Mediterranean Diet Question-Answer

Mediterranean Diet Basics

Q: Why is it called “Mediterranean?”

A: This way of eating is typical of the region surrounding the Mediterranean Sea, in countries like Spain, France, Italy, Egypt, Morocco, Syria, Malta, Tunisia, Turkey, Algeria, Albania, Greece, Israel, Croatia, Libya, and Lebanon

Q: Is it really a “diet” – will I be hungry all the time?  

A: The Mediterranean diet (or Med Diet as it’s often called) is more than a diet; it’s a lifestyle approach to healthy eating. It features fruit, vegetables, fish, beans, nuts and whole grains as well as other ingredients such as olive oil and wine that have been shown to promote good health.

Q: How can I follow the Med Diet? 

A: It’s easy and filled with healthy foods that taste great. Just follow a few easy tips such as these:  Choose healthy fats like those found in olive oil, nuts, peanuts, avocados, and fish.  Base every meal around fruits, vegetables, whole grains, beans, nuts, herbs and spices.  Choose lean protein sources like fish, poultry, and beans more often than red meat.  Enjoy yogurt and small portions of cheese daily. Drink wine in moderation (up to two glasses per day for men and one glass per day for women).

Q: Why should I follow the Mediterranean Diet? 

A: Studies show that people who eat a Mediterranean Diet have lower rates of heart disease, certain cancers, diabetes, obesity, and Alzheimer's disease as well as lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels. Even better, following the Mediterranean Diet may help you live longer— so eat up!

Common Myths

”The Mediterranean Diet is just another fad diet.”

Wrong! The Mediterranean Diet is a lifestyle; it’s a sustainable way of eating; it’s consistently found to promote good health AND decrease chronic disease risk.


“The Mediterranean Diet is a relatively new way of eating.” 

Leading nutrition scientists have been intensely studying the eating habits of Mediterranean people for more than 60 years. It all started when Ancel Keys, the famous researcher and father of the Mediterranean Diet, discovered, in the 1940s, that people who ate a Mediterranean-style diet had very low rates of heart disease and were living longer than people in Northern Europe.

“The Med Diet consists of hard-to-get, foreign foods.”

The Mediterranean Diet Pyramid is filled with foods most people eat every day, like produce, yogurt, milk, cheese, and seafood. The biggest difference between the Med Diet and the typical American diet is the frequency certain foods are eaten. Foods from the plant kingdom – fruits, vegetables, grains, beans, and nuts – are at the core, while foods like sweets and meats are eaten less often and in smaller amounts.

 “Meats or sweets are not allowed in the Mediterranean Diet.” All foods fit in the healthy Mediterranean eating pattern. Moderation is key, but there’s no reason to eliminate entire food groups or completely cut out your favorite foods.

“I can eat whatever I want on the Mediterranean Diet.”

While it’s true that all foods fit in the Mediterranean Diet, portion size and balance are still key in the Mediterranean Diet – and any other healthy, balanced eating pattern for that matter.