Can I have easy comfort food on the Mediterranean Diet? Yes! You are allowed to have easy-to-make comfort foods. Since starting this WOE (way of eating), I do find that I am in the kitchen more often. Scratch cooking is common on the Mediterranean Diet. One of the basic principles of the Mediterranean Diet is to eat fresh, unprocessed food. While I want to be successful on the Mediterranean Diet, sometime life gets in the way. Despite real life, with a little planning we can maintain this WOE and still enjoy easy-to-make comfort foods.
I am busy and need something EASY to eat!
As Americans we are told that easy comes from a box or a drive through. These food choices often have a laundry list of ingredients of words that sound anything but healthy. Full of satuated fats, sodium and “enhanced” flavors. The food may satisfy our taste buds, but may not qualify as healthy. I prefer good for you foods that are good to eat. When easy is necessary, it is best to remember the tenets of the Mediterranean Diet. It is possible to find a new way of convenience. Easy can mean fresh ingredients put together simply.
Sometimes I crave COMFORT foods!
While my Sweetheart and I have been on this WOE for three years, I am still not even close to being an expert! It is only recently am I finding easy comfort foods allowed on the Mediterranean Diet. Simply put, real life outside of Olive Sunshine has been challenging. This blog is an escape from the crazy of life. I will not expand on the challenges except to say it is likely many readers will know what I mean without me stating the obvious. During these trying times, I just want to come home after work, put on lounge clothes and have something comforting to eat. It is during these challenges, I have discovered ways to make easy comfort foods just perfect for the Mediterranean Diet.
According to Dr. Shahram Heshmat Ph.D in Physchology Today there are 5 reasons why we crave comfort foods.
- It feels good – eating food that tastes good activates feelings of pleasure.
- Emotional eating – when people are in a bad mood they tend to crave sugary and fatty foods.
- Comfort and security – we associated certain foods with family and people caring for us.
- Nostalgic eating – scents and tastes remind of us memories, usually positive.
- Special occasions – people often indulge druing holidays and other special dates.
Whatever the reason, it is clear it is human nature to desire comfort food. It is important to realize we can recreate versions of our favorite comfort foods. Yes we can eat easy comfort food on the Mediterranean Diet while staying the course.
6 Small Changes to Have Easy Comfort Food on the Mediterranean Diet
- Rely on the Mediterrean Pyramid to guide choices.
- Swap out foods that are higher on the pyramid for foods lower on the pyramid.
- Add grains, veggies and fruits to the dish.
- Watch your portions.
- Make comfort foods once-in-awhile foods.
- Use extra virgin olive oil as your fat – after all it is the Olive Sunshine!
Grilled Cheese is the Perfect Easy Comfort Food
It is such a nice feeling to know that I can enjoy easy to prepare foods that comfort me wihout deviating from the Mediterranean Diet. Most recently I enjoyed a delicious Mediterranean Diet friendly grilled cheese. Martha Stewart calls grilled cheese, “Elemental in its construction and primal in its comfort.” I think we can all agree a grilled cheese is the epitome of easy comfort foods. It is important to note, not all grilled cheese sandwiches are created equally.
The Olive Sunshine version is a grown up version of a grilled cheese sandwich. Grilled Cheese with Figs and Carmalized Onions is an explosion of flavor. It has all the crisp and meltiness of traditional grilled cheese, with added ingredients that make it unforgettable sandwich. Add a glass of Red Wine and fresh flowers from my Sweetheart and I am in Mediterranean Diet heaven. What can be better than a dinner that is easy to make and takes minutes to prepare? Check out the Olive Sunshine version of a grilled cheese. It is fresh and delicious and just as comforting as when you were a kid!
