Re:Brothers expand vegan meal-delivery service into Inland area

June 4, 2008

By ELIZABETH HANThe Press-Enterprise

Brothers Dan and Tim Boissy will give you something to chew on.

As owners of Vegin' Out, a home-delivery meal service, they prepare weekly menus of vegan cuisine and ship them to your door.

The business started in Los Angeles County in 1999 and is expanding into Riverside and San Bernardino areas.

"We've been getting a lot of phone calls from areas outside LA County," Dan said. Callers told him, " 'There's nothing out here that's good vegan food and that serves our needs.' "

"This is, like, the most awesome thing," said customer Jennifer Valdez, of Riverside.

"The entrees have three servings per container. I can just chop out a third of something -- it's fantastic," Valdez said.

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Special to The Press-Enterprise

Wheat Berry Super Salad is one of the items on the menu at Vegin' Out, a home-delivery meal service.

Tim, who is also the chef, said, "Everything is completely vegan -- no animal products whatsoever."

Just because the meals are vegan, however, does not mean all the customers are. Carnivores are more than welcome.

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Dan Boissy, left, and his brother, Tim, are co-owners of Vegin' Out, a home-delivery meal service that is expanding into the Inland area.

"Our meals work great as vegetable side dishes," Tim said. "I've even seen people add chicken to their soup."

A single weekly order will contain three entrees, four side dishes, soup and cookies for $100 plus a $15 delivery fee; a double order costs $205. The company's Web site -- www.veginout.com -- lists the current week's menu.

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Having vegan meals shipped to your door takes the guesswork out of feeding yourself, a useful advantage for those who are too busy to cook dishes or want to be health-conscious.

The vegan diet "has been accepted by professional organizations such as the American Dietetic Association as a means of obtaining a healthy, nutritious diet," said Julie Mortimore, public health nutritionist for the San Bernardino County Department of Public Health.

Customers include those with cancer and diabetes and nursing or pregnant women, the brothers said.

"Over the years we've had quite a few cancer patients, a lot of people with diabetes," Tim said. "We get a lot of different health conditions. ... We'll work with anybody to give them what they need."

Dan said they've noticed that a lot of pregnant women or women who have just given birth to the meal service. "They're raising Vegin' Out babies."

Mortimore said she believes there has been a general increase in the number of adults following vegan diets. She noted that healthy meal planning should be "based on a variety of plant foods, including whole grains, fruits and vegetables, legumes, nuts and seeds." She refers to www.mypyramid.gov as a helpful site for meal planning.

"What I try to do with my background in nutrition and cooking, I really try to create food that will be nutritious," stressed Tim, who says he selects fresh produce from farmers markets and aims for taste.

"It's a lot harder work when you don't have butter or bacon to work with."

Reach Elizabeth Han at 951-368-9424 or ehan

VEGIN' OUT

What: Vegan home-delivery service

Information: www.veginout.com or 1-800-420-4927

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