Making Your Meals More Mediterranean

It’s no secret that food and family go hand-in-hand, and sharing meals together with the people you love is truly something special. While traditional family recipes never go out of style, it can be fun to switch things up from time to time.

So, the next time you’re planning a family dinner, why not travel the world? You can make your meals more Mediterranean with some delicious recipes, like the ones from The Mediterranean Dish. Or, you can embrace the full Mediterranean lifestyle for a multitude of health benefits and even longevity!

My husband cooks more Mediterranean than Keto. I love fresh fruit and veggies, so if you’re interested in making your meals more Mediterranean and cooking this cuisine for your family, follow these simple tips to start making changes.

 

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Practice “Meatless Monday”

While a Mediterranean diet is full of fish and other lean meats, much of the protein you can get from the diet comes from beans and lentils. Because of that, it’s easy to make flavorful vegetarian dishes, like the ones featured on The Mediterranean Fork. 

Even if your family is full of meat-eaters, make an effort to go meatless one night a week. There’s already a global campaign called “Meatless Monday,” in which people cook vegetarian meals for dinner once each week. The benefits of swapping out just one meal a week for a vegetarian one include weight management, improved nutrition, and the chance to reduce your carbon footprint!

Swap Out Your Fats

A Mediterranean lifestyle focuses on a lot of healthy fats. There is very little butter or neutral oils. Instead, heart-healthy fats like olive oil, avocado, and nuts are used. Healthy fats like these can lower your risk of heart disease and won’t leave you feeling heavy and fatigued.

 

Pile On the Vegetables

A huge part of a Mediterranean diet is including a lot of vegetables. But, that doesn’t mean you have to opt for steamed spinach every night. Mediterraneans are all about flavor! Fresh tomatoes drizzled with Olive oil and sprinkled with feta cheese can make a great side dish or appetizer. Or, make a colorful and flavorful salad with your favorite olive oil and vinegar-based dressing for a light summer meal the whole family will enjoy.

Fresh vegetables pack a nutritional punch, and they’re also very filling. It’s a cost-effective and healthy way to feed your family, so sneak in some extra veggies whenever you can.  You'll also love Paliria Greek dolmas stuffed with leaves and veggies.  Always a good choice!

 

Eat More Fish

If you’ve ever heard anything about this diet, it’s probably that it includes a lot of seafood. While other proteins are included, it’s true that seafood is a staple, considering that the Mediterranean is surrounded by the sea.

Hearty fish like salmon, tuna, and sardines have a lot of Omega-3 fatty acids, which are good for your heart health. Shellfish are also popular on this diet, so load up on mussels and clams, which are also good for the heart and brain.

Again, there are so many benefits to the Mediterranean diet. While you don’t need to change everything about how you prepare your family meals, introducing some of these techniques can offer a nice change of pace to what you typically make for dinner, while promoting good health, too! So, don’t be afraid to get creative with your next family meal, and give the people you love a real taste of the Mediterranean!