Gouter owners urge you to ditch diets and focus on quality versus quantity.
An ulcer is not usually the start of something wonderful, but in the case of Gouter (goo-tay) it was. Steve and V, the charismatic couple behind the plant-based tonic company, were faced with a difficult decision when V discovered that she may have to take a pill for the rest of her life to overcome complications from an ulcer.
Tons of research later, they found that many of the foods they loved (meats, cheeses, etc.) contributed to the acidity in the body and would have to be avoided if V hoped to pursue a pill-free path. “I used to drink a lot of coffee and of course that is one of the most acidic things …That’s where the alkaline water came in, because I needed a drink that was going to get me going,” V says. Two years later, both are amazed at how much better they feel and decided to start a company to share their secret.
Gouter, which comes from the French word meaning “to taste,” is the only wholesale company in the area that specializes in flavorful tonics using alkaline water and natural ingredients to boost health. While Steve and V believe in the benefits of a plant-based diet, they are also aware that their lifestyle may not suit all of their customers. “We are not trying to tell people to be vegan. We are more like have a burger and maybe have a tonic after. We are all about balance,” V states. —Angela Bobo.
(November 2013)