4 Good Reasons for switching to the Traditional Mediterranean Diet

The Mediterranean diet is the easiest, simplest, most practical diet around, yet in our search for losing weight we turn to other food plans – the paleo, the Dukan and the Atkins diets, the list goes on. But it’s over indulgence on the wrong foods and inactivity that creates the need to lose weight. Wouldn’t it be better to incorporate a healthy life style with simple eating - good eating habits that are easy to follow, nutritious and healthy? 

There’s no real definition of the Mediterranean diet, no single model, it’s more a lifestyle based on a southern European approach which includes food obtained from livestock, fishing, and agriculture from the different countries of the south.

Mediterranean diet being neglected

Sadly, the healthy eating styles and traditions of the Mediterranean diet are being neglected, fast food is gaining popularity and with that comes the obvious- we are getting fatter. And, because we’re all in a hurry these days, we’re losing the habit of sitting down and enjoying mealtimes.

We're lucky here in the south, it’s really easy to follow the Mediterranean; the choice of fruit and vegetables is endless especially in our open air markets.



Market delights in our local open air market

 Here’s why we should take a second look at the Mediterranean diet:

1. No food restrictions

The great thing about the Mediterranean food plan is that there are no strict laws on what we should eat and what we shouldn’t. Instead the diet focuses on the variety of fresh vegetables and fruit and encourages us to experiment with locally sourced products.

2. Healthy

 Originally known as the "Poor Man’s diet" because it did not include a lot of meat, only  a bit of fish but lots of seasonal fruit and vegetables this is the diet that has proved to reduce  heart disease as well as number of medical conditions brought on by western lifestyle

Key ingredients

--Healthy olive oil is the main fat in Mediterranean cooking, in salads, even used by some on bread instead of butter.

--Lots of fruit and vegetables low in fat and high in fiber such as courgettes, avocados, tomatoes, peppers, melons.

-- Fish packed with protein, vitamins and minerals.

--Nuts aren’t to be consumed every day but around 2- 3 times a week.

 3. Less expensive

Buying local and fresh means we won’t be paying too much for food especially  with a list and a meal plan for the week.  Choosing the right food makes us automatically want to cut out costly junk food items.

4.  Pleasure

The Mediterranean diet is not only about food but a lifestyle where families take time to eat together, not in front of the television but around the table. It’s this sharing which creates a deep appreciation of food.


Forget about fad diets, study the Mediterranean diet pyramid, a doable, easy, and versatile plan. Start making  healthy choices and enjoying meal times.