Vegan Family Kitchen
Vegan Family Kitchen / Brigitte Gemme
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The worst thing about cooking is deciding what to make. Brigitte Gemme, founder and Chief Meal Planner at Vegan Family Kitchen, guides you to plan and prep delicious and nutritious meals for yourself and your loved ones, using vegan whole foods plant-based ingredients... and lots of love.
Available episodes
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2 days ago
Healthy Vegan Italian Cooking: A Conversation with Antonia Ricciardi
Get inspired to cook more healthy vegan Italian food with Antonia Ricciardi! Antonia trained in physics and worked in the publishing industry, but her roots in the family restaurant in Southern Italy stayed strong. In our podcast conversation, you'll learn more about:
* Antonia's inspiring shift from the sciences to the culinary world, ingeniously weaving Italian flavors into her vegan dishes.
* Her favorite substitute for meat in vegan Bolognese sauce - and how the people of Bologna actually make it!
* The powerful wellness benefits of raw food, with a special spotlight on Antonia's delectable raw cakes from her Cambridge, UK shop.
* Antonia's practical guidance for anyone embarking on a plant-based diet or a career in vegan cuisine.
* And her clients' favorite dishes!
Links:
* Antonia's Cambridge UK private chef services
* Her raw cake shop
* Antonia on Instagram
* Her frittata recipe is on my website: https://veganfamilykitchen.com/italian-cooking-with-antonia-ricciardi
Tune in with Vegan Family Kitchen Podcast host, Brigitte Gemme, and Antonia Ricciardi to explore the fascinating world of Italian plant-based cooking, where tradition meets healthy innovation. Savor this episode and ignite your culinary passion!
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Need a meal plan? Visit Vegan Family Kitchen and share your email at the top of the page to receive my free 5-day healthy vegan dinner plan featuring all-time client favorites: https://veganfamilykitchen.com/
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May 16, 2023
Cooking in a state of emergency: An interview with Oksana Spoliak, Ukrainian food blogger
How to deal with having to go down to the air raid shelter in the midst of cooking dinner? Is there even something that's good to eat when you are under threat of bombing? And how can we make cooking and eating a more meaningful experience, even under a prolonged state of emergency such as war? In this can't-miss episode of the Vegan Family Kitchen podcast, I am honored to talk about all this - and more - with Oksana Spoliak, a Ukrainian food blogger who lives in Lviv.
Oksana Spoliak is a Ukrainian who rediscovered her love of food, bringing together efficiency and creativity in preparing healthy meals. She values mindFOODness and, despite the invasion, continues to share her love to cooking in her food blog as well as within her community. Even in hard times of disastrous war in her home country, cooking is the activity that helps her feel grounded and enjoy the present moment as well as help others eat healthy.
Those who speak (or are curious about) Ukrainian will love her videos on YouTube and want to connect with her on Instagram. Don't miss her upcoming program and events! Oksana also invites everyone to support her Ukrainian charity of choice, Come Back Alive, and keeps this list of resources up to date: What you can do to help Ukraine now.
Thank you for listening and for your support.
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May 4, 2023
This ninja doctor is not protein deficient: An interview with Dr. Jules Cormier, family physician
In this episode of the Vegan Family Kitchen podcast, I sit down with Dr. Jules Cormier, a family physician, plant-based nutrition advocate, and ninja sports athlete who shares his inspiring story of transformation, healing, and performance.
In his 20s, Dr. Cormier suffered from cholinergic angioedema, a severe condition that caused anaphylactic-like symptoms and swelling when exercising. After a flare-up that sent him to the hospital (as a patient!), he was encouraged to try cutting out dairy to manage his symptoms... and it worked! Soon, he adopted a fully plant-based diet and hasn't had an episode since.
With over a decade of experience as a plant-based doctor, Dr. Cormier shares his journey and the benefits of plant-based nutrition in treating and preventing various health conditions. His approach has caught on among his colleagues. In the interview, we discuss how he integrates plant-based nutrition in his practice when appropriate, and the power of small changes to make a big difference.
We also chatted about his passion for fitness and his discovery of ninja sports. Last year, he even qualified for the World Ninja Championships in Las Vegas, where he was pleased to compete without fear of an adverse reaction.
