Welcome to Fruit & Stuff!

When I decided to give up meat, I needed to eat a lot more plant foods than I was used to. Whole-food plant-based describes what I TRY to do, always on the prowl for the healthiest foods I can find. Fruit & Stuff is a collection of information I’ve gathered so far. The website is designed to help you (and me) plan more nutritious meals. I hope my experience helps you on the way to better health. ~Mary Ann Lesh / wfpbvida.com

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Limit beverages with meals

Limting beverages with meals is a small change you can make that will be beneficial to your health. Having a beverage with a meal is a tradition, an unuestioned habit for most of us, but eating without an accompanying drink can improve digestion, and prevent some bothersome effects, such as bloating and acid reflux.

You will do well to give up sugary soft drinks altogether, but especially during meals. If you feel thirsty, take just small sips of water between bites. For the sake of tradition, you might want to have a glass of water beside your plate, but your body will thank you if you abstain from drinking it as you eat. Excessive liquid intake can cause bloating, stomach pain, and dilute stomach acid and digestive enzymes. It may also lead to eating too much at once or washing food down before it is properly chewed.

It is better to drink water thirty minutes before or ater a meal rather than while you are eating or immediately before or after.

PLANT FOOD FACTS

NUTRIENTS

RECIPES

RESOURCES

Add one more superfood to your menu

You probably include some superfoods in your meals already, but there may be room for improvement. Superfoods are nutrient-dense, whole foods packed with vitamins, minerals, fiber, and antioxidants that support overall health, reduce disease risk, and boost energy.

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From Tiny Change to Lasting Habit

I used to think that discipline meant giving up things, doing hard, painful, unpleasant things (“no pain, no gain”), never failing to keep a resolution. In other words, doing things that I am incapable of doing long term. It took me a long time to realize the power of small changes, small actions, pleasant (or…

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Beyond Burritos and Margaritas

Tortillas, beans, rice, and chiles are staples in Mexican households and Mexican restaurants all over the world, but people south of the border enjoy many other foods you may not have heard about. Here are a few of them.

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Are You a Real Vegan?

When it comes to food, informed common sense is my only rule. The benefits of going vegan may be cancelled by the stress of worrying whether some particular culinary fault disqualifies one from membership in a given community of orthodox meat abstainers.

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