Rather than focusing on The Mediterranean Diet rules, this lifestyle should be about the addition of fresh ingredients and flavors, rediscovering the joy of eating and celebrating the love of food, culture and tradition.
The Popularity of The Mediterranean Diet
I am a huge fan of The Mediterranean Diet. So much so that I changed the focus of my blog to living a mediterranean inspired lifestyle in May 2018.
Read more about My Decision to Follow a Mediterranean Diet.
Ever since being named the Top Diet of 2019, The Mediterranean Diet is finally getting it’s time in the spotlight.
However, with that title comes a wide array of people trying to find a way to market it as an “eat this/not that” type of diet.
Common Misconceptions about The Mediterranean Diet
As a Registered Dietitian whose focus is The Mediterranean Diet & Lifestyle, I get asked a lot of questions about this way of life. Which I love answering!
Some of the most common misconceptions that I come across from people regarding this lifestyle include…
- If you don’t like olives you can’t follow The Mediterranean Diet
- No red meat is allowed
- Just add olive oil to everything
- Greek yogurt and feta cheese are the only allowed dairy products
- You have to start drinking red wine
- You have to eat fish at every meal
The Mediterranean Diet Rules
I also get asked a lot about the “rules” for the Mediterranean Diet.
The beauty of this lifestyle – there aren’t any rules. Do you think that everyone that lives in the Mediterranean (Italy, France, Greece, Turkey, Spain, etc) all follow the same “rules” when it comes to eating?
Nope. I don’t. Sure, there are guidelines and principles around this diet where the focus is on the addition of certain types of food instead of eliminating others.
However, what I think people miss the most when trying to create a more mediterranean inspired lifestyle are the traditions centered around food, finding the joy of cooking again, savoring the the flavors of fresh ingredients, and sharing meals with loved ones.
The Love of Food
Don’t get me wrong, the health benefits associated with The Mediterranean Diet are a strong factor in my support for it.
A diet rich in fresh, flavor packed fruits and veggies, delicious fish, whole grains, nuts, seeds and hearty olive oil that is also good for your heart health, decreased risk of certain types of cancer & diabetes, with a possible reduced risk for Alzheimer’s disease…sign me up!
But I also think that you can’t deny that another health benefit is the improved relationship with food that the Mediterranean diet can have on a person. There is research that indicates eating with others, in a social setting, is better for our health and mood.
There are so many “diets” that focus on counting calories or eliminating certain food groups (carbohydrates, sugar, etc), that the love of food has gotten lost. My experience with the Mediterranean Diet has shown me to appreciate fresh ingredients, learn how much fresh herbs can add flavor to simple meals, and the joy that comes in sharing meals with friends and family.
My time in Italy, France and Greece really taught me the pure love that comes from celebrating food. Trying new ingredients, sharing recipes across generations, walking to the market for the freshest ingredients…that’s the mediterranean lifestyle I love.
Read More – What I Learned About Eating in Italy
My Type of Mediterranean Lifestyle
So it’s really a combination that, in opinion, make The Mediterranean Diet so wonderful – following the guidelines of the diet which focus on the addition of heart healthy ingredients, finding the joy of mealtime again, experimenting in the kitchen, and sharing meals prepared with love.
It’s my hope that this blog expresses those values in the information, recipes and scenes of life shared here and on social media.
Check out our Mediterranean Diet Info page for more great tips and information.
That restaurant was the best. I think it was the oldest restaurant in Florence no? I still wish I got the florentino bistecca
Yes, I love this post and relate to it very well. It’s more than the diet itself but the lifestyle associated with the Mediterranean such as coming together for a meal without your cell phone, sipping slowly on a glass of wine, hiking the rolling hills to tend to your agriculture. It is also where the food came from and the quality. Such as locally sourced and fermented foods. You may like our post about this too on the Mediterranean lifestyle on the Genomic Kitchen’s blog.
Enjoyed this article and the easy style of your writing.
Thank you so much Cathy, that means a lot!
[…] I shared in What I Think People Get Wrong about The Mediterranean Diet, many of us have lost the joy. The joy of eating. Or the joy of cooking. Or the joy of sharing […]