The Mediterranean diet consists of more plant foods and less animal food but also consists of a healthier lifestyle including taking time to enjoy meals. Produce options might be limited during the winter in many areas of the country but you can use frozen vegetables in stews and soups and dried fruit goes well with cereal, salads and for snacks. Nuts, such as walnuts, aren’t limited by seasons so during the winter try to use them more often if fresh produce is hard to obtain. In fact, I recommend storing air-tight packages of walnuts in the freezer so you can enjoy them all year long!
If you’d like to make this eating pattern fit your family, consider the following tips:
- Build meals around whole grains, fruits and vegetables – stews, casseroles, soups
- Slowly boost the amount of produce you use by adding more to current family favorite dishes
- Top grilled meat with vegetable salsas or try a fruit salsa on fish
- Add walnuts to hot cereal to enhance texture
- Change your salads to mixed greens with dried fruit, walnuts, and feta or goat cheese
- Grill Brussels sprouts, cauliflower and broccoli for a change of taste and top with toasted nuts to boost enjoyment
For your family’s next pizza night, try a Mediterranean “twist” to traditional pizza. Check out other Mediterranean recipes.