Listen in and be inspired! Then make sure to connect with Dr. Jules Cormier on his website: https://www.plantbaseddrjules.com/
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Need a better plan for healthy vegan dinners? Download the free 5-day "Planned & Plant-Based" guide: https://veganfamilykitchen.com/planned-plant-based/
Overwhelmed, frustrated, or resenteful in the kitchen? It's time for a mindset shift. Check out Brigitte's book Flow in the Kitchen: Practices for Healthy Stress-Free Vegan Cooking: http://veganfamilykitchen.com/books
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Apr 26, 2023
The unexpected benefits of cooking in a 310 sqft home: An interview with Kathy Davis of VegInspired
Most people believe that they'd cook better if they had a bigger kitchen... but is that so? Kathy Davis, who runs the Eat More Plants Academy and published three cookbooks, lives in a RV and her story challenges conventional views. It's all about intention.
Kathy Davis is the CEO of VegInspired and a plant-based lifestyle and mindset coach for female entrepreneurs. I was surprised to hear that, eight years ago, she came to plant-based eating kicking and screaming after her husband read an article about the health benefits. Later, a farm visit led her to become vegan. She enjoyed exploring all the amazing plant-based food options that were becoming available at restaurants, documenting it all on her YouTube channel. Unfortunately, her health suffered.
Almost three years ago, she made the decision to shift her daily habits to follow a whole food plant-based lifestyle. She experienced amazing results: not only she lost weight but, more importantly, she found herself with renewed energy and a newfound sense of joy. She and her husband John have taken their life on the road and they slowly make their way across the United States with the goal of visiting all national parks, making the most of her increased fitness and stamina.
You can connect with Kathy on Instagram and get a free whole food plant-based meal plan on her website, VegInspired.
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You too can enjoy healthy stress-free vegan dinners next week. Download the 5-day Planned & Plant-based guide: https://veganfamilykitchen.com/planned-plant-based/
A zen-inspired guide to better meals by podcast host Brigitte Gemme: Flow in the Kitchen: Practices for Healthy Stress-Free Vegan Cooking.
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Apr 19, 2023
Life after breast cancer: An interview with Nic Bathurst, dietitian and nutritionist specializing in mid-life women’s health
Nic Bathurst, a dietitian and nutritionist, and mom of four kids, thought of herself as a healthy and fit person with good habits. Then, at age 48 she was diagnosed with breast cancer. She underwent a mastectomy and started digging into the literature about breast cancer. What she found out was not what she had learned in school.
That was 10 years ago, and she has turned her life around since, in addition to changing the way she works with her clients. I had the pleasure of sitting with her for a conversation about:
* How menopause doesn't have to make us victims of our hormones
* Whether or not we should worry about protein
* The place of alcohol in a healthy lifestyle
* How industry finds the right "bliss point" to hook us to foods we'd probably be better off without
* Small experiments we can try to see if our life improves
* And more!
Nic is a dietitian and nutritionist of over 30 years. She has been a passionate plant advocate since she got breast cancer in 2013 and discovered the health and weight loss benefits of a diet powered by plants. She now specializes in helping women navigate their mid-life hormones, release unwanted weight, and optimize their health by eating more plants.
I encourage you to connect with Nic Bathurst on her website Naturally Nic and to watch her videos on YouTube.
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Mar 30, 2023
Yoga, Food, and Healing: A conversation with Leah Cooper of The Centre of Ki
The food we eat isn't neutral: every bite has the potential to nourish and heal us, or harm us. So says Leah Cooper, my friend Down Under who teaches yoga and whole food cooking in the macrobiotic tradition.
In our conversation, we talk about:
* Why the connection between yoga and food isn't always made in conventional yoga classes
* What therapeutic yoga can be a better choice for those of us whose bodies aren't in perfect shape
* How we can eat according to the seasons
* And how to make veggie-rich miso soup for breakfast!
My guest Leah Cooper is a yoga teacher, whole food cook, and health and wellbeing enthusiast. She started her business, The Centre of Ki (pronounced 'key') in 2013 and has been teaching weekly yoga classes, hosting yoga retreats, and leading seasonal cooking workshops in the Barossa Valley of South Australia for 10 years. She also has a YouTube channel that enables her to share her passions for health and wellbeing to a wider audience, and in 2021 she began her podcast - The Wellbeing Room.
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Feb 15, 2023
The spiritual energy of food: Conversation with Kimberly Winters, vegan coach and energy guide
"When we uncover who we are, and we are willing to show up as that person, a lot of barriers just fall away."
