Make Each Day Mediterranean: Brought To You by Oldways
Make Each Day Mediterranean: Brought To You by Oldways
Make Each Day Mediterranean: Brought To You by Oldways
Contents
Understanding the Pyramid Find out how each section of the pyramid contributes to the healthfulness of the Mediterranean Diet pattern of eating. The Science Behind the Diet Understand the Body-Diet connection by exploring the scientic research behind the many incredible benets of the Mediterranean Diet. Facts and Common Myths Get the facts and avoid the misconceptions about the Mediterranean Diet. Mediterranean Diet All-Stars Discover the nutrition powerhouses naturally found in the Mediterranean Diet. Make it Your Diet Tips for developing healthy eating habits for you and your whole family. Set Up Your Kitchen Stock up on key Med ingredients and keep them within easy reach. Olive Oil 101 Get to know this key Mediterranean ingredient. Healthy New Habits Discover new worlds of avor, while you update your favorite recipes.
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Make Each Day Mediterranean, an Oldways/Mediterranean Foods Alliance education campaign, has been designed specically to introduce you to the remarkable health benets, fresh avors and tastes, and affordability of eating the Mediterranean way. Drawing on Oldwaystwo decades of leadership with the Mediterranean Diet, this kit includes handouts, reference materials, plus a number of free materials you can download and share with others. Eat Your Way to Health!
Copyright 2012 | Oldways | Mediterranean Foods Alliance | 266 Beacon St., Boston, MA 02116 | www.oldwayspt.org
Wine can be consumed regularly but moderately: up to one glass per day for women, two for men. Water is essential for proper hydration, and contributes to health, well-being, and energy.
a central part of the Mediterranean Diet and are eaten in moderate portion sizes several times a week. Cheese, for example, is eaten regularly but in small amounts.
Fish and Seafood
occupy their own section, since they are important sources of protein. Fish such as tuna, herring, salmon, and sardines are rich in heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids, and shellsh including mussels, oysters, shrimp, and clams have similar benets. Enjoy at least twice a week.
Whole Grains, Fruits, Vegetables, Beans, Herbs and Healthy Fats, Such as Those Found in Olive Oil represent the core of the diet. Base every meal on
fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, and herbs and spices. Olive oil, the main source of dietary fat, is used for almost all cooking and baking, and for dressing salads and vegetables.
which is important for overall good health, includes strenuous exercise such as running and aerobics, more leisurely activities such as walking and house-or-yard work, and simple changes, such as taking the stairs instead of the elevator. Add physical activity to each day.
Daily Physical Activity,
Copyright 2012 | Oldways | Mediterranean Foods Alliance | 266 Beacon St., Boston, MA 02116 | www.oldwayspt.org
The Science Behind the Diet It has been clear for decades that the Mediterranean Diet offers one of the healthiest eating patterns on
earth. But why is it so healthy? Is it the olive oil? The abundance of leafy greens? The lack of 24-ounce steaks? Live a longer, healthier life with the Mediterranean Diet The Med Diet can help you:
Lengthen Your Life Prevent Asthma Fight Certain Cancers Protect From Diabetes Keep Depression Away Prevent Chronic Diseases Nurture Healthier Babies Ward off Parkinsons Disease Safeguard from Alzheimers Disease
repeatedly shows that a healthy diet is much more than the sum of its nutrient parts. One early study of the whole diet approach was
published in 1995 by Antonia Trichopoulou, Walter Willett, Frank Sacks, and others, in which the original Oldways Mediterranean Diet Pyramid was given center stage.
abundant plant foods (fruit, vegetables, breads, other forms of cereals, potatoes, beans, nuts, and seeds) fresh fruit as the typical daily dessert, olive oil as the principal source of fat, dairy products (principally cheese and yogurt), and sh and poultry consumed in low to moderate amounts, zero to four eggs consumed weekly, red meat consumed in low amounts, and wine consumed in low to moderate amounts, normally with meals. In subsequent years the body of scientic evidence supporting the healthfulness of the traditional Mediterranean Diet has continued to grow. See all the latest studies at www.oldwayspt.org.
Copyright 2012 | Oldways | Mediterranean Foods Alliance | 266 Beacon St., Boston, MA 02116 | www.oldwayspt.org
Common Myths
The Mediterranean Diet is just another fad diet.
Wrong! The Mediterranean Diet is a lifestyle; its a sustainable way of eating; its consistently found to promote good health AND decrease chronic disease risk.
Q: Is it really a diet will I be hungry all the time? A: The Mediterranean diet (or Med Diet as its often called) is more
than a diet; its a lifestyle approach to healthy eating. It features fruit, vegetables, sh, beans, nuts and whole grains as well as other ingredients such as olive oil and wine that have been shown to promote good health.
Copyright 2012 | Oldways | Mediterranean Foods Alliance | 266 Beacon St., Boston, MA 02116 | www.oldwayspt.org
Avocados
High in ber, and lled with healthy monounsaturated fat and vitamin E, avocados are available all year. Add them to salads, use in dips, or simply eat out of the shell with a spoon.
