The Mediterranea Diet

Italy is known to follow the Mediterranean Diet. The Mediterranean Diet incorporates the basics of healthy eating plus olive oil and a glass of red wine, along with other components characterizing the traditional cooking style of countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea. The diet includes: getting plenty of exercise, eating primarily plant-based foods, such as fruits and vegetables, whole grains, legumes and nuts, replacing butter with healthy fats such as olive oil and canola oil, using herbs and spices instead of salt to flavor foods, limiting red meat to no more than a few times a month, eating fish and poultry at least twice a week and drinking red wine in moderation.

I went on a school trip this weekend to Cilento and focused mainly on learning about the Mediterranean Diet and consuming foods that follow the guidelines of the diet. All I did this weekend was eat. We ate pizza, pasta, bread, cheese and wine at every meal. The Mediterranean Diet traditionally includes fruits, vegetables, pasta and rice. I definitely ate lots of pasta and vegetables. Grains in the Mediterranean region are typically whole grain and usually contain very few trans fats. Italy is not known to produce whole wheat pizza or pasta, but the small portions they give you is what the key to the diet is. Bread is also an important part of the diet in the Mediterranean cities. However, throughout the Mediterranean region, bread is eaten plain or dipped in olive oil and not eaten with butter or margarine like in the United States. I ate lots of pizza, but in moderate portions and consumed bread without anything on it.

Overall, I did a lot of eating this weekend, but followed the Mediterranean Diet. I consumed foods rich in olive oil instead of butter, containing lots of vegetables, and with low amounts of saturated and Trans fat. The whole reason why I am studying abroad in Italy is to learn about Italian food and culture, and this weekend demonstrated firsthand the Mediterranean Diet and how Italians follow this lifestyle.