New Year, New Me: 3 Mediterranean Diet Secrets
When a new year rolls around, it’s the season for making resolutions. The end of the year gives us an opportunity to take stock of our lives and figure out what we want to change for the future. One thing always on the list of most popular resolutions is taking charge of our health, generally through food and fitness. Whether you want to lose weight or just generally eat more healthy food, thinking of it as a lifestyle change will set you up for success.
Making a shift to a new diet can be intimidating – there are so many to choose from, and not all of them are good. Fortunately, as a Mediterranean restaurant in NYC, we can cut through the clutter and give you the best dietary advice we know: go Mediterranean. We’re not biased! (Okay, maybe a little bit.) The Mediterranean diet is not only broad and inclusive, meaning that you never have to feel limited or “not allowed,” it’s also been proven by study after study to be genuinely beneficial to your health and well-being.
It’s time to make 2024 the year of delicious healthy habits. Here are our top three tips from the Mediterranean that you can incorporate into your lifestyle right now.
#1 Embrace Healthy Fats With a Splash of Olive Oil
No matter where you go in the Mediterranean region, olive oil reigns supreme. It replaces butter as the base for just about every dish, bringing not only its signature flavor but also a raft of health benefits. Switching your regular canola oil to olive oil is a simple way to make all your food a little healthier for the new year.
The Mediterranean diet menu proves that oily isn’t automatically bad. Olive oil has some serious benefits for your heart health in particular – it’s even recommended by the American Heart Association. It can help reduce your blood pressure, ease inflammation, and lower the “bad” LDL cholesterol (a cause of heart disease and strokes). In short, we could gush about olive oil all day long! Whether it’s drizzled over one of our leafy salatim or used to fry our mouth-watering falafel for a sandwich or burger, adding olive oil to the mix is an easy diet win.
#2 Prioritize Plant-Based Meals – Fill Your Plate With Veggies
The Mediterranean approach to food highlights the importance of a colorful plate. There are so many iconic vegetables in classic Mediterranean cooking – think of the Smoked Eggplant, the artichokes, onions, mushrooms, and beets, to name a few. Vegetables are not only packed with nutrients, but they also help make you feel fuller for longer. Cooked (in olive oil) or raw, take a leaf out of the Mediterranean playbook and ensure you always have some vegetables or salad on your plate.
Plant-based cooking has become much more popular recently, but it’s old news in the Mediterranean. The humble falafel, made from chickpeas, has been packing a meat-free protein punch for generations. Whether peeking out of your pita pocket or transforming into a patty for a vegan burger, falafel makes meat-free Mondays, or any day of the week, delicious and easy.
#3 Mindful Eating & Social Connections: The Secret Sauce
Maybe the best tip we can give you for healthy eating in 2024 is this: enjoy your food and eat it with friends or family. Communal eating has always been a big part of Mediterranean culture, bringing people together around a table to talk, laugh, and share some quality time. Food should be delicious, nobody is arguing with that, but what really makes a meal is who you’re sharing it with.
Our fast-paced lives make it temptingly easy to eat alone, often at our desks. Make a point to share your meals, even if it’s just once a week at your favorite Mediterranean restaurant in New York. It’s a great way to schedule time to see all your favorite people. You have to eat anyway, so you might as well do it in good company.
Sometimes, eating alone can’t be avoided, but that’s where mindful eating comes in. The Mediterranean diet has never been about counting calories – it’s about portion control and savoring every mouthful. If you eat too fast, you’ll have had second and third helpings before your stomach even registers that it was actually full after one.
Food isn’t just fuel; it’s pleasure, it’s joy, it’s a flavor experience. Close your eyes and focus on the flavors on your tongue, the texture of the food in your mouth. Enjoy the bite before you take another. Trust us, it’ll change the way you think about your next meal.