Beans
A great source of protein and ber, swap beans for meat to make one or two meatless meals per week. If you use canned beans, rinse them well to remove some of the sodium.
Fish
Eat sh, which contain healthy fats, twice a week. Salmon, sardines, and mackerel are great sources of heart healthy omega-3 fatty acids.
Tomatoes
A source of vitamin C and lycopene, a potent antioxidant, tomatoes stimulate immune function and help ght chronic diseases.
Wine
Wine contains powerful antioxidants that come from grape skins and seeds and has been shown to reduce the risk of most diseases of aging. Enjoy up to one glass a day for women and two for men to help prevent strokes. If youre not a wine drinker, have a glass of 100% grape juice.
Yogurt
A protein powerhouse, yogurt contains calcium to protect and strengthen bones and also has benecial bacteria that are important for digestive health. Look for Greek yogurt, which delivers twice the protein of regular yogurt, plus a rich, tangy taste.
Whole Grains
Packed with nutrients, ber and protein, whole grains contain good carbs and are an important choice for healthy eating. Learn to cook popular Mediterranean whole grains such as barley, brown rice, bulgur, whole wheat couscous, and farro, for salads and side dishes.
Copyright 2012 | Oldways | Mediterranean Foods Alliance | 266 Beacon St., Boston, MA 02116 | www.oldwayspt.org
Marinate olives in olive oil, lemon zest, coriander seeds and cumin seeds and enjoy as a tasty snack. Enjoy popcorn air-popped and tossed with a bit of olive oil and Parmesan cheese. Focus on fruit. Eat an apple or an orange, or have a peach with ricotta or cottage cheese, or spread a few apple slices with peanut butter. Fill celery stalks with hummus or different nut butters. Or, keep string cheese on hand and enjoy a piece between meals.
Copyright 2012 | Oldways | Mediterranean Foods Alliance | 266 Beacon St., Boston, MA 02116 | www.oldwayspt.org
Luscious fruits at every meal are a key part of the Mediterranean Diet, so keep apples, clementines, oranges, grapes, pears, melon, peaches, dates, strawberries and other fruits in plain sight. Encourage the whole family to eat fresh fruit rather than drink fruit juice for a better source of ber, often lacking in our diets. Make healthy parfaits for dessert by layering Greek yogurt and sliced fresh fruit in tall glasses. Use frozen berries to make great smoothies. Almost everything tastes better with olive oil. Kids who wont eat a steamed carrot may love them roasted (or raw!) And you may succeed in getting everyone to eat sweet potatoes if you serve them as ovenbaked fries rather than mashed. Or, try making kale chips instead of steamed kale, for a whole different take on greens. Create Med-style variety plates to help your kids enjoy a wide range of avors and to serve up a wellbalanced meal. Put small helpings of six or eight different foods on a colorful plate or small platter, relying on leftovers and items you have on hand. For example: a few slices of cold turkey, a few baby carrots, a spoonful of hummus, several cubes of cheese, a helping of pasta or a whole grain roll, a small serving of lettuce with a favorite dressing, apple slices, a few olives, and several pickles. Kids usually enjoy such a selection. Get the family involved in preparing meals. Let little kids wash fruits and vegetables at the sink; ask older kids to chop the vegetables, toss the pasta, dress the salad and set the table. Children who learn basic kitchen skills appreciate it later in life and have a legacy to pass along to their children.
Encourage your kids to play with their food! When they need an afterschool snack or before supper when everyone is starving, get into the habit of setting out small bowls of Mediterranean Diet favorites: tzatziki, baba ghannouj, spicy muhammara, and different avors of hummus. Provide an ever changing variety of fresh, raw vegetables cut into pieces small enough for dipping: baby carrots, celery sticks, sliced cucumbers, sliced red, green, yellow, and orange peppers, snow peas, sliced fennel, and zucchini strips and let them dip away. Try whole grain pita for dipping too! Add vegetables to the kinds of foods your kids already like. If pancakes are popular, add some grated carrots, or shredded zucchini to the batter. Toss frozen peas with hot pasta, camouage extra veggies in a zesty spaghetti sauce, or add diced sauted onions or peppers to scrambled eggs. Make your own family-favorite trail mix. In a large bowl, combine peanuts, chopped walnuts, raisins or other dried fruit, some whole grain cereal and a few small pieces of chocolate if you wish. Package it in snacksize zip-lock bags to have on hand for car trips and lunch boxes.
