It’s officially Mediterranean Diet Month!
May marks an exciting and delicious celebration of one of the healthiest diets in the world: the Mediterranean diet.
Originating in countries around the Mediterranean Sea, such as Italy, Greece, and Lebanon, this satisfying diet is full of healthy fats, lean meats, hearty legumes, fresh fish, and colorful vegetables.
Since it’s Mediterranean Diet Month, there’s no better time to celebrate and try some new delicious and heart-healthy foods.
What is the Mediterranean Diet?
Inspired by traditional culinary habits from countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea, the Mediterranean diet is the epitome of longevity and health. This diet focuses mainly on plant-based foods, which include nutrient-rich vegetables and fruits, fiber-filled grains, and an assortment of legumes.
Mediterranean spices native to the area also give Mediterranean cuisine its unique, identifiable flavor.
The diet also encourages the consumption of monounsaturated fats, which are good for the heart, mostly from olive oil and fatty varieties of fish.
Following the Mediterranean diet can have remarkable benefits on your overall health. The most significant benefit is its potential to boost cardiovascular health by reducing levels of cholesterol and blood pressure.
Consuming food rich in Omega-3 maintains heart health and also supports brain performance, while its high fiber ingredients improve digestive health.
The Mediterranean diet truly stands as a testament to a way of eating that nourishes the body and spirit.
How to Celebrate Mediterranean Diet Month
Mediterranean Diet Month offers an excellent opportunity to step out of your kitchen’s comfort zone to try a different cuisine with family and friends.
Learn About the Health Benefits
The health benefits of the Mediterranean diet deserve an entire article (or book) of their own. If you’re looking to make a positive change to your health this year, the month of May is a great time to do so.
From improving heart health and mental health to helping you lose weight to preventing dementia and cancer, the health benefits packed into the whole foods in the Mediterranean diet shouldn’t be ignored.
Once you learn about all of the positive impacts this diet can have on your health, you’ll never go back to your old eating habits again!
Attend a Mediterranean Meal Cooking Class
Sometimes, trying to make a new meal from a part of the world you aren’t familiar with can be overwhelming. If you don’t know where to start when it comes to cooking within the Mediterranean diet, consider taking a fun cooking class.
Find a local cooking class or one online where you will learn how to make a delicious dish from either Italy, Greece, Lebanon, Turkey, Algeria, and more!
Not only is it a fun night out, but you’ll have a new recipe to incorporate into your cooking routine.
Host a Mediterranean-Inspired Dinner Party
If you know anything about the cultures in the Mediterranean, you know that they love to enjoy a meal with friends and family.
During Mediterranean Diet Month, host a Mediterranean-themed dinner party for your friends. Try making some delicious appetizers like stuffed grape leaves or baba ghanoush with whole-grain bread. For the main course, serve a pasta dish or fish, or a combination of both.
Don’t forget a dish of high-quality olive oil to dip your bread in!
Your guests will love the theme and the delicious food that comes with it.
Try a 30-Day Mediterranean Diet Challenge
A new month means setting new challenges for yourself. For Mediterranean Diet Month, why not adopt this healthy diet for the next 30 days?
By the end of the 30 days, you’ll be guaranteed to feel the benefits of this whole-food diet on your health and overall well-being.
Enjoy a Family Mediterranean Meal Night
Get your partner and kids in on the fun of Mediterranean Diet Month by hosting a family dinner and movie night.
Enjoy a Mediterranean meal together, such as lasagna, homemade pizza, falafel, and more. After dinner, enjoy a movie set in the Mediterranean, like Mamma Mia! or Gladiator, to finish the night.
Learn to Cook a New Favorite Meal
At some point or other, you may have felt bored with your home-cooked meal rotation. Mediterranean Diet Month is an excellent opportunity to learn to make a new favorite meal to add to your weekly cooking schedule for you and your family.
Not only will you spice up your cooking routine, but you can be confident that you’re feeding your family a healthy meal.
Pull out that Italian cookbook that’s been collecting dust on your kitchen shelf, or find a new recipe on Pinterest and get cooking!
Treat Yourself to a Mediterranean Restaurant
Sometimes you just aren’t in the mood to cook at home or follow a new recipe, but don’t let that stop you from celebrating Mediterranean Diet Month!
Find a local Mediterranean restaurant, like Cafesano Italian & Mediterranean Bistro, to enjoy a professionally prepared meal with high-quality ingredients.
Choose from an extensive menu of delicious Mediterranean-inspired dishes to satisfy your hunger and cravings. Plus, you can even find gluten-free and vegetarian options to meet your diet preferences.
Enjoy the Mediterranean Diet Year-Round at Cafesano
While May is Mediterranean Diet Month and a great time to celebrate the healthiest diet in the world, you can enjoy this delicious food all year long at Cafesano.
Located in Northern Virginia, Cafesano offers a cozy and friendly atmosphere where you can spend time with friends and family while experiencing a tasty Mediterranean dish.
Let’s also not forget that our happy hour specials are a can’t-miss on your way home from work!
Whether you’re looking for a family meal in a restaurant, a quiet takeout meal at home, or catering an event with 100 people, Cafesano Italian & Mediterranean Bistro is here to satisfy any craving or situation.
Find the nearest Cafesano location and reserve a table to enjoy an authentic Mediterranean meal today!
If you enjoyed this article, then you may want to read What’s the Difference Between Greek and Mediterranean Food?, next!