Author: Mary Ann Lesh

I have lived in Cancun, Mexico, since 2017. I am the mother of three and grandmother of seven. I have been a teacher, university administrator, and translator in Mexico, Texas, and Massachusetts. I have traveled in Central and South America, Europe, Asia, the United States and Mexico. I grew up in Wichita Falls, Texas, attended Midwestern University, then received a bachelor’s degree in English, education, and journalism from Baylor University. I have a master of education degree and doctoral studies in Spanish literature from Texas Tech, with additional studies in translation, French, Portuguese, website design, and art at the Universidad Autónoma de Guadalajara, Boston University, and the University of Texas at Dallas.

Apricot / Chabacano Facts

Apricots (Prunus armeniaca) are stone fruits also known as Armenian plums.Round and yellow, they look like a smaller version of a peach but share the tartness of purple plums. They’re extremely nutritious and have many health benefits, such as improved digestion and eye health. It’s best to enjoy apricots whole and unpeeled, as the skin boasts large amounts of fiber and nutrients.

2 fresh apricots (70 grams) provide

  • Calories: 34
  • Carbs: 8 grams
  • Protein: 1 gram
  • Fat: 0.27 grams
  • Fiber: 1.5 grams
  • Vitamin A: 8% of the Daily Value (DV)
  • Vitamin C: 8% of the DV
  • Vitamin E: 4% of the DV
  • Potassium: 4% of the DV
  • Beta Carotene, Lutein, Zeaxanthin: significant amounts

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A guide to WFPB and other acronyms

BTW ICYMI, SAD is a questionable WOE. ISO a better WOE? FOK or WFPBSOS may be right for you.

Newcomers to plant-based chats sometimes feel lost and bewildered by acronyms and abbreviations for often-repeated short (and not-so-short) phrases. This tendency started long before the digital age with things like NATO, UNESCO, NASA, NAFTA, POTUS, FLOTUS, and SCOTUS. With internet chat came the emoticons and LOL, BRB, and other shortcuts. This glossary focuses on vegan / vegetarian / plant-based phrases, but I’ve included a few more that are useful. Just yesterday, after feeling like a clueless outsider for a few hours, I learned that F in a comment means Following, which puts the commenter in the loop for notifications. (I also learned that there is a better alternative to avoid clogging posts with too many comments. I’ll let someone else explain that.)

Here is a mini-glossary (a work in progress). Please feel free to comment on this page or send a note through the Contact page if there is something you want to ask about or contribute. You can search for all kinds of abbreviations at https://www.abbreviations.com/

VEGAN / VEGETARIAN

  • FOK / Forks Over Knives (a book, a movie, a WOE, a website, a movement)
  • GFO / gluten-free option
  • HCLF / high carb low fat
  • MM / meatless Monday
  • SAD / standard American diet
  • WFPB / whole food plant-based
  • WFPBNO / whole food plant-based no oil
  • WFPBSOS / whole food plant-based salt-free, oil-free, sugar-free
  • WOE / way of eating
  • NO / no oil
  • SOS / salt-free, oil-free, sugar-free

GENERAL

  • BTW / by the way
  • FYI / for your information
  • ICYMI / in case you missed it
  • ISO / in search of

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Almond Herbed CHEESE / QUESO de Almendras con Hierbas

PREP TIME 10 minutes / COOK TIME none / NO SPECIAL EQUIPMENT

INGREDIENTS: 1 cup almond pulp / juice of 1 lemon / 1/2 tsp salt / 1/2 tsp garlic powder / 1/2 tsp onion powder / 1 tsp chives / 1/2 tsp dill / 1/2 tsp parsley flakes / 1 tsp chopped olives /1 Tbsp olive oil

Mix all ingredients together, knead into desired shape, and place in container or mold. Chill thoroughly, at least two hours.

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Apple / Manzana Facts

Bushel of red delicious apples

An apple is a sweet, edible fruit produced by an apple tree (Malus domestica). Apple trees, which originated in Central Asia, are cultivated worldwide. Its wild ancestor, Malus sieversii, is still found today. There are more than 7,500 known cultivars of apples, resulting in a range of desired characteristics. Trees and fruit are prone to a number of fungal, bacterial and pest problems, which can be controlled by organic and non-organic means. In 2010, the fruit’s genome was sequenced as part of research on disease control and selective breeding in apple production.

Nutrition facts for one raw, unpeeled, medium-sized apple (100 grams):

  • Calories: 52
  • Water: 86%
  • Protein: 0.3 grams
  • Carbs: 13.8 grams
  • Sugar: 10.4 grams
  • Fiber: 2.4 grams
  • Fat: 0.2 grams

Apples are rich in simple sugars, such as fructose, sucrose, and glucose. Despite their high carb and sugar contents, their glycemic index (GI) is low, ranging 29–44.

Mary Ann Lesh

Almond / Almendra Facts

Almond is the edible seed of Prunus dulcis, a species of tree native to Iran but widely cultivated elsewhere. It is classified with the peach in the subgenus Amygdalus, distinguished from the other subgenera by corrugations on the shell surrounding the seed. Almonds are sold shelled or unshelled. Blanched almonds are shelled almonds that have been treated with hot water to soften the seedcoat, which is then removed to reveal the white embryo.

A 1-ounce (28-gram) serving of almonds contains:

  • Calories: 161
  • Carbohydrates: 2.5 grams
  • Fiber: 3.5 grams
  • Protein: 6 grams
  • Fat: 14 grams (9 of which are monounsaturated)
  • Vitamin E: 37% of the RDI
  • Manganese: 32% of the RDI
  • Magnesium: 20% of the RDI
  • They also contain copper, vitamin B2 (riboflavin) and phosphorus.

RECIPES: Almond Milk / Almond Flour

Sources: Wikipedia / healthline

Mary Ann Lesh

EGG Substitute with Chia / Sustituto de HUEVO con Chia

Eggs provide structure, moisture and richness; they act as a leavening ingredient. Chia gel needs help with leavening, but it makes a satisfactory substitute when eggs are called for in recipes for baked goods.

PREP TIME 15 min / COOK TIME none / NEED coffee grinder / MAKES 1 egg substitute

1 Tbs ground chia seeds / 3 Tbs water

  1. If you are starting with flax seeds, grind them in the coffee grinder.
  2. Combine 1 Tbs GROUND CHIA SEEDS with 3 TBS WATER.
  3. Stir well and let set at least 10 minutes before using.

Mary Ann Lesh