Happy New Year friends! I hope that you are staying healthy and safe and that you are off to a great start of your year!
Earlier this week, a panel of experts at “U.S. News and World Report” reviewed and evaluated 40 different diets and ranked them based on how easy they are to follow, and their health benefits—which include heart and brain health, weight control, ability to prevent chronic disease, and nutritional completeness.
It was no surprise that, for the fifth year in a row, the Mediterranean diet was named best diet for 2022! The Mediterranean diet is best described as a lifestyle instead of a structured diet as it focuses more on what you can eat instead of what you cannot. All food groups fit in it and there are no prohibited food categories, which makes it easy to sustain.
The 3 cornerstones of the Mediterranean Diet
- Lifestyle changes that allow social interactions and connections, like sharing meals with family and friends
- Moderate-intensity daily physical activity
- Mindful and seasonal eating
The 4 principles of the Mediterranean diet
- Daily: Colorful vegetables and fruits, unprocessed grains, legumes, healthy fats, nuts, and lean proteins
- Often: Fish and Omega 3-rich foods
- In Moderation: Dairy, eggs and poultry
- Sparingly & On Special Occasions: Red meats and sweets
15 Comforting Mediterranean meals to start the year right
During the cold months of winter we crave comforting, healthy and satisfying dishes: Hearty grains, winter greens, lean protein, warming soups and bright citrus salads, to name just a few. I put together 15 comforting Mediterranean meals that I will be making this winter and I hope you find some favorites in this list too!
Roasted Pepper and Walnut Spread
Hearty Greek Summer Roasted Vegetable Stew
Zesty Cauliflower Pasta alla Puttanesca
If you are looking for some salad inspiration, check out my previous post with my top 10 Mediterranean Salads to try this year!
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Happy New Year! These recipes are fantastic!
Thank you so much, Kathy! Happy New Year to you too!
Happy new year…thanks for all the work you put into this blog. I made the red lentil soup today and it is fabulous. It was all I could do not to eat it all.
Happy New Year Cynthia! So glad to know that you are trying my recipes – the red lentil soup is one my favorite soups to make in the winter too!