I am so lucky to explore beautiful Greece while eating on the Mediterranean Diet. My Sweetheart and I have been traveling luxuriously around Greece, beginning with Athens and then moving on to Naxos and soon Santorini. Naxos is kind of the eating capital of Greece. Check out some of my Facebook Lives to share many of the on-the-spot eating experiences in Greece.
Naxos: An Eating Capital of the Mediterranean
Everyone we met in Athens said – oh Naxos has the BEST food. Before we arrived, the hotel workers, the taxi drivers, the people we sat next to at a play all sighed when we told them where we were going next. They love the Naxian food. Santorini and Mykonos are more popular as tourist destinations. Naxos is quieter and the food is celebrated. Each Naxion we met on this lovely island, including our 17-year-old male bartender, discusses food. How it is made, the best places to eat it and why they love it. The food is DEVINE. For the most part, it fits beautifully into the healthy way of eating we adopted three years ago – the Mediterranean Diet. Greece is in the Mediterranean AND it would stand to reason the food would be “part of the Mediterranean Diet” right? Yes and no.
Traditional Foods in Greece is the Key!
Yes, we are in Greece, and it is in the Mediterranean. It is wonderful to explore Greece while eating on the Mediterranean Diet. Yet, eating food that is available in Greece does not mean the food is part of the traditional Mediterranean Diet. Oldways, an authority on traditional ways of eating, defines the Mediterranean Diet.
Olive Sunshine’s Favorite Greek Recipes
The Mediterranean Diet is a way of eating based on the traditional foods (and drinks) of the countries surrounding the Mediterranean Sea. The Mediterranean Diet is not a diet, as in “go on a diet,” even though it is a great way to lose weight or improve your health. Rather, it is a lifestyle – including foods, activities, meals with friends and family, and wine in moderation with meals.
https://oldwayspt.org/traditional-diets/mediterranean-diet/what-mediterranean-diet
I think the key here is the word traditional. If you have the opportunity to travel to Greece, there are some do’s and the sometimes (I mean we are on vacation – right?) to help you explore beautiful Greece while eating on the Mediterranean Diet. This will also help serve as a guide for those of us living in the United States as eating Mediterranean food versus the guidelines of a traditional way of eating can be confusing. It was very eye-opening to explore Greece while living on the Mediterranean Diet.
Explore Beautiful Greece while Eating on the Mediterranean Diet
Greek Giant Beans with Tomatoes: Taverna Restaurant Zorbas in Athens
Fettuccini with Grouper and Eggplant: Varoulko in Athens
Authentic Greek Salad: Varoulko in Athens
‘The Do’s of Eating on the Mediterranean Diet in Greece
- Say YES to the amazing vegetables. Vegetables in Greece are vibrant. I always thought of vibrant as a way to see color. In Greece, the vibrancy of the vegetables come alive in flavor. The juiciest of tomatoes. Peppers so sweet and flavorful, they truly melt in your mouth. Eggplant so rich and complex, it is little wonder it is spread on everything from fish to bread.
- Say YES to the delicious fruit. Usually the two are together, fruit and vegetables. So much tastier in Greece, they deserve their own mention. The fruit is sweeter in Greece. Oranges so special every restaurant serves orange cake. Marks says the Watermelon is the best ever. It is no wonder smoothies featuring the gorgeous pink fruit are EVERYWHERE. There are fewer choices of fresh fruit available. The reason? Greece eats sustainably. Growing and raising food and eating only what is in season at that time. Fresh, vine and tree ripened foods account for the flavor.
- Embrace the grains. Quinoa, whole wheat pastas, and oats were readily available. Greeks are not afraid of carbs and tend to eat WHOLE grains. Interestingly, bread is provided with dinner only to satisfy the tourists. Greeks are more likely to eat meals without bread even pita. At lunch, beef and lamb patties, bun-less, came with a traditional Greek salad and a side of quinoa Breads often have flours made from refined grains. When a grain is refined, it strips away the most nutritional aspects leaving behind the starchy carbohydrate. Much of the American diet relies on refined grains and it is probably why grains (code for carbs) get a bad rap.
- Fish and seafood is readily available. It is a pescatarian’s dream to be in Greece. Fresh caught fish and seafood is served throughout the day and is easily incorporated into the diet.
Explore Beautiful Greece while Eating on the Mediterranean Diet
Stuffed and Roasted Vegetables: Sergiani Restaurant Naxos, Greece
Kelafotiri a hard cheese from Greece: Sergiani Restaurant Naxos, Greece
Greek Pizza: Alimari, Kamari Beach, Santorini, Greece
The Do’s of Eating on the Mediterranean Diet in Greece – Sometimes
- Meat is organic. The Mediterranean Diet, as defined by Oldways, limits red meat to once or twice monthly as was traditional in Greece years ago. Modern farming practices make meat more available and allowing it into the diet more frequently. Naxos is celebrated for the livestock by Greeks. If you choose to indulge, you can rest easy knowing the meat is organically raised.
- Cheese is everywhere. Cheese is in every food, and it is the pride of Greece. Indeed, Naxos is well-known for the cheese made on this the largest of the Greek Cyclades Islands. Greek cheese goes beyond the popular Feta. Metsovone, Mizithra, Anthotiro and Kasseri are just a few of the traditional Greek cheeses available. The good news, the cheese is a traditional cheese and much healthier than the processed cheese more common in the United States. On the Mediterranean Diet, cheese is a food to be eaten in smaller quantities and less frequently. I found restaurants very accommodating to modify recipes to reduce or even to eliminate the cheese.
The Only “Don’t” while eating in Greece on the Mediterranean Diet
Don’t eat too much. The food is delicious. Because the Greeks are as enthusiastic about their “healthy” food as we are, the portions were bigger than other countries I have traveled in the European Union. Too much of a good thing is well…too much. Save room for the next meal. My Sweetheart and I enjoyed splitting an antipasti and a main course. It was plenty and allowed for trying more delicious meals later!
Successfully Eating on the Mediterranean Diet is Easy in Beautiful Greece
Just like the American diet, the Greek diet continues to evolve. As Greece continues to grow as a tourist champion, the influences of what people think they want (fat, sugar and salt) will continue to influence the traditional ways of eating. These influences are often NOT for the better. Despite these modern influences, I found it deliciously easy to eat in Greece. Focusing on the traditional aspects of this delicious diet was a true pleasure.
We are so fortunate to explore beautiful Greece while eating on the Mediterranean Diet. I certainly am enjoying every minute here in Greece, but I do look forward to recreating Olive Sunshine versions of the traditional recipes when we return home.