Those are the wise and inspiring words of my guest, Kimberly Winters. Kimberly is the host of the Did You Bring the Hummus? podcast, where she gently guides those who wish to adopt a vegan lifestyle through their transition. In addition to coaching, she supports others - vegan or not - as an energy guide and reiki practitioner.
I wanted to bring Kimberly on the show to talk about the spiritual energy of food. What difference does it make, in our bodies, hearts, and souls, to eat plants as opposed to animals?
In this episode, I also bring Kimberly to share her journey with us, including early signs that she should probably go vegan (though she ignored them) and a long stint as a vegetarian who didn't like vegetables or know how to cook.
You can connect with Kimberly Winters for guidance, or to join her healing circles, on her podcast's page: Did You Bring the Hummus? (Did you?!) http://didyoubringthehummus.com/
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Do you need a bit of help deciding what's for dinner now that you want to eat more plants (and fewer animals)? Let me help you with a 5-night healthy vegan dinner plan. Learn more at http://veganfamilykitchen.com/
Overwhelmed, frustrated, or resentful in the kitchen? It's time for a mindset shift. Check out Brigitte's book Flow in the Kitchen: Practices for Healthy Stress-Free Vegan Cooking.
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Jan 5, 2023
Plant-based in public health: An interview with Charlyn Black, Professor, UBC School of Population and Public Health
Charlyn Black trained as a family doctor more than forty years ago, but most of her career has been as a scholar dedicated to understanding the social determinants of health for over three decades. She is now a Professor at the UBC School of Population and Public Health, and an enthusiastic advocate for the power of predominantly plant-based diets for prevention and vitality. I am grateful that she is also a Vegan Meal Plan subscribers, using them in her own way as she'll explain in the interview.
In this conversation, we talk about:
* Charlyn's journey from teaching yoga at age 16 to family medicine and finally a public health professorship,
* Her transition to vegetarian in the 80s and what it finally took to make her go toward a whole food plant-based diet,
* The intersections between her personal and professional journeys,
* Initiatives that give her hope when it comes to the use of plant-based diet to improve individual and public health,
* How she practices batch cooking,
* And the advice she gives to people who might be thinking about plant-based diets but fearing that it's not for them.
Thank you Charlyn for this inspiring conversation, I admire your vitality and enthusiasm! I look forward to cooking with you again soon.
The episode is also available on YouTube.
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Would you like to give batch cooking a try? Download my Planned & Plant-based 5-day dinner plan to give Brigitte's "building blocks" approach a try: https://veganfamilykitchen.com/planned-plant-based/
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Dec 14, 2022
Getting started with raw vegan food: An interview with Crystal Bonnet, raw chef and author of The Art of Raw Desserts
Today on the Vegan Family Kitchen Podcast I meet with Crystal Bonnet, raw vegan chef and author of the just-published beautiful book The Art of Raw Desserts.
Crystal is a graduate of the Matthew Kenney Culinary Academy and of the Pure Joy Academy. She develops unique and delicious all-vegan raw recipes and now teaches everything she knows to home cooks and professionals chefs alike. You can find her courses on her website https://crystaldawnculinary.com and connect with her on Instagram.
In this interview, Crystal shares what got her started on her vegan and raw journey, describes her lifestyle today, and shares her best tips for beginners to get started in adding a bit more raw food into their diet.
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Dec 3, 2022
Practicing mindfulness to tame food addiction: A conversation with Karen Steiner
How can the principles of mindfulness and compassion support a transition away from overeating and food addiction? I had the pleasure of exploring this topic with Karen Steiner in conversation for the Vegan Family Kitchen Podcast. Karen Steiner is a Weight Loss Coach, Food Activist and Meditation Teacher. Professionally, she has Master’s degree in Counseling and Educational Psychology, has trained as a Life Coach through The Co-Active Training Institute and the eCornell Certificate in Plant-Based Nutrition from the T. Colin Campbell Center for Nutrition Studies. After nearly 40 years of contemplative practice and study with teachers Buddhist, Christian, and Jewish she finally learned how to take her mindfulness practice off the cushion and into the kitchen. Through mindful eating Karen discovered that dairy was playing havoc with her body and that she was seriously addicted to a number of foods, including cheese. Giving up dairy and becoming fully vegan was a major game changer. Food cravings disappeared, weight came off and a life-long depression lifted. In this conversation, Karen tells me about:
* The start of her vegetarian journey in 1984 with Diet for a Small Planet
* The distinction between casual overeating and food addiction
* Why moderation isn't useful for everyone and why she has to keep her home "clean"
* What makes her so angry about the food industry
* How a trip to New Zealand served as an epiphany that led her to make big changes
* How she decided to quit cheese and the successes and struggles that ensued
* Her new way of eating, which includes a lot of vegetables
* The role for patience when it comes to transforming one's habits
To connect with Karen, visit her website and download her free e-book Six Strategies for Permanent Weight Loss. She will run her program Breaking the Food Seduction One Mindful Bite at a Time in December and early in the New Year. Visit Karen's YouTube channel and read more about her journey in Forks Over Knives magazine.
