The desire to consume fresh produce and the sun tempts you well and if you could combine pleasure and health then why not…. The Cretan diet, also known as the Mediterranean diet, may be the solution for you! Before you get started, let me explain how it works.
The Cretan diet (or Mediterranean diet) is very easy to follow while on vacation, camping, with the family and even in restaurants, it is the season program! As a result, it can be followed both by you alone or by the whole family at the same time without removing the pleasure of eating.
What diet?
It is above all a cuisine linked to fishery, livestock and local products. Sea or river fishing, meat from sheep or cattle herds, products from the cereal plains (wheat and rice) or from the garrigue (oil and wine).
Also the Cretan diet (or Mediterranean diet) is based on a healthy and balanced diet, particularly rich in fresh fruits and vegetables (fibers, vitamins, carotenes and mineral salts providing antioxidants), cereals and pulses (carbohydrates and fibers), little meat (therefore little saturated fatty acids) but poultry and especially fish of which 2 to 3 times per week of fatty fish (therefore omega 3). It is the kitchen of the sun!
Olive oil: the base
However, olive oil has long been promoted as the main element of this diet and a 100% olive fashion has swept through, and it is a misconception to believe that it is about the best oil! Yet this received idea still persists!
Indeed, like ALL oils, olive oil contains 100% lipids, it is nutritionally interesting, by its richness in monounsaturated fatty acids making a little lower the level of bad cholesterol (LDL) and moderately increase the level of good cholesterol (HDL). It also presents some natural anti-oxidants such as polyphenols which are said to have beneficial properties. It is practical because it can be eaten raw as well as in cooking.
However, it is not very rich in omega 3 and vitamin E, which is why it is recommended to always vary the oils to balance all the contributions, and therefore to vary between olive oil, rapeseed oil (in seasoning) and walnut oil (in seasoning) or wheat germ (in seasoning) in particular.
Long live Mediterranean cuisine
Likewise, if the Mediterranean cuisine present in the Cretan diet (or Mediterranean diet) is made of grilled fish, salad of tomato, basil, olives, bouillabaisse and other ratatouille and tian, it is also the cradle of the fougasse, oil pump, tapenade and other calissons … an important slogan must be adapted: moderation !
What you must remember
Remember for your holidays and even throughout the year several of the principles of the Cretan diet (or Mediterranean diet):
- Consume seasonal products,
- Diversify your diet,
- Reduce your consumption of red meat in favor of fish and oily fish,
- Do not remove lipids by favoring good fats: vegetable oils by varying them,
- Choose local, regional products,
- Use and abuse aromatic herbs,
- Cook at home!
As you will have understood, the Cretan diet (or Mediterranean diet) is a good way to indulge yourself while eating a balanced diet. In addition, it is perfect to follow during the summer period and what is more for the whole family.
If, however, you feel that the Cretan diet (or Mediterranean diet) is not the food program you need then consider moving closer to the program. Know how to lose weight which offers more than 500 different profiles… so you may find what you are looking for!
Pleasure and health on the plate!