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.

How to downsize your closet and improve your self-confidence

I’ve always been blessed with a big closet. And as long as there was room, why not add to it? Needless to say, this mentality landed me with a lot of clothes, shoes, belts (I don’t even wear belts), and bags. And my closet was the farthest thing from Marie Kondo.

So when I decided to move across the country (by plane, mind you) I had to start the process of narrowing down my closet selection. A little over a year later, I did it again when I downsized my living space, so this isn’t a one week process, and there’s always room for improvement.

What I wasn’t expecting when I downsized my closet was how it would affect my self-esteem. I no longer own clothes that only look good sometimes, and because my selection is small, I bypass the process of putting on three terrible looking outfits before choosing what I had on in the first place. And I definitely don’t own clothes that are uncomfortable and a chore to wear.

I downsized my closet and you can, too. Here’s how I did it (and how I keep up with it):

Rule 1: Only keep items you feel REALLY good wearing.
You are amazing. Feel like it…all the time. There’s a reason Marie Kondo’s final step is to ask yourself if it sparks joy. So many of my clothes used to come with constraints like: can’t wear it when I’m bloated, can only wear it with this one shirt, can’t wear it because etc. I got rid of all these things, and now I only buy things that really wow me and make me feel good. If you don’t feel good in it or it’s not comfortable, give it away.

Rule 2: The exchange system.
Every time you get something, get rid of something in its place. Are you willing to part with something else to make room for it? This rule keeps the closet small so you don’t have to return to rule #1.

Rule 3: Get items that can easily mix and match.
No more strange colored shirts that can only go with black jeans because they look weird even next to blue denim. For this reason, I usually buy my shirts in neutral tones so that they can go with pretty much everything.

You can take all of this a step further and create a capsule wardrobe, a term coined by London boutique owner Susie Faux. The idea behind a capsule wardrobe is that you have some essential basics (usually neutrals) that can be worn no matter the season, and then you augment that with seasonal pieces that show your personal style. These capsule wardrobes typically have less than 40 pieces, with some people going to the extreme with far less.

I’m happy to say that all of my clothes would now fit into two 50 quart bins. I love everything I own, and I feel good in all of it. It takes me about half the time to get ready to go somewhere because I’m spending less time in front of the mirror. Plus, I spend less money overall on clothes. When I do buy clothes, I focus on clothes that will last longer than the season. Finally, a nod to sustainability. Consumerism wants us to buy, buy, buy, but we can all agree that it’s more sustainable to buy (and ultimately toss) less.