Vegan Family Kitchen

How to age like a yogi and other secrets from Victoria Moran after four decades of veganism

This is a goosebumps episode! You're going to LOVE this conversation with Victoria Moran, a vegan icon for over 41 years, author of 13 books, and a recent inductee into the Vegan Hall of Fame. It's an honor to have Victoria in my kitchen to share her fascinating journey from being a solitary vegetarian in the 1960s Midwest to leading the Vegan Main Street Academy.

We go deep into her connections within the vegan movement, her upcoming 14th book 'Age Like a Yogi: A Heavenly Path to a Dazzling Third Act', and her feature film project 'Miss Liberty'. Whether you’re interested in the health benefits of a plant-based diet, in the spiritual roots of yoga, or in the history of vegan activism, you're going to wish this episode was twice as long! 

👉 Pre-order Victoria's new book Age Like a Yogi: A Heavenly Path to a Dazzling Third Act from your favorite bookstore, then send your receipt to assist@victoriamoran.com to unlock the cool pre-order bonuses, including a day-long workshop with her in January. 

Learn more about the Main Street Vegan Academy and connect with Victoria on her website.

Watch the trailer to Miss Liberty: The Movie!

 

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 Introduction to Victoria Moran
01:30 Early Vegan Journey in the 1980s
03:24 Influential Figures in Veganism
04:16 Challenges and Innovations in Early Veganism
07:39 Historical Events and Influencers
08:55 Personal Reflections on Vegan History
12:10 Yoga and Veganism: A Personal Journey
16:27 Aging Like a Yogi: The New Book
25:48 The Intersection of Yoga and Veganism
28:15 Yoga and Dietary Choices
28:57 Western Yoga and Secular Influence
29:53 The Importance of Ahimsa
30:13 Personal Stories and Veganism
31:57 Health Benefits of Veganism for Older Adults
33:04 Secrets to Vibrant Aging
35:29 The Role of Exercise
38:27 Miss Liberty: A Film Project
43:25 Encouragement for New Vegans
49:55 Pre-ordering 'Aging Like a Yogi'

Eco-conscious eating, travel, and living in Japan: Conversation with Joy Jarman-Walsh of Seek Sustainable Japan

How difficult is vegan and sustainable eating, travel, and living in Japan? Come in and listen as Brigitte discusses the topic with sustainable travel expert and Hiroshima tour guide Joy Jarman-Walsh, one of the forces behind Japan's sustainable travel improvements.

In this episode, we cover:
- Joy's journey in discovering that it was possible to be vegan and thrive in Japan
- Sustainability in Japanese tourism: What are positive trends in the industry?
- Cultural insights on eating habits: Why is it so hard to modify items on the menu in Japan?! 

Curious to learn how you can adopt more sustainable travel practices and enjoy plant-based eating while exploring Japan? Tune in to gain valuable insights from Joy's extensive experience and innovative approaches to promoting sustainability and health through her work and daily life. 

Don't forget to subscribe for more discussions on healthy living, sustainability, and mindful travel.

CONNECT WITH JOY
Catch her show : https://youtube.com/@seeksustainablejapan and on your favorite podcast platform
Medium blog: https://medium.com/@jjwalsh  
Tours of Hiroshima - feel free to book directly via Socials, Google Biz page, or book on Tours By Locals: https://www.toursbylocals.com/hiroshima-tour-guide-joy-j
Consulting work - Inbound Ambassador: https://maps.app.goo.gl/9Kjcc2Z4ta2CRU9t5
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jjwalsh-inbound-ambassador/
Twitter: https://x.com/jjwalsh
FB/Insta/Threads @inboundambassador

Jump to sections that interest you most!
[00:00:00] Introduction to Joy Jarman-Walsh
[00:02:00] Joy’s Early Influence and Transition to Vegetarianism
[00:06:00] The Shift from Vegetarian to Vegan in a Family Context
[00:10:00] Challenges of Finding Vegan Food in Japan
[00:18:00] Navigating Cultural Sensitivities in Japanese Dining
[00:25:00] Sustainability in Everyday Japanese Life
[00:30:00] Impact of Domestic and International Tourism on Local Cuisine
[00:35:00] Vision for a More Sustainable Japanese Food Culture

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Need a healthy stress-free vegan meal plan when eating at home? Download Planned & Plant-Based today, eat better next week: https://veganfamilykitchen.com/planned-plant-based/

Cooking to combat inflammation: A conversation with Linda Tyler, author of The Plant-Based Anti-Inflammatory Cookbook

Do you want to avoid suffering from swollen, achy, hot joints, feeling fatigue, or struggling with mobility? Or decrease your risk of cardio-vascular events? Those issues often associated with aging are not inevitable! Join Brigitte in conversation with Linda Tyler, author of The Plant-Based Anti-Inflammatory Cookbook and creator of GraciousVegan.com. Linda explains everything you need to know about what inflammation is, how it's related to the food we eat, and how a different way of cooking can bring big improvements into your life today and in the long term. Linda also shares her favorite recipes and practical advice for making anti-inflammatory cooking a part of your everyday life. Whether you're a seasoned vegan chef or just curious about plant-based eating, there's something in this episode for everyone interested in the health benefits of an anti-inflammatory plant-based diet.

