Vegan Family Kitchen Vegan Family Kitchen / Brigitte Gemme

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.orgConnect with Elaine: elaineperlman.comMore about the campaign: EndKidneyDeaths.org

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

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/

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/

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 Coaching02:36 The Impact of Stress on Menopause02:59 The Importance of Lifestyle Medicine03:34 Understanding Menopause Symptoms04:45 Menopause as a New Beginning05:59 Setting Health Goals During Menopause06:55 The Role of Plant-Based Eating in Menopause08:04 Transitioning to a Healthier Diet10:03 Stress Reduction Techniques10:46 The Power of Mindfulness12:43 The Importance of Body Connection14:07 Embracing Menopause with a Positive Mindset21:26 Personal Routine and Habits26:47 Dealing with Hot Flashes30:19 The Role of a Menopause Doula

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 Cooking01:07 The Power of Gratitude in Cooking02:41 Understanding the Origins of Our Ingredients04:38 The Importance of Being Present While Cooking06:38 Cooking as a Community Activity08:20 Sharing the Food We Cook09:58 Invitation to Join the Cooking Club