15 Easy Mediterranean Diet Meal Prep Recipes | Meal Prep on Fleek (2024)

FAQs

What do you eat on the Mediterranean diet everyday? ›

Each day, eat vegetables, fruits, whole grains and plant-based fats. Each week, have fish, poultry, beans, legumes and eggs. Enjoy moderate portions of dairy products. Limit how much red meat you eat.

A Mediterranean-style diet is based on these foods: • vegetables • fruits • extra virgin olive oil • wholegrain breads and cereals • legumes or beans (e.g. chickpeas, kidney beans or lentils) • nuts and seeds • fish and seafood • onion, garlic and other herbs and spices (e.g. oregano, coriander, cumin etc.)

Specifically, she says, the traditional Mediterranean diet is characterized by high consumption of vegetables, fruits, legumes, and unprocessed grains, low consumption of meat and meat products (maybe two to three times per month), and low consumption of dairy products. All of this is bound by olive oil.

Cheese & Yogurt

Dairy products common to the traditional Mediterranean Diet include: brie, chevre, corvo, feta, haloumi, manchego, Parmigiano-Reggiano, pecorino, ricotta, yogurt (including Greek yogurt).

And as plant-based protein sources that are high in good and unsaturated fats, peanuts and peanut butter are a natural fit within Mediterranean and Flexitarian ways of eating. Unfamiliar with the Mediterranean and Flexitarian diets?

The Mediterranean diet focuses on fresh vegetables, whole grains, olive oil, fish, beans, and eggs. A chicken wrap with apples and nuts is a filling Mediterranean-inspired lunch. Almond-stuffed dates are a sweet and crunchy way to get protein and fiber.

Choose Lean Proteins: Focus on fish and poultry over red meat. Include beans, nuts, and other plant-based proteins. Moderate Wine Intake: If you consume alcohol, switch to wine and drink in moderation. Stay Active: As the study suggests, coupling the diet with regular physical activity yields better results.

What is the best bread for the Mediterranean diet? ›

Any bread that is made from whole wheat, whole grains, sprouts, and sourdough is recommended while on a Mediterranean diet. You will want to avoid bread made from refined grains, such as white bread if you are following this diet.

If you're just starting to follow the Mediterranean diet, limited evidence suggests that you may notice some cognitive improvements — including in attention, alertness and contentment, according to one review of studies published in 2021 — within the first 10 days or so.

The Mediterranean diet prohibits the consumption of processed foods, refined sugars, refined grains, and trans fats. Additionally, the diet limits the intake of red meat and high-fat dairy products. In addition, the consumption of alcohol is restricted, with the exception of red wine, which you can have in moderation.

Egg yolks. Egg yolks have saturated fats that can raise your cholesterol. Most healthy people can eat up to four to six egg yolks per week while following a Mediterranean diet, but to get some of the benefits of eggs without the negatives, stick to egg whites whenever you can.

Based on their high cholesterol content, the Mediterranean Diet Foundation recommends to consume up to 4 eggs per week, as a healthy alternative to fish or meat [7], and the same amount (2–4 eggs per week) was indicated in the latest Italian dietary guidelines [8].

The highlights of the findings are as follows: Significant Reduction in Belly Fat: Participants who adhered to the Mediterranean Diet showed a noticeable decrease in abdominal obesity compared to those on other diets.

Based on their high cholesterol content, the Mediterranean Diet Foundation recommends to consume up to 4 eggs per week, as a healthy alternative to fish or meat [7], and the same amount (2–4 eggs per week) was indicated in the latest Italian dietary guidelines [8].