Copyright 2012 | Oldways | Mediterranean Foods Alliance | 266 Beacon St., Boston, MA 02116 | www.oldwayspt.org
In The Pantry
Beans: Chickpeas, cannellini, fava, and kidney beans; lentils. Breads: Bread crumbs, foccaccia, lavash, pita, and other breads (mostly whole grain). Canned Seafood: Anchovies, clams, salmon, sardines, tuna. Capers: Once opened, they will keep in the refrigerator for up to six months. Cereals: Oatmeal, plus other hot or cold cereals. The best choices list the rst ingredient as whole grain, provide at least 3 grams of ber and no more than 8 grams of sugar per serving. Crackers: Look for labels that list a whole grain ingredient rst, and that provide 23 grams of ber per serving. Dried Fruit: Apricots, blueberries, cherries, cranberries, gs, raisins, prunes. Garlic: Keep a head or two within easy reach. Or, buy peeled garlic cloves and store in the refrigerator. Grains: Bulgur, couscous, farro, millet, oats, polenta, rice, quinoa. Herbs and Spices: Basil, bay leaves, black pepper, cinnamon, cloves, coriander, crushed red pepper, cumin, curry powder, dill, garlic powder, ginger, oregano, paprika, rosemary, saffron, sage, thyme, turmeric, or blends like Italian seasoning. Honey Nuts: Almonds, hazelnuts, peanuts, pine nuts, pistachios, walnuts Oil: Extra-virgin olive oil, grapeseed oil, peanut oil Olives: (all types) Pastas: (all types, including whole grain) Potatoes Red Wine Salt: Kosher, sea and iodized Seeds: Fennel, ax, sesame, sunower Tomatoes: Canned, paste, sauce, sundried Vinegars: Balsamic, champagne, cider, g, red wine, white wine
In The Refrigerator
Cheese Eggs Fruit
(berries, grapes)
Poultry Hummus and other Med dips Milk Mustard Pesto Pickles Tapenade Vegetables
(a variety, plus salad greens)
In The Freezer
Frozen Fruit Frozen Poultry and Meat Frozen Seafood Frozen Vegetables Frozen Chicken Stock Sorbet and Gelato
On The Counter
Fresh Fruit ~ Avocados, apricots, cherries, clementines, gs, grapefruit, lemons, limes, oranges, melons, nectarines, dates, bananas, plums, apples, peaches, pears, pomegranates, and/or tangerines. These fruits keep best at room temperature. Tomatoes ~ Store fresh tomatoes at room temperature. Olive oil ~ Keep an olive oil dispenser near your stovetop, and store the rest in a cool, dark place.
Copyright 2012 | Oldways | Mediterranean Foods Alliance | 266 Beacon St., Boston, MA 02116 | www.oldwayspt.org
Frying in olive oil leaves food less greasy, and crunchier, than frying in other fats. Also, foods fried in olive oil have less cholesterol and saturated fat than foods fried in most other fats. Here are some tips when frying with olive oil: Deep fry at 350 to 365 F, and heat the oil slowly. Use enough oil to properly cover foods. Avoid putting too much food in the oil at once. Place food on wire racks after cooking to drain excess fat.
Copyright 2012 | Oldways | Mediterranean Foods Alliance | 266 Beacon St., Boston, MA 02116 | www.oldwayspt.org
Avocados
Try mashed avocado instead of butter, jelly or cream cheese on bagels or toast. Enjoy guacamole instead of sourcream dip.
Olive Oil
Dip bread into olive oil rather than spreading it with butter, or use olive oil instead of butter on cooked veggies. Toss popcorn with olive oil and a sprinkling of Parmesan cheese or herbs instead of butter and salt. Substitute olive oil for butter in baking for lighter-tasting breads and cakes. The chart at right shows how to make the switch.
Beans
Add beans to chilies and casseroles, or use half ground turkey and half beans instead of ground beef. Puree cooked beans and use them as the base of healthy dips. Combine hummus with herbs and use as a sandwich spread instead of butter or mayo.
Whole Grains
Stuff peppers with cooked whole grains instead of meat. Cook brown rice, quinoa, whole wheat couscous, or other whole grains instead of white rice. Try whole wheat our in place of half the white our in recipes for cookies, mufns, quick breads, and pancakes. Use whole grain pasta instead of enriched pasta to triple the amount of ber and reduce the number of calories.
Fruit
Eat a bowl of fresh berries and yogurt, instead of ice cream, or reach for grapes, oranges, or melon chunks instead of cookies. Reduce the oil in mufns and quick breads by half and substitute unsweetened applesauce or mashed banana to make up the difference. Serve a sandwich with sliced apples or pears on the side, instead of chips. End a meal with sweet, fresh fruit.
Yogurt
Use Greek yogurt instead of mayonnaise in potato and pasta salads, or use 2/3 yogurt to 1/3 mayonnaise. Use Greek yogurt in place of sour cream in baking, or instead of cream in a dressing. Fruit-avored yogurt can contain up to 5 teaspoons of sugar per serving. Buy plain yogurt instead, and avor it with a teaspoon of jam or maple syrup, or your favorite fresh fruit.
Copyright 2012 | Oldways | Mediterranean Foods Alliance | 266 Beacon St., Boston, MA 02116 | www.oldwayspt.org
Copyright 2012 | Oldways | Mediterranean Foods Alliance | 266 Beacon St., Boston, MA 02116 | www.oldwayspt.org