I’m constantly on a quest to find healthy meals that make me feel great and actually taste good because—let’s be honest—no one wants bland chicken and veggies for dinner every night. Finding these recipes might seem simple, but in just one scroll sesh, you can encounter hundreds of different pieces of content, all with varying opinions on how to fuel your body. This can make it difficult to sift through the B.S. to get the genuinely good recs. However, there’s one tried-and-true method of healthy eating that has tons of researched-backed benefits, and that is the Mediterranean diet.
When you think of the Mediterranean, you might imagine crystal-clear waters, sun-baked sand, and the light, breezy vibes of a beach vacation. And for those who live in this region, their diet is reminiscent of this energy. The Mediterranean diet features traditional foods from countries surrounding—you guessed it—the Mediterranean Sea, including Italy, France, Greece, and Spain. Here, you won’t typically find processed foods, added sugars, and refined grains at the dinner table. Instead, meals center around fresh produce, whole grains, legumes, nuts and seeds, seafood, and healthy fats like extra virgin olive oil. Plus, a glass of red wine here and there is definitely encouraged. And thanks to the emphasis on plant-based, nutrient-rich foods, research shows that the Mediterranean diet can help prevent chronic conditions like cardiovascular disease and even increase life expectancy. Not to mention, Mediterranean diet recipes are absolutely delicious.
Ready to start eating like you live off the coast of Spain? Keep scrolling for 18 Mediterranean diet recipes you’ll want to make on repeat.