Connect with Linda on her website at https://graciousvegan.com
on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gracious_vegan/
and buy her cookbook: https://www.graciousvegan.com/cookbook-details-and-ordering 

The Gift of Life: From Plant-Based Advocacy to Kidney Donation - An interview with Elaine Perlman

This is a can't-miss episode! Join me in conversation with Elaine Perlman, Executive Director of Waitlist Zero, an advocacy group committed to ending the kidney shortage in the United States. In this episode of the Vegan Family Kitchen Podcast, Elaine shares her deeply personal journey from embracing veganism and healthy plant-based living to becoming a kidney donor, gifting an organ to a stranger. Her transition to a plant-based lifestyle not only transformed her health but also fueled her passion for saving lives through organ donation.

Elaine aims to pass critical federal laws in the United States, the End Kidney Deaths Act and the Honor Our Living Donors Act, to save lives and support donors across the nation. With over 90,000 people waiting for a lifesaving transplant, Elaine's advocacy work is more urgent than ever - and she needs your support.

She also shares her experience in education, from teaching young students in New York City about healthy eating to mentoring adults transitioning to a healthier, plant-based diet. I love her approach to teaching about plant-based eating and kidney health, and anyone who is trying to nudge others towards doing the right thing will find lots to learn from Elaine.

This episode is not just a talk; it's a call to action. Whether you're curious about plant-based living, concerned about kidney health, or intrigued by the idea of donating an organ to a stranger, Elaine's story offers valuable lessons and inspiring actions.

Here is how one person's choices can ripple out to affect thousands of lives - we can all make a difference.

Learn more: WaitlistZero.org
Connect with Elaine: elaineperlman.com
More about the campaign: EndKidneyDeaths.org

Nourishing Relationships Through Food - A Conversation with Counselor Deborah McNamara

In this episode of the Vegan Family Kitchen podcast, host Brigitte Gemme talks with her guest, Deborah McNamara - a Vancouver-based counselor who is fascinated by the relationship between food and our connections with each other. Deborah discusses her experiences with helping adults make sense of their relationships with food and children, giving insights on treating food issues through the lens of relationships. As the author of the book 'Nourished: Connection, Food and Caring for Our Kids (and everyone else we love),' Deborah McNamara emphasizes the importance of nurturing relationships through food, with adults taking the lead in caretaking to foster secure and healthy connections.

Connect with Deborah MacNamara

Get your copy of Nourished from your local bookstore, bookshop.org, or Amazon.

Learn more about Deborah MacNamara's upcoming course: Gather to Eat

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Need to get organized to feed yourself and your loved ones really good food? Download Brigitte's healthy vegan 5-night dinner plan: Planned & Plant-Based.

Find your own Flow in the Kitchen: Practices for Healthy Stress-Free Vegan Cooking

Plant-based baking for all: An interview with Natasha and Ed Tatton, authors of BReD: Sourdough Loaves, Small Breads and Other Plant-Based Baking

Learn about plant-based baking from the professionals! In this episode of the Vegan Family Kitchen Podcast, Brigitte Gemme interviews Natasha and Ed Tatton, owners of Whistler's BReD Bakery and authors of the newly published book BReD: Sourdough Loaves, Small Breads and Other Plant-Based Baking.

We talk about:

• Replacing dairy and eggs with whole plant ingredients (no need for the middle bird!)
• Natasha and Ed's separate journeys toward veganism
• How the sourdough business grew organically
• Learn to sprout grains
• Hear business tips from seasoned bakery owners!

Learn more and buy the book (includes links to shop local!):
BReD: Sourdough Loaves, Small Breads and Other Plant-Based Baking

Visit the Whistler (Canada) bakery:
BReD Made by Ed

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Need to get organized to cook plant-based dinners at home on weeknights?
Download Brigitte's 5-day healthy vegan dinner plan: https://veganfamilykitchen.com/

How to store groceries to reduce food waste and cook faster

Most people could cook faster, waste less money and time, and be less stressed if they handle their grocery haul differently. In this podcast episode, Brigitte shares strategies for reducing food waste and cooking faster by properly storing groceries. Listen to the episode and try Brigitte's tips to get more organized in the kitchen, cook more efficiently, waste less food, time, and money, and find joy in cooking. 

