What is the Mediterranean Diet?
It's a moderate, balanced and varied diet of fresh, local and seasonal foods:
- More Fish and Seafood than Meat
- Vegetables
- Legumes
- Bread
- Olive oil
- Wine
- Fruits
- Aromatic herbs (oregano, parsley, coriander)
- Water
Seasoning
The seasoning of the foods is an important key point. As the Mediterranean people use mainly olive oil, vinegar and sea salt.
Extra virgin olive oil and apple cider vinegar are well known for their many health benefits, like: lowering cholesterol, improving heart health, preventing cancer, lowering blood sugar levels and many others.
Extra virgin olive oil and apple cider vinegar are well known for their many health benefits, like: lowering cholesterol, improving heart health, preventing cancer, lowering blood sugar levels and many others.
In the tasty Mediterranean cuisine, we can feel the real taste of food. The grilled fish, for example, is just seasoned with sea salt and some also with olive oil, after grilled.
Mediterranean people can recognize and identify the aroma and taste of the different fishes.
Meal Breaks and Sharing Meals
The Mediterranean countries are known for having, at least, 1 or 2 hours for lunch break. Meal time is very important. Normally, family gather to eat together.
Unesco Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity
The Mediterranean gastronomy was considered, by Unesco, one of the treasures of humanity to be protected.
Unesco raises awareness for its significance and the importance of safeguarding the large variety of traditional and cultural dishes of the healthy and balanced Mediterranean diet.
Why is Healthy?
- The foods are fresh
- The seasoning is simple and a good source of fat (olive oil, sea salt and vinegar)
- Includes a daily different variety of nutrients
- Portions are not large
- Tradition of buying from markets of fresh and seasonal food
- Simple cuisine that maintains the real flavour of food and its nutrients
- More fish and seafood than meat
- Moderated wine drinking
- Low in processed food
Which countries have the Mediterranean Food?
Some countries are:
- Greece
- Italy
- Portugal
- Spain