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Oct 24, 2022
New book: Flow in the Kitchen available for pre-order
My first book Flow in the Kitchen: Practices for Healthy Stress-Free Vegan Cooking is available for pre-order in ebook format from Amazon (compatible with all mobile devices)! (Paperback and Kobo coming soon.) It's not a cookbook! Instead of feeding you recipes, I offer you the seeds you can plant to grow your own versions of standard vegan dishes based on your preferences, ingredients you have at hand, and seasonal produce. Listen on to find out what's in the book and head over to Amazon.com to order. (Also available on Amazon.ca, Amazon.co.uk, and everywhere in Amazonland.)
Send your comments and invitation to chat about Flow in the Kitchen for your podcast, blog, or magazine, email me at hello@veganfamilykitchen.com.
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Sep 21, 2022
Cooking with your Strengths: An Interview with Gemma McFall, Strengths Coach and Vegan Meal Plan subscriber
Do you hate cooking? You are not alone. My guest today, Gemma McFall, used to feel just like you, but then she found a way to leverage her strengths to improve her kitchen reality. Listen on to find out what she did.
Gemma McFall is a Gallup Certified Strengths Coach and also a Vegan Meal Plan subscriber. Her work is to help women reduce stress and heal chronic pain so they can get back to enjoying life. After struggling for years with back pain herself and trying everything, she discovered that she had neuroplastic pain, which meant that her pain could be cured. As she healed, she decided to share her discovery with others. You will love learning about her experience feeding her family of four as expatriates in various countries, following her process healing from chronic pain, and finding out more about how you too can leverage your strengths to find more joy in cooking. Let's chat!
You can connect with Gemma via her web site: https://gemmamcfall.com
To see if the Vegan Meal Plans…
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Sep 14, 2022
Things I do every week for happier weeknight meals
Cooking really good food for myself and my loved ones isn't a sprint. It's an ultra-endurance event. It has to be attended at least 3 times per day (more like 6 when counting snacks for growing and/or active people). It's not like I can deal it once for the year or a few months and be satisfied. It's one of those cyclical things that repeats every day. And having some weekly routines for it also helps a great deal. Here are my top 5.
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Do you need a bit of help with meal planning? Download one of my free templates or subscribe to the Vegan Meal Plans. It's like a 1-year cooking course that is directly useful to your daily life! With access to the teacher by text message anytime, too.
If you are inspired to learn more about Flow in the Kitchen, consider pre-ordering my upcoming book.
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Sep 12, 2022
From Nepal to the Midwest and back: Babita Shresta, author of Plant-based Himalaya
Babita Shresta thought she had landed on another planet when she first visited a grocery store in Minnesota. Coming from rural Nepal, where as a child she learned to cook fresh vegetables and simmer lentils alongside her grandfather, she had never seen packaged processed food. Pre-cooked tortillas and roti sold in plastic bags blew her mind. She could not have imagined that frozen meat would one day become part of her diet, yet it did. As a busy college student, she was too busy to think it all through. After some time, she realized that those convenience foods were neither good for her health nor for the planet, and she committed to sharing her deep love of traditional plant-based Nepalese cooking with the world.
Join me in listening to Babita tell the story of her food upbringing and of how travel transformed her perspective, leading her to become a advocate for the kind of food that's loving our bodies and the planet.
I encourage you to order her book Plant-based Himalaya: Vegan R…
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May 20, 2022
Soy and cancer: should we worry? Here’s what the recent literature says.
This question has been settled scientifically for a number of years but it still keeps on coming up, so I thought I would review the recent scientific evidence about the link (or rather, the lack of link) between soy and cancer risk for your convenience. Spoiler: soy certainly does not cause cancer and in fact may be preventive.
You will find the reference and links to the publications discussed herein on my web site here.