LINKS TO RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: 
Book: Flow in the Kitchen: Practices for Healthy Stress-Free Vegan Cooking (link to Amazon but you can order from any bookstore): 
https://www.amazon.com/Flow-Kitchen-Practices-Healthy-Stress-free-ebook/dp/B0BF83KQ1W/

The 10 vegetables I make sure to always have on hand:
https://veganfamilykitchen.com/vegan-grocery-list-vegetables/

My 75 healthy vegan pantry staples:
https://veganfamilykitchen.com/vegan-pantry-staples/

5-day dinner plan to cook nutritious and delicious meals faster:
https://veganfamilykitchen.com/planned-plant-based

Buy your kale and eat it too:
https://veganfamilykitchen.com/cut-food-waste-vegan-meal-planning-habits/

Original version of this article: 
https://veganfamilykitchen.com/how-to-store-groceries/

Lifestyle and mindset shifts for a blissful menopause: Conversation with Anna Pelzer, vegan menopause coach (podcast)

Can there be such a thing as a blissful menopause? Every woman's experience will be different, but certain lifestyle and mindset shifts will make it a smoother ride. Brigitte's guest on the Vegan Family Kitchen podcast today is Anna Pelzer, a vegan menopause coach. She has some gentle guidance to help.

In this thought-provoking conversation, Anna shares:

• Her journey from food photography to menopause coaching
• What she means when she suggests menopause can be a time of opportunity
• Actionable physical and mental health tips you can practice today
• Her own routine and stress-reduction strategies

Based on Anna's past experience as a renowned vegan food photographer, we also touched on some behind-the-scene insight about the stress of social media for online creators.

Struggling with menopause symptoms? Approaching menopause? You can connect with her for a free 30-minute consultation via her website Blissful Menopause, or connect on Instagram. Also tune in to her new podcast: The Vegan Menopause.

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Need a bit of help to eat more plants? Download Brigitte's 5-day healthy vegan dinner plan: https://veganfamilykitchen.com/planned-plant-based/

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JUMP AHEAD: 
01:20 Anna's Journey to Menopause Coaching
02:36 The Impact of Stress on Menopause
02:59 The Importance of Lifestyle Medicine
03:34 Understanding Menopause Symptoms
04:45 Menopause as a New Beginning
05:59 Setting Health Goals During Menopause
06:55 The Role of Plant-Based Eating in Menopause
08:04 Transitioning to a Healthier Diet
10:03 Stress Reduction Techniques
10:46 The Power of Mindfulness
12:43 The Importance of Body Connection
14:07 Embracing Menopause with a Positive Mindset
21:26 Personal Routine and Habits
26:47 Dealing with Hot Flashes
30:19 The Role of a Menopause Doula

Can cooking be a spiritual practice? 5 rituals that bring meaning and joy to my kitchen

Brigitte explores the idea of cooking as a form of spiritual nourishment and shares her current five rituals for a deeper and more meaningful cooking experience. These include expressing gratitude before cooking, deeply understanding the origins of ingredients, staying fully present during the cooking process, cooking with a community, and sharing the food with love. Brigitte also shares how these practices help her manage stress and appreciate the process of meal preparation. 

If you'd like to join Brigitte and her group every other Sunday in the kitchen, email her to introduce yourself at hello@veganfamilykitchen.com. You can also download useful templates and meal plan samples here: https://veganfamilykitchen.com/templates-and-printables/ 

00:02 Introduction to Spiritual Cooking
01:07 The Power of Gratitude in Cooking
02:41 Understanding the Origins of Our Ingredients
04:38 The Importance of Being Present While Cooking
06:38 Cooking as a Community Activity
08:20 Sharing the Food We Cook
09:58 Invitation to Join the Cooking Club 

How to cook delicious homestyle vegan meals with Jean-Philippe Cyr The Buddhist Chef

With the charismatic Jean-Philippe Cyr, delicious and comforting vegan dishes are served with a side of self-deprecating humor... or is it the other way around?

Jean-Philippe, a.k.a. The Buddhist Chef, just published his most recent English-language cookbook, The Buddhist Chef's Homestyle Cooking, and we chatted about:

• How being from a big Quebec family influenced his cooking journey
• What triggered his transition from restaurant chef specializing in meat to vegan YouTuber
• How to make tofu and tempeh delicious
• How he collaborates with large supermarket chains to create ready-to-eat vegan dishes
• And the social struggles of vegans!

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Struggling to decide what's for dinner? Download Brigitte's free Planned & Plant-Based one-week healthy vegan meal plan to get started with batch cooking and stress-free weeknights: https://veganfamilykitchen.com/planned-plant-based/