Dr. Ahmed While talking about Mediterranean food, one should know that it is a healthy way of eating rather than a formal diet plan.
It means there is no exact version of this diet, nor does it require any caloric counting procedure or portion control.
This means that it emphasizes on intake of specific food items from different food groups to improve health and prevent complications.
The Mediterranean diet is centered on a plant-based diet
It is generally centered on a plant-based diet including daily consumption of fresh fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts, and whole grains, along with weekly intake of some sources of lean meat such as fish, poultry, beans, and eggs, with moderate intake of extra virgin olive oil.
The Mediterranean diet limits the intake of red meat, processed foods, dairy, and sweets. It is a way of living rather than a diet plan; one should distribute these food items throughout the day in the form of small, frequent meals, by incorporating healthy snacks.
Also, add some kind of physical activity daily. It is a concept of family meals in that the whole family should sit together and have family time.
The Mediterranean diet is a way of living rather than a diet plan
Here are some examples of changes that can be made to different meals through which we can convert them into a healthy Mediterranean diet.
How to change your breakfast into a healthy Mediterranean Breakfast?
We can transform our breakfast into a healthy Mediterranean one by making the following changes:
Multigrain Bread:
- Instead of white bread slices, take multigrain bread as it contains more fiber in the form of different grains, seeds, and cereals, and therefore has a filling effect.
More Nuts:
- Take barley or oatmeal porridge with a handful of nuts (almonds, walnuts, or cashew nuts) and seeds (flaxseeds, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds), as they contain more fiber and nutrients.
- Nuts and seeds are combinations of protein, fiber, and healthy fats.
Avocado:
- Spread avocado, which is a good source of healthy fat (omega-3) and fiber, instead of butter or margarine, which are high in saturated fats and trans-fats, respectively.
Avoid fried egg:
- Take a boiled or a poached egg for breakfast rather than a fried one.
- A whole egg is beneficial and heart-healthy as yolk consists of lots of nutrients, including fats which help to satisfy your hunger longer, and it contains choline, which is important for brain health.
Whole wheat:
- Switch to whole wheat flour chapatti instead of refined flour paratha, as paratha contains a high amount of fat and refined carbohydrates.
Greek Yogurt:
- Take a Greek yogurt bowl with fruits and nuts, as it is high in protein and a good source of probiotics.
- If you want to have a slightly sweeter flavor, you can add a small amount of organic honey.
Peanut Butter:
- Add peanut butter spread and slices of banana to your multigrain bread in place of jam and butter, as peanut butter is rich in protein and good fats, and bananas are a good source of complex carbohydrates and other nutrients.
Granola:
- Add granola or muesli with a little sprinkle of flaxseeds, which is a good source of Omega-3 fatty acids, with a handful of nuts to a cup of skim milk, which will provide calcium, protein, and some minerals like magnesium and phosphorus.
Scramble a poached egg:
- Scramble poached egg with feta cheese, spinach, and tomato slices along with multigrain bread.
How to transform your mid-day meals into healthy Mediterranean meals:
In midmorning and teatime, the changes you can make to switch from regular snacks to healthy Mediterranean snacks are:
Healthy snacking:
- Healthy snacking includes whole fresh fruits instead of packaged fruits, as packaged ones are high in sugar content and preservatives.
Fruits:
- Fruits have a wide range of health-boosting antioxidants, including flavonoids, and they also help to eat more. Add a little sugar-drizzle slices of pear or apple with organic honey, or sprinkle a little brown sugar on grapefruit to enhance the flavor.
Air-fried popcorn:
- Popcorn air-fried with very little salt and no toppings of butter is healthy as they are a good source of polyphenols, which are antioxidants, along with other beneficial nutrients.
Boiled chickpeas:
- Boiled chickpeas or red beans with a lot of fresh salad including cucumber, tomato, onion, cabbage, capsicum, carrots, red cabbage, and broccoli, etc, with extra virgin olive oil.
Boiled Corns:
- Boiled corn is rich in several nutrients, especially minerals such as zinc, magnesium, copper, iron, and manganese.
Nuts:
- Handfuls of nuts, such as almonds and walnuts, are heart-healthy and good sources of omega-3 fatty acids.
- A study done in the Nutritional Journal found that if people replaced their usual snacks like cookies, chips, snack mix, and cereal bars with almonds, their diet would be lower in empty calories, added sugars, and sodium.
Spinach:
- Add a handful of spinach to your smoothie to add vitamins and minerals, along with fiber.
Multigrain bread:
- Take a slice of multigrain bread with a dip of olive oil, along with herbs instead of regular butter.
Grilled fish:
- Make a sandwich of grilled fish or chicken with a slice of cucumber and tomato.
Smoothie:
- A cup of smoothie made of Greek yogurt with a serving of fresh fruit.
How to make your major meals (Lunch and Dinner) full of Mediterranean food?
Now, coming towards the main meals, lunch and dinner, mentioning below the changes which should be made to make them healthy;
Add Salads:
- Add lots of fresh salad with every meal to increase your intake of fiber, along with vitamins and minerals.
- You can sprinkle some seeds like flaxseeds or sesame seeds along with a little extra virgin olive oil or hummus, or apple cider vinegar instead of mayonnaise or French dressing.
Whole Grain:
- Take whole grain or brown chapatti, bread, rice, or pasta in place of foods made with refined flour to increase fiber intake, along with other nutrients like vitamins B-1, B-3, and B-5, along with riboflavin and folate.
Cook in Olive Oil:
- Cook in olive oil or canola oil, which is a good source of omega-3 fatty acids, instead of sunflower oil, vegetable ghee, or desi ghee.
Lean meat:
- Take 2-3 servings of lean meat like fish, chicken, seafood, cheese, or eggs cooked in little oil, preferably steamed, grilled, broiled, baked, or air-fried.
Vegetables:
- All kinds of vegetables can be added to curry, but cooked in little oil. Include vegetables in the form of steamed, broiled, or baked by spraying a little olive oil on them with your lean meat whether it is chicken or fish (mackerel, herring, sardines, albacore tuna, salmon, and lake trout).
Add Barley:
- Add barley or oatmeal to your soups along with a bunch of vegetables like mushrooms, cabbage, capsicum, broccoli, carrots, bell peppers, and spring onions to make it filling and full of nutrients.
Lentils and Legumes:
- Lentils and legumes are excellent sources of fiber, protein, carbohydrates, B vitamins, iron, copper, magnesium, manganese, zinc, and phosphorus.
- Try to switch to the whole form of lentils or legumes, as they contain more fiber in place of refined legumes.
Use herbs:
- Try to use herbs and spices instead of salt to add flavor to foods.
Add Quinoa:
- Add quinoa to your soups or gravies by replacing cornflour or refined processed thickeners to increase the bulk of the soup and fiber as well.
Fresh Fruits:
- Instead of having dessert after a meal as pudding, pastry, or ice cream, try to have fresh fruits like dates, strawberries, or slices of peach; it is a healthy way to indulge your sweet tooth.
In Summary:
Mediterranean food is full of healthy food items. However, dietary changes should be long-term and sustainable to improve your health, lose some weight, and prevent yourself from serious illnesses like diabetes and heart disease.
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