I make sure to include tofu or some other soy food once per week in my Vegan Meal Plans. If you'd like to experience the peace of mind of not having to decide what's for dinner for a week (yet knowing that you're going to cook and eat simple yet delicious and nutritious meals), you are welcome to get my plant-based meal planning starter kit here: Planned & Plant-based.
Thanks for listening and keep on cooking!
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May 19, 2022
Can fertility improve with a plant-based diet? Exploring Dr. Jenny Lee’s journey toward better reproductive health
Can fertility improve with a plant-based diet? Research certainly seems to be on the side of a reduction in meat intake having a positive effect, while health plant-based diets focused on whole foods have the potential to improve many of the factors that influence fertility. To talk about it, I invited Dr. Jenny Lee on the podcast.
Dr. Jenny Lee is a board-certified physician in both Internal Medicine and Lifestyle Medicine, in addition to serving as a wellness coach. Through her work as a physician, she has seen many people developing and suffering from chronic disease caused by lifestyle. This is why she was drawn to lifestyle medicine where the focus is on nutrition, exercise, sleep, stress management, and relationships to prevent or reverse chronic disease. She also loves coaching, as it is more of a partnership between two people, where she works together with her clients toward their goals. Her passion is helping women with fertility issues. Through her own fertility struggles y…
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May 16, 2022
Iron for vegans: my views as a meal planner, woman, and mother
Iron is a common concern of well-meaning friends and relatives, upon learning that a loved one is going vegan or committing to eating more plants (and fewer animals). Since most people still think of meat as the source of the most abundant and easiest to absorb iron, isn’t forgoing animal products putting you at risk for iron deficiency? Unfortunately, many medical professionals contribute to spreading this outdated belief, despite ample scientific evidence to the contrary.
As someone who decides what’s for dinner for other people, I see it as my responsibility to stay informed on the topic of iron for vegans, and share my views and sources of information. Spoiler alert: it’s not a big deal for most people, which doesn’t mean we shouldn’t be paying attention to this critical mineral when planning our meals.
To access the resources discussed in this podcast episode, visit the full blog post: https://veganfamilykitchen.com/iron-for-vegans/
To experience the Vegan Meal Plans…
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Apr 22, 2022
Where spirituality and veganism meet: an Earth Day conversation with Rev. Ian White Maher
Earth Day is a timely moment to reflect on how we are connected to our natural environment and to all the other beings who share this planet with us. I am humbled to be joined by Reverend Ian White Maher, a Unitarian Universalist minister and also the founder of The Seekers’ Table, an online contemplative community. Ian is also vegan, a lifestyle change he sees as deeply embedded in a process of spiritual transformation.
Connect with Ian and read his "Spirituality as if People Mattered" guide at The Seekers' Table.
Looking to make it easier to eat more plant-based dinners? Download your 5-dinner meal plan, including convenient prep steps to take on the weekend to make weeknights less stressful: Planned & Plant-based.
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Apr 11, 2022
Getting in shape after kids: best tips from Amy Kakebeeke, plant-based certified personal trainer
How do you get into shape after having kids without spending hours in the gym? Amy Kakebeeke is the queen of squeezing short yet effective workouts in-between the many commitments of her busy life as a working mom. Get ready to be inspired to hop off the couch and start moving!
In the podcast, we:
- talk about Amy's work with busy women who want to lose weight and get in shape without spending hours at the gym - tell Amy's journey to veganism _and_ fitness, coming from a meat & couch potato lifestyle - tease out Amy's best tips to get in the best shape of your life.
You can connect with Amy on Instagram at https://instagram.com/plantstrong_ak
Need to get organized to eat better plant-based meals? Download your free 5-day dinner strategy: Planned & Plant-based from the Vegan Family Kitchen: https://veganfamilykitchen.com/planned-plant-based/
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Apr 6, 2022
My son had plain pasta for dinner and I am ok with that
If you also deal with picky eaters, you know how frustrating, discouraging, and worrisome it can be. I hope this story about my children's food journeys will make you feel less alone and more hopeful.
If you're interested in my Feed picky eaters with love workshop, check out the details here: https://veganfamilykitchen.com/register/feed-picky-eaters-with-love-workshop/.
Download your 5-day dinner plan that includes prep steps to make weeknights less stressful: Planned and Plant-based.
Learn more about the Vegan Meal Plans.
