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.

What is sprouted tofu—and why we use it at V+B

Tofu, one of our favorite sources of vegan protein, is made up primarily of soybeans. The legume is nutrient dense: it contains all of the essential amino acids your body needs, as well as important minerals like manganese, calcium, copper, and magnesium.

Like most plants, soybeans contain anti-nutrients, which are plant compounds that reduce the body’s ability to absorb essential nutrients. Anti-nutrients are not a major source of concern for most people, but they can become a problem for people whose diets depend heavily on grains and legumes. Luckily, there are a few ways to help break down these anti-nutrients and improve beans’ and legumes’ nutritional value.

When soybeans have been soaked for a few days (also known as the natural process of germination), they grow a little sprout–hence, sprouted tofu! Sprouting soybeans enhances the quality of nutrients and bioactive compounds, increasing their protein, amino acid, sugar, and vitamin content. The germinating process helps break down heavy starches and anti-nutrients that are harder for us to digest, and therefore increasing nutrient absorption.

The main difference between regular and sprouted tofu is the nutritional content: the sprouted variety offers almost 20% more protein and 3 times as much calcium than regular. Some folks say that sprouted tofu also offers a cleaner taste, but we’ll let you be the judge of that!

If you’re interested in cooking your own sprouted tofu, we recommend treating it the same way you would treat regular tofu. Here are a few of our favorite recipes:

Black Pepper Tofu and Eggplant

General Tso’s Tofu

Southwest Tofu Scramble