cook and live like an Italian or Greek

Over the last few years there has been a buzz in the air about the "Mediterranean diet"  It is not really a diet but a lifestyle; a way of eating and living demonstrated in the areas surrounding the Mediterranean sea. High in heart healthy olive oil and fish this diet seems like a good idea to most of us here in the United States. Doctors on TV and other personalities have endorsed it saying, "these are some of the healthiest people on the earth". There are many books written about it. People have taken off and started cooking everything olive oil adding some fish and other good things along the way.

 The problem comes in the fact that we are still eating so many of the same foods as we always have. The diet is more than just adding olive oil and more fish to your diet.  It is full of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, seeds and nuts simply prepared. Some of the best foods are the simplest foods. It does not have to be complex. Simple good home cooked food this is what it is about. This is real living and eating.

It is a change in how, and what you prepare to eat. These people do not go to the grocery store and fill their carts with "dead food" like we do. They do not go to the market with a list of things that they should or should not eat based upon whatever the latest fad is.  They go to the market and let the fresh food guide. They take whatever is available that day and simply prepare it. They get inspired by the fresh fruits, veg, and seafood around them. It is not about any specific foods, it is about what is available locally that will nourish them and the family.  It is a different way of thinking about "what's for dinner?"

Family and community are a big part of this also. These people gather together to eat and feed the soul while feeding the body. They do not eat on the run. They do not multitask by eating in front of their computer. They sit and enjoy the meal together as a family and community. Eating is an enjoyable time, not just another thing to cross off the to-do list. It is not just about the food, it is about the lifestyle they live and the traditions they create. It is life unprocessed.

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What about you? How often do you sit down to a nutritious meal with those you care about? What kind of traditions are you creating in your life and family?

some helpful links

Mediterranean diet 101
wikipedia on the Mediterranean diet

one of my recent posts "obsessed with processed food"

learning about farro a grain grown in Italy