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Mar 31, 2022
Why you need to join a plant-based cooking club
There aren't many aspects of your life that won't be improved by joining a plant-based cooking club. It's a great way to ensure that you show up in the kitchen on weekends to do your batch cooking for the week. When Wednesday night comes and you open the fridge, you'll find the building blocks of dinner ready to assemble to create a fresh-tasting, delicious, healthy vegan meal. It's the perfect companion for the Vegan Meal Plans and that's why a lifetime subscription of the plans is bundled up with the cooking club membership. Learn more here: https://veganfamilykitchen.com/register/batch-cooking-club/
Keep on cooking!
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Mar 10, 2022
Zero-waste cooking and living with Anne-Marie Bonneau, the Zero-waste Chef
Anne-Marie Bonneau has been living plastic-free since 2011 and you'll find her story and tips inspiring and empowering. In this episode, we discuss what motivated her and her daughters to say goodbye to plastic and reduce their food and packaging waste and Anne-Marie shares her zero-waste shopping routines. We discuss the mindset shifts that make it easier to reduce our environmental footprint without decreasing our enjoyment of life.
Check out Anne-Marie's book The Zero-Waste Chef which contains plant-forward recipes with lots of vegan options.
You can connect with her on her web site, Zero-waste Chef, and I recommend you follow her on Instagram.
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Did you know that planning plant-based meals and batch cooking on weekends is a great way to decrease you food waste? I have assembled a 5-day plant-based meal plan to help you get started. Check it out here: Planned & Plant-based.
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Feb 8, 2022
Do you make time for grace?
Grace hasn't been a ritual in my life thus far... but I think it should from now on. What do you think?
I always love to hear from you. Drop me an email at hello@veganfamilykitchen.com.
If you need help deciding what's for dinner, I can do that for you. Try the Planned & Plant-based 5-dinner plan and see if it helps out: https://veganfamilykitchen.com/planned-plant-based/
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Feb 4, 2022
How come newspapers are still publishing meat recipes?
I am sick and tired of seeing meat, dairy, and egg recipes in mainstream newspapers and magazines, as well as featured in TV shows. And don't get me started on famous previously-plant-based bloggers who start posting meat recipes because it increases their advertising revenue. The world does NOT need another meat recipe. We all have to start doing our jobs as if the climate matters - because it does. Food editors, do your part, take a stand.
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Feb 3, 2022
Why I recommend an inexpensive slow cooker for plant-based cooking
The Instant Pot craze - and extremely effective marketing campaign - has cast a shadow on that simple hero, the slow cooker. Despite being the simplest appliance there is - with exactly zero moving parts! - slow cookers can still save the day, and in fact I recommend you use them at least once or twice per week to make comforting soups and stews. Listen on to find out the benefits and downsides of slow cooker, how to work around the latter, learn about some of my favorite plant-based slow cooker recipes, and find out why I don't think using Instant Pots for slow cooking is great. I also discuss which models are best to buy. I hope this helps. Keep on cooking!
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Need a meal plan for next week? Be prepared for the amazing feeling you'll get from being Planned & Plant-based. Download your 5-night dinner plan today, get your groceries tomorrow, prep a few building blocks, then enjoy a week of delicious healthy plant-based dinners. Get it here: https://veganfamilykitchen.com/planned
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Jan 21, 2022
I dreamt that my son disappeared: contemplating loss and my most deeply ingrained habits
Warning: miscarriage and child loss are mentioned in this recording. If you are only here to learn how to cook, I suggest you skip this episode.
This podcast episode is a personal one where I tell the story of a dream - actually a nightmare - that woke me up in horror recently. It's also a reflection on motherly loss and how it made me transform my most ingrained habits.
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Jan 20, 2022
Wean yourself off meal kits with meal plans
Have you been subscribing to meal kits and getting boxes of ready-to-cook food delivered to your door? I bet you are ready to step onto the next level by upgrading to a plant-based meal planning service instead.
I hope you enjoy the Vegan Family Kitchen podcast. If you'd like help getting started with plant-based meal plans, hit me up at hello@veganfamilykitchen.com. Also make sure to check out the Vegan Meal Plans subscription service. Use coupon code MEDIUM for 10% off meal plan subscriptions and a free 20-minute consultation.
Keep on cooking!
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Jan 12, 2022
Are CSA boxes worth it? Listen before you subscribe.
CSA box programs have you pay upfront for your summer's veggies. Is it worth it? For us, I think so, but it really depends on your circumstances. Make sure to listen to this podcast episode before you sign up for a CSA box program for the first time!
