It is no surprise that the Mediterranean Diet is one of the most popular diets in the world. I am in several groups on Facebook connecting me to like-minded individuals enthusiastic about this way of life. Scrolling these pages you will see a plethora of recipes, photos of food, and questions about what is and is not Mediterranean Diet compliant. Often what you do not see are posts about being physically active, and yet physical activity is the foundational base of the Mediterranean Diet Pyramid. Physical activity is the base of the Mediterranean Diet and paying attention to that element will ensure this way of life is successful for you and your family. We needed the reminder and the Smoky Mountains got us moving again.
The Difference a Year Can Make
I have a feeling this blog post has more to do with me than anyone reading it. Last year at this time I was very active, every day I either was on the water on my paddle board or taking a run. My favorite activity is paddle boarding, and for some reason the weather and my schedule aligned and I went several times a week. When not paddling, I was working to improve my 5K times using a running app. My husband and I regularly walk to neighborhood restaurants and Tiki bars around the island on the weekend.
This year, the harmonious alignment of weather and my time has not been working. I tried twice today to take my board out. As I was pulling out of the garage thunder would rumble in the background. Thirty minutes later it was sunny and blue outside. I let my running program dwindle during the final stages of my dissertation. Walking to restaurants, or even walking around the schools I supervise at work, has ceased due to the Covid-19 shut downs. I have not been getting any many steps at all.
The great news is my weight has not yo-yo’d much since being on the Mediterranean Diet. It is one of the reasons I love this way of eating, this way of life. But I can tell I am not getting the full impact of the Mediterranean Diet. I am missing the energy that eating good food coupled with physical activity brings. It was not until I went to the Smokey Mountains that I realized how much my body was missing exercising. Physical activity is the base of the Mediterranean Diet. We needed the reminder and the Smoky Mountains got us moving again.
The Smoky Mountains
My Sweetheart and I went to visit our Mothers, both who live in Michigan. We decided to drive instead of fly, something we have not done often living in Florida. Our lovely trip to Italy and Greece was cancelled, as were all of our other travel plans this year, So we decided to merge our family visit with a little vacation. We rented a cabin in Pigeon Forge. It was a wonderful, if short, getaway. We really did not have to interact with anyone, just push the numbers into the key pad and walk in to the sweet little cabin and enjoy. Our cabin had a perfect view of the Smoky Mountains. Really, perfect, and that word does not do it justice. I will let the photos speak for me.
The stop in Pigeon Forge was a last minute decision, we had nothing planned. We woke up the first morning and decided to go hiking at Cove Mountain Trail. It was glorious! First, we were both quickly informed by our bodies that we had been way too sedentary. Second, I realized my backside would be very different if I lived in the mountains. It was invigorating to walk in the cool of the mountain paths, surrounded by oxygen-giving trees, with the sunshine poking through the leaves. Views of waterfalls and mountains displayed all around us. The Smoky Mountains got us moving!
Food for the Trip
I only wished that we could stay longer. Before we left Florida, we packed coolers of food. All of the food packed is Mediterranean Diet friendly. It tasted even better than it does at home. We packed large slices of Spanakopita and chicken and vegetables that we grilled out. We enjoyed Greek-stuffed baked potatoes, hard boiled eggs and delicious carrot muffins doused with local honey. The honey was from a local farm near our cabin where we went to pick raspberries, blackberries and blueberries. Everything tastes better in the fresh mountain air.
Sourdough Blueberry Granola Bars
As you may remember I have been Baking with Sourdough. I did not publish all of the recipes I made while trying to figure out what to do with all of that sourdough discard. One recipe I did not share is Sourdough Blueberry Granola Bars. The day I made them, I had made 3-4 other recipes. I did not have room in my stomach to try them, and I was a bit uncertain I would like them. In fact, I was not sure I would even keep them. My Sweetheart said, pack them on the trip. If we get hungry enough we will eat them. So they came in the cooler with us to Pigeon Forge and with me in my back pack to hike up the Mountain.
Walking up the mountain makes you hungry! We stopped for a break to munch on the Sourdough Blueberry Granola Bars, and I am not sure if it was the fresh mountain air, or the recipe itself, but we loved them! They were hearty and filled us up. With no added sugar, eating them felt as good for us as did the hike itself. Leaving Pigeon Forge out of granola bars, and full of energy, we committed to more of both. More physical activity and more Sourdough Blueberry Granola Bars.
Home Sweet Home
Today I started my first day as a 50 year old woman on a beach walk with my Sweetheart. While we do not live in the splendor of the Smoky Mountains, we are pretty fortunate. Our home is between the beauty of the inter-coastal and the Atlantic Ocean.
To celebrate my 50th birthday, we woke up early and took an invigorating walk along the ocean. There is nothing better than an empty beach with the only noise being the soothing rumble of the waves crashing.
We are committed to the Mediterranean Diet. Mark does the grocery shopping, keeping our pantry stocked with all of our Mediterranean Diet food, and me food prepping and creating recipes. But we sometimes forget to pay attention to the foundational base of the Mediterranean Diet. Walking along the ocean we reflected on our motivating hike in the Smoky Mountains and how it got us moving again. We have committed to adding daily physical activity as part of our way of living. Even better if we can enjoy the beautiful nature that surrounds us while moving!
