Collection: Therapeutic Meal Collection

Local Pickup Only. Delivery Unavailable unless special arrangements have been made. We are located in Cambridge, Ontario.

Virtue has created these meals to provide a helping hand for friends wanting to give their body much needed nourishment and to jump start their journey into health and vitality through food. You may have recently gone to see your Naturopathic Doctor, Holistic Nutritionist or Family Doctor and have been told to go on an elimination diet such as the GAPS protocol, AIP protocol, gluten free/dairy free diet, or a nightshade free diet. You may have a huge list of food sensitivities from a recent test and are not sure what to do. This can be very tricky and cumbersome to deal with and often leave you feeling overwhelmed-leading to food burnout-and then giving up all together. I get it, that's why I have put together a few meal collections that will cover all the bases and help you get to feeling better soon. 

These meals are all gluten free, dairy free, nightshade free/ low lectin, keto, GAPS & AIP compliant. Please see below for the various descriptions...

The GAPS Protocol is a protocol designed to heal and seal the gut wall, remove toxins, rebuild gut flora, open detox pathways, which will in turn, balance the bodies various systems. The health of the gut is often at the root cause of most health issues-physical & mental, however this link is often overlooked. As the GAPS book states..."When the digestive system is unwell, so instead of being a source of nourishment, it becomes a major source of toxicity in the body, nothing can function well."& "GAPS was designed to heal your gut, to make the very roots of your health robust and functioning as they should." The GAPS Nutritional protocol addresses your health at its core-the gut microbiome-also known as the second brain! The diet consists of 3 main components. The food and diet is #1, followed by addressing toxins, lifestyle and adding a few key supplements.  The protocol removes all starchy foods including grains, wheat, all root vegetables such as potatoes etc., Jerusalem artichokes, parsnips and others, which feed the pathogens living in the gut. All sugar and processed foods are also eliminated. Rich meat stocks are added, along with fresh meats, eggs, cultured dairy, fermented foods, healthy animal fats and choice low starch vegetables. The GAPS protocol has 2 routes to take depending on client symptoms: The FULL GAPS DIET or The GAPS INTRODUCTION DIET. You can work with your practitioner to determine which route is best for you. Thousands of people around the world have been using the GAPS protocol with amazing results. Often, you can feel the relief of GI symptoms within weeks. Your long term, stubborn symptoms can take a little longer but persistence certainly pays off. Virtue has recently become certified as a GAPS Practitioner and would be happy to guide you through this protocol. Please see the section on Nutritional Coaching for more detail.

The Autoimmune Protocol (AIP) is a diet that aims to eliminate common allergens such as dairy, processed foods, grains, legumes, night shades & more. It can be a powerful strategy along with lifestyle adjustments to reduce and in some case eliminate symptoms of autoimmune diseases. Eliminating the common triggers is a huge first step in allowing your immune system to rest, rebuild & repair and then following this with consuming fresh, whole, real foods that will become the building blocks for your body systems to rebalance themselves. Many have reported a minimum of 28 days- 3 months to start feeling a positive difference.

Gluten free/dairy free: contains no gluten. Found in wheat, rye, barley, triticale, spelt, durum, couscous, pasta etc. Gluten can be hidden in many processed foods therefore cutting out any foods that come in a box or packaging need to be eliminated. Contains no dairy-specifically the protein casein. Found in milk, cheese, sour cream, etc. Again, dairy can be hidden in many foods, often as non-fat skim milk powder.

Nightshade free/ Low Lectin: the nightshade family of vegetables belong to the Solanaceae Family of Plants. They often can contribute to inflammation of the gut-leading to "leaky gut"-allowing food proteins to pass into the blood stream undigested and causing an immune response thus triggering food allergies to various foods. The following symptoms have been related to nightshade consumption... Joint pain, Inflammation, Fatigue, Migraines, Skin flares, Digestive distress, Flares-Ups of any preexisting conditions. Avoiding the following foods can support repair of the gut wall by reducing inflammation and eliminating a possible trigger food. The length of elimination period is different for all individuals. Common nightshades consumed...

  • Tomatoes (all varieties, and tomato products like marinara, ketchup, etc.)
  • Tomatillos
  • Potatoes (white and red potatoes. However, sweet potatoes are not nightshades.)
  • Eggplant
  • All peppers (bell peppers, jalapeno, chili peppers, and hot peppers)
  • Red spices (curry powder, chili powder, cayenne powder, red pepper)
  • Paprika
  • Pimentos
  • Tobacco
  • Goji berries
  • Ground cherries (different from regular cherries)
  • Ashwagandha

Low Lectin foods. Although you cannot eliminate lectins 100%, as they are found in all foods, some foods contain higher levels. Nightshades contain high levels of lectins so by eliminating these, you are well on your way to eating low lectin. For some individuals, larger amounts of consumption can lead to adverse reactions, such as gut wall damage, diarrhea, vomiting, and impaired functionality in absorbing nutrients. Foods that contain high levels of lectin are nightshade vegetables, such as tomatoes, potatoes, goji berries, peppers, and eggplant. All legumes, such as lentils, beans, peanuts, and chickpeas. Peanut-based products, such as peanut butter and peanut oil. All grains and products made with grain or flour, including cakes, crackers, and bread. Dairy products, such as milk. Fruits and vegetables that contain a lower level of lectin, they are, onion, broccoli, cauliflower, mushrooms, pumpkin, sweet potato, carrots, asparagus, cherries, apples, blueberries, strawberries, oranges, lemons, cherries, fish, beef, chicken, eggs, avocados, butter, olive oil.

*Please note: when starting any new diet or major lifestyle change, please consult your physician before starting your new protocol.

Macros including protein, carbohydrates, & fat can be included upon request. The breakdown will be included with your order. We aim to do the very best, however cannot guarantee their accuracy.

All meals will be frozen and need reheating with a general instruction given however ovens vary. Preheat 350-375 F. Bake 35-55 min. for frozen or let thaw in refrigerator over night for reduced reheat times. Stirring and/or checking at 20 minutes. Internal temp. of 165F recommended for food safety guidelines.Â