How many calories are in a typical meal?

We believe strongly that the quality of the inputs is far more important than the number of calories in a meal. All calories are not created equally (that’s old science) and different foods affect our biological systems (hormonal, metabolic, etc.) in different ways. In our experience, fixating on the number of calories tends to do more harm than good for the average person trying to reach their health and fitness goals. We believe that the simplest and most effective way to reach your goals is to focus on eating real (not processed) food that is prepared from clean and wholesome ingredients. Instead of focusing on the numbers, we want you to focus on how our food makes you look, feel and perform.

Are all of your meals gluten free?

Absolutely. Though not everyone has a gluten intolerance, research has shown that more and more people have gluten sensitivities (without even knowing it.). We also focus on using clean and wholesome ingredients rather than processed foods, which makes avoiding gluten far easier. In addition to a completely gluten-free menu, our menu is also dairy- and egg-free.

I live an active life. How do I know I’m getting enough protein?

Don’t worry, we also live active lives. But to be safe, we have partnered with a registered dietitian to ensure that not just each recipe is well-balanced and carefully composed, but also that each daily menu is thoughtfully structured to maximize nutrient density and diversity.

Will I lose weight on one of your meal programs?

Our programs are designed to provide you with all of the nutrients you need to live an active and healthy lifestyle. We carefully craft each recipe and structure each day’s worth of meals to ensure that you’re looking, feeling and performing your best – both mentally and physically. For some, this may mean shedding a few excess pounds. For others, this may mean providing an adequate balance of nutrient density and diversity to fuel your days. In any case, you can rest assured that by living the V+B life, you’ll be eating delicious, nutritious, well-balanced meals. But hey, if that’s not enough, you can always walk/run to our production facility to pick up your meals yourself (no charge).

Are all of your ingredients certified organic?

Depends. Do you work for the USDA? (Joke). We believe more in working with farmers and growers who utilize sustainable and organic farming practices than in working strictly with those who are certified organic. For many small, local farmers and growers, the official organic certification process is simply cost prohibitive and too time consuming a process to undertake. We partner only with those who share our high standards; those willing to work longer hours to protect the land and the plants and animals on which we all depend. Ultimately, our philosophy on this topic is simple – we strive to establish lasting relationships with good people who are doing great things.

5 Tips for Eating to Avoid Cavities According to a Dentist

Yes, I am one of the super fun dentists who hands out pencils and sugar-free lollipops on Halloween and asks if you floss within the first five minutes of meeting you. I just love teeth! And I love helping my patients (and friends, and family, and dogs) keep their teeth healthy and strong.

Most people don’t know that the bacteria in the mouth is a risk factor for a number of cancers, including pancreatic cancer and esophageal cancer. Also, periodontal disease is connected to artherosclerotic vascular disease (think heart attacks and strokes), pulmonary disease, diabetes, complications in pregnancy (pre-term births and low birth weight infants), osteoporosis, and kidney disease. A dental infection even has the potential to result in death by spreading to the brain!

So, with that in mind, I want to share some basic and important strategies on how to eat to avoid cavities because a lot of serious problems may start with just a simple cavity.

Limit the number of exposures to an acidic environment.
What does that mean? Don’t snack. The mouth has a neutral pH, and every time you consume complex carbohydrates (most foods and drinks), the pH of the mouth drops to an acidic level where your teeth are vulnerable to decay. Your saliva requires 30 minutes to return your mouth to neutrality following each exposure.

Shorten the duration of time your teeth are in an acidic environment.
Translation? Don’t sip on your coffee (or anything except for water, and preferably alkaline water). Consider the scenario where you sip on your coffee for an hour each morning— you are basically having a party for the bacteria that causes cavities for that entire hour plus the 30 minutes that your saliva requires to return your mouth to neutrality. On the other hand, if you drink your coffee with breakfast or in a short amount of time, you are reducing the number of minutes that the bacteria has to attack your teeth.

Wait to brush.
Yes, I’m sorry but you were doing it wrong all these years. You do NOT want to brush immediately following eating and instead want to wait 30 minutes. Why? While the oral cavity has an acidic pH, the teeth are porous and brushing may result in erosion of the enamel. Enamel is the protective outermost layer of the tooth and even stronger than bone, so it’s very important to keep strong. Alternative? Rinse with water.

End a meal with cheese.
The Italians are so smart (yes my last name is De Vito ;-)). Cheese helps to neutralize the mouth faster - hard cheeses in particular!

Start early.
The same recommendations apply to children except that children definitely require more snacks throughout the day compared to adults. Snacks should be cheeses, nuts, vegetables, and whole fruits while juices and gummies are to be avoided altogether (no gummy vitamins either- instead opt for drops or hard chewables).

Moral of the story? Oral health is more important than you thought, and there are steps you can take every day to protect your teeth. So think twice about what you eat and drink, and please, please, please go to the dentist every six months!

This post was written by Janice De Vito Munir, a pediatric dentist in the DMV area. Janice received her doctorate in dental medicine from the Tufts University School of Dental Medicine. She also attended Johns Hopkins University, where she earned a masters in public health.