See the original post: https://veganfamilykitchen.com/are-csa-boxes-worth-it
Do you need a healthy vegan, plant-based meal plan? You can download the plan from the Planned & Plant-based 5-day challenge or subscribe to the Vegan Meal Plans.
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Jan 6, 2022
Mindful screen-free cooking: The pathway to become a faster, better cook
When you cook, cook. (Or wash the dishes.) If you think you need your phone in the kitchen, listen to this episode to find you need to leave it out. It might just improve everything about your meals!
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Need help figuring out how to feed yourself and loved ones really good plant-based food? Come and visit me at veganfamilykitchen.com. I have a free 5-day dinner plan you can download to get Planned & Plant-based next week.
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Jan 4, 2022
Can dogs be plant-based? Meeting Laura Simonson, founder of Virchew
About a third of American and Canadian households have a dog, and the numbers have grown since the beginning of the pandemic. My own household does not include tail-wagging friends, but I know dogs are part of the family for many. So what do they all eat? Can dogs be plant-based?
This question becomes increasingly urgent as companion animal numbers increase and the climate emergency looms. On average, a third of dogs’ calories come from meat, and American dogs collectively eat as much as the entire population of France. By some estimates, adding a medium-sized dog to a family is about the same as adding a large SUV. What’s a compassionate and earth-loving dog guardian to do? Can they change their canine companions’ eating habits along the same line of theirs?
The good news is, yes, apparently, dogs can be plant-based! I say “apparently” because, although I know of many healthy and happy plant-based dogs, there still isn’t an authoritative body of scientific literature ans…
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Dec 2, 2021
Invest in your wealth and health today - Interview with Alison Setton financial educator
What's the link between health and wealth? Among other things, both require us to invest in them - and both yield fabulous benefits and freedom if we are committed to growing them steadily. Join me in the Vegan Family Kitchen as I engage in conversation about health and wealth with my neighbor and long-time Vegan Meal Plan subscriber, the financial educator Alison Setton.
Connect with Alison Setton on Instagram https://instagram.com/alisonsetton or via her web sites https://alisonsetton.ca (for Canadian residents) or https://alisonsetton.com (for US residents)
If you'd like to try the meal plans Alison uses to feed her family really good food (without the stress), visit https://veganfamilykitchen.com/ and get your free 5-day "Planned & Plant-based" plan. It includes tasty and healthy plant-based recipes everyone can enjoy, along with a shopping list, prep steps to take on the weekend so weeknights are less stressful, direct access to Brigitte if you have questions, and motivation em…
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Nov 25, 2021
The amazing future that comes after meat: an interview with Karthik Sekar
Eating animal products, aside from being horribly polluting and terribly cruel, is shamefully inefficient. Thankfully, we can do better thanks to technology today, and the future looks bright.
I was thrilled to interview Karthik Sekar, Ph.D., a data analyst in the "alt-meat" industry and author of the book "After Meat: The Case for an Amazing, Meat-free Future." He clearly explains what makes animals a technology of the past, how we can do better, and what it means for human nutrition. I hope you enjoy the conversation as much as I did!
You can get his book from all online book retailers including Smashwords. For more information, visit the book's website: aftermeatbook.com. You can also connect with Karthik on Twitter.
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Nov 23, 2021
Nature smacks Canada behind the head for failure to reconsider industrial agriculture
Individual action is a great place to start when it comes to climate change, but a terrible place to stop. Beyond plant-based cooking, we also have to consider the policies that have led us to the current crisis. As western Canada's industrial animal farming infrastructure is walloped by unprecedented storms and hundreds of thousands of animals drown senselessly, we have to ask ourselves: why would we be stupid enough to rebuild the same way? This episode was recorded shortly after COP 26.
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Nov 12, 2021
Use your gifts for good - Interview with Marian Erikson of the Plant-based Briefing podcast
Pull yourself a chair in the Vegan Family Kitchen and join the conversation with my guest, Marian Erikson. She is the host of the Plant-based Briefing podcast and a cherished Vegan Meal Plan subscriber.
Get a meal plan to be Planned & Plant-based next week
Listen to the Plant-based Briefing podcast
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Nov 10, 2021
Why you hate cooking (and what to do about it)
Do you hate cooking? Are you resentful about having to make dinner every night? Let's take a deep (but quick!) dive together into this question that is truly a matter of life and death. What are the forces that stack the odds against home cooking in our culture? And what can we do about it as individuals?
If you're willing to go from "I hate cooking" to "I'm learning to love it," connect with me over at Vegan Family Kitchen.
