use in homemade cheeses &#8211; Since nooch has a cheesy flavor, it makes a great substitute for dairy cheese. Try blending it with plain cashew cream and spices to make a cheesy sauce. * * Sprinkle on veggies &#8211; Adding nooch to potato wedges is a game changer!  Cut up a potato, toss wedges in olive oil and fresh rosemary, sprinkle some nooch, smoked paprika, and sea salt,

Are You Low Carb&#8217;n? In this episode of the Vegetarian Zen podcast we discuss the possibility of being a low carb vegetarian (yep…you can totally do it). Special thanks goes out to Andrea Gaietto and Elizabeth McGrath for suggesting this topic in response to a request for topic ideas that Vickie posted in the Peas and Carrots group on Facebook! Please note that some of the links on this page may be affiliate links and, at no additional cost to you, we will earn a commission if you decide to make a purchase after clicking through to the product using the link we have provided. We never recommend or provide affiliate links to products or services we do not use ourselves, and our ultimate goal is to provide helpful products and advice to you, our readers and listeners. Resources Used for this Episode * What Are Carbohydrates? * The Eco-Atkins Diet: What It Is * How many carbohydrates do you need? * The Minimum Carbohydrate Requirement for Adults * The complete guide to stocking a low-carb, vegetarian kitchen Recipe of the Week * Low Carb Vegan Manicotti Quotes of the Week Carbohydrates from the Latin, carbo which means &#8220;yummy&#8221; and hydrates which means &#8220;cinnamon bun,&#8221; are not something I can eliminate or even drastically cut back on. &#8212; Celia Rivenbark Question: Are you interested in eating a low carb vegetarian diet? Thanks for listening! Peace and Veggies, Vickie and Larissa

Looking Back on 200 Episodes of Vegetarian Zen! In this episode of the Vegetarian Zen podcast, we reflect on the 199 episodes that have come before and share some of our listeners’ favorite things about the podcast. Please note that some of the links on this page may be affiliate links and, at no additional cost to you, we will earn a commission if you decide to make a purchase after clicking through to the product using the link we have provided. We never recommend or provide affiliate links to products or services we do not use ourselves, and our ultimate goal is to provide helpful products and advice to you, our readers and listeners. &nbsp; Here’s what we mention in this episode: Recipe of the Week * Jackfruit Pot Pie (Vegan) &nbsp; Quotes of the Week Perseverance is failing 19 times and succeeding the 20th. &#8212; Julie Andrews &nbsp; Question What’s YOUR favorite thing about the Vegetarian Zen podcast? Thanks for listening! Peace and Veggies, Vickie and Larissa

Nut-Free Creamy Vegan Sauces In this episode of the Vegetarian Zen podcast, we’ll share some ways to make creamy vegan sauces without using nuts. The idea for this topic came from a question posed by a member of the Peas &amp; Carrots Society on Facebook! &nbsp; Please note that some of the links on this page may be affiliate links and, at no additional cost to you, we will earn a commission if you decide to make a purchase after clicking through to the product using the link we have provided. We never recommend or provide affiliate links to products or services we do not use ourselves, and our ultimate goal is to provide helpful products and advice to you, our readers and listeners. &nbsp; Here’s what we mention in this episode: amzn_assoc_tracking_id = "vegezen-20"; amzn_assoc_ad_mode = "manual"; amzn_assoc_ad_type = "smart"; amzn_assoc_marketplace = "amazon"; amzn_assoc_region = "US"; amzn_assoc_design = "enhanced_links"; amzn_assoc_asins = "1570672830"; amzn_assoc_placement = "adunit"; amzn_assoc_linkid = "5732e205ae4da5b3f3cc3f61fced249f"; amzn_assoc_tracking_id = "vegezen-20"; amzn_assoc_ad_mode = "manual"; amzn_assoc_ad_type = "smart"; amzn_assoc_marketplace = "amazon"; amzn_assoc_region = "US"; amzn_assoc_design = "enhanced_links"; amzn_assoc_asins = "1570671516"; amzn_assoc_placement = "adunit"; amzn_assoc_linkid = "c1d617ab54e90a02cb6bc5a5b88a217f"; &nbsp; * The Ultimate Vegan Cheese Sauce * Vegan Cheese &nbsp; Resources Used for this Episode: * How to Make Creamy, Rich Sauces Without Dairy &nbsp; Recipe of the Week * Cauli-Power Fettuccine “Alfredo” (Vegan) &nbsp; Quotes of the Week When the Man waked up he said, ‘What is Wild Dog doing here?’ And the Woman said, ‘His name is not Wild Dog any more, but the First Friend, because he will be our friend for always and always and always. &#8212; Rudyard Kipling, from the short story “The Cat That Walked By Himself” &nbsp; Question: Do you make your own creamy vegan sauces? We’d love to know your favorite recipe! &nbsp; Thanks for listening! Peace and Veggies, Vickie and Larissa

It&#8217;s Easy (and Beneficial) to Organize! In this episode of the Vegetarian Zen podcast, we share some tips to organize your pantry, fridge, and freezer to make it easier to prepare and store healthy meals and snacks. Want more tips? Check out our latest episodes: 7 Awesome Refrigerator Organization Tips 7 Powerful Pantry Organization Tips Please note that some of the links on this page may be affiliate links and, at no additional cost to you, we will earn a commission if you decide to make a purchase after clicking through to the product using the link we have provided. We never recommend or provide affiliate links to products or services we do not use ourselves, and our ultimate goal is to provide helpful products and advice to you, our readers and listeners. Here’s what we mention in this episode: Pyrex glass food storage containers The Kitchen Girl Healthy Kitchen Organizing Checklist Simple Life Together Resources Used for this Episode: * 5 Strategies for Organizing Your Pantry (and Keeping It That Way) Recipe of the Week * One-Pot Veggie and Soba Noodle Soup Quotes of the Week Organizing is what you do before you do something, so that when you do it, it is not all mixed up. &#8212; A. A. Milne Question: What are your best kitchen organization tips? &nbsp; Thanks for listening! Peace and Veggies, Vickie and Larissa

What Do You Want to Know About Vegetarian Zen? Back in November of 2015, we did an episode called Ask Vegetarian Zen Anything. Since it’s been a long time since then, we thought we’d do another installment. We asked members of the Peas &amp; Carrots Society for their questions…here they are, along with our best responses. Please note that some of the links on this page may be affiliate links and, at no additional cost to you, we will earn a commission if you decide to make a purchase after clicking through to the product using the link we have provided. We never recommend or provide affiliate links to products or services we do not use ourselves, and our ultimate goal is to provide helpful products and advice to you, our readers and listeners. Here’s what we mention in this episode: * Sweet Earth Foods * Dollar Shave Club * The Creative Vegetable Gardener &nbsp; Recipe of the Week * Make Your Own Just-Add-Hot-Water Instant Noodles &nbsp; Quotes of the Week Think where man&#8217;s glory most begins and ends, and say my glory was I had such friends. &#8212; William Butler Yeats &nbsp; Thanks for listening! Peace and Veggies, Vickie and Larissa