Eat Like a Meditteranean

With so many different trendy diets being pushed on us each and every day, it’s hard to decide which one will actually work best for you. No carb, low carb, high carb. All vegetables, no vegetables, only green vegetables. Amongst all of the "fad diets" that are out there, the one that truly caught my eye was one that I felt would be sustainable and that I knew I could follow for the rest of my days. The diet I chose to help me lose weight was the Mediterranean diet.

What is the Mediterranean Diet?

The Mediterranean diet focuses on you consuming the foods that are available only to those who are living near the Mediterranean Sea (well, before we had the importing and exporting of goods, that is). Natural oils, healthy fats, and tons of fruits and vegetables are key components to this diet. Along with those types of foods, there are some other "basics" that go along with your Mediterranean diet plan, including:

• Every meal should be eaten with company
• Exercise, no matter what form, is a must!
• Fruits and vegetables are key
• Indulge in healthy fats, like olive oil and canola oil
• Herbs and spices should always be used to flavor dishes rather than salt
• Nuts should be eaten in small portions each and every day
• One 5 oz glass of red wine does a body good
• Fish is a "must" at least twice a week
• Limit the amount of red meat you eat

The key to a Mediterranean diet is eating a good helping of fruits, vegetables, whole wheat pastas and brown rice. All foods should be cooked with oils (rather than butter and margarine) and most fats should be obtained by eating small quantities of nuts each day, such as pecans, hazel nuts and walnuts.

What should I consider before beginning a Mediterranean Diet?

If you are looking to shed 10 pounds in one week, this diet is most certainly not for you. If you are looking for a sustainable way to progressively lose week over a longer period of time, then switching to this type of diet is a wonderful idea. It does not restrict one from enjoying the foods they already love; it’s all about teaching portion control.

This diet plan can be rather difficult for anyone who isn’t a fish lover, so do reconsider beginning this diet if you are not fond of fish or shellfish.

For the sake of losing weight, this diet plan truly does work best when accompanied with a form of exercise. Though it is by no means necessary to begin working out at the gym 2 hours a day, going for a brisk 30 minute walk 5 times a week will go a long way in helping you accomplish any weight loss goals you may have.

Most importantly, as with making any big change in your diet or exercise routine, be sure to speak to your doctor about your weight loss and dietary goals, and be sure that the Mediterranean diet plan you have chosen will meet your nutritional and weight loss needs.

photo by Nyboer Creative