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Oct 28, 2021
How to make cooking fun with Siobhan Coates, the fun coach
Think cooking is a chore? Time to give your head a shake and turn things around. Cooking CAN be fun... if you make it so. I interviewed Siobhan Coates, the fun coach, to talk about it. You're going to love her amazing tips to bring the joy into your kitchen. Watch this, then go put it into practice right away!
Connect with Siobhan on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sparkupyourlifewithlaughter
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Oct 20, 2021
My 6 big reasons to feel grateful (not resentful) when cooking dinner
Is cooking more of a chore and less of a joy? That's understandable, and you're not alone. There may be underlying issues to address to improve your situation, but right now - when it's time to cook - focusing on gratitude might make you feel better. Here are my grateful thoughts.
Visit the original post to comment with your reasons to feel grateful when cooking: https://veganfamilykitchen.com/cooking-gratitude/
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Oct 4, 2021
How to start vegan batch cooking - tips to make weeknight dinners less stressful
Batch cook this weekend and make your life SO MUCH BETTER next week! Get inspired with 20+ awesome all-vegan plant-based recipes that I selected because they are great for batch cooking: blog post and recipes.
More meal planning and batch cooking resources.
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Sep 17, 2021
Your meal planning priorities: what matters most? what can you let go of?
Project management works for big construction site... and for family cooking, too! Take a moment to reflect with me on your priorities, decide what matters most to you, and let go of what's not serving you right now.
Help yourself to my meal planning resources: https://veganfamilykitchen.com
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Jun 15, 2021
Dreena Burton on 20 years of vegan cooking and parenting
Dreena Burton is launching her sixth solo book, Dreena's Kind Kitchen, in August 2021. She joined me to chat about the evolution of her life as a vegan, mom, and cookbook author over the past 20 years. Order her new book now.
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Download your free 1-week healthy vegan meal plan.
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Jun 9, 2021
Plant-based doctors at home: An interview with Dr. Nina Hourmouzis and Dr. Nina Patel
How do traditionally-trained doctors become advocates for lifestyle medicine and plant-based eating? Dr. Nina Hourmouzis and Dr. Jimisha Patel share their plant-based journeys.
Connect with the Columbus Prevent and Reverse Health Clinic https://cprhealthclinic.com and https://instagram.com/cprhealthclinic
Download a 1-week healthy vegan dinner plan https://veganfamilykitchen.com/planned
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May 26, 2021
"Help! My wife is going vegan." A husband's story of transitioning to plant-based eating at home
When one partner decides to quit eating meat, fish, dairy, and eggs, it can feel like a Big Deal in the relationship. It sure created friction between my husband and I when I decided to go vegan back in 2015. Yet, we survived... and thrived! Six years later, I'm still vegan and he's wholeheartedly embracing plant-based eating as a lifestyle. Here's his side of the story: Christopher Conklin speaking about his - and our - plant-based journey as a couple.
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May 14, 2021
Vegan meal planning with picky eaters in mind: 7 loving steps
Are you struggling to feed picky eaters who have a very narrow idea of what constitutes "good food"? I get you: my kids are quite specific in their preferences. It can be tempting to cook a separate dinner just for them. Or, when we're particularly exhausted, to tell them: "Take it or leave it, there is no other dinner." Please consider my third way: gentle meal planning.
Resources linked here: https://veganfamilykitchen.com/meal-planning-around-picky-eaters/
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Apr 29, 2021
Why quit coffee? 10 years into a personal experiment
I *loved* the taste, culture, and ritual of coffee. It took some tragic personal events to make me reconsider my consumption. I have now been coffee-free for 10 years. What happened to me, and what might it mean for you?
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Apr 29, 2021
5 urgent and easy eco-friendly eating habits you can adopt this week
A third of the resources we extract from the Earth feed our insatiable appetites. What changes can you make to your way of eating and drinking today to seriously decrease your environmental impact? I have 5 suggestions for you.
Original blog post with links to other resources here: https://veganfamilykitchen.com/eco-friendly-eating-habits/
Free vegan meal plan: https://veganfamilykitchen.com/planned/
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Mar 1, 2021
Late-blooming vegan with family: 10 tips to ease your transition
Going vegan as a 30-something mom with kids and a foodie husband was challenging for me. If you are also transitioning to a vegan lifestyle or plant-based eating with a family in tow, you'll love these 10 tips to ease your journey forward.
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