Summer in the Mediterranean changes one writer's diet

This article is one of my recent favorites because I love to travel and I love to eat, but I'm always afraid of coming back from a trip to hear a chorus of "well, you certainly didn't starve!" So I took heart when I read about the author's 3-month journey to Greece nearly 2 decades ago. She had the same fears as I do when she set off, but found that eating well on holiday does not necessarily equal a rounder, fuller figure.

Sure she was eating a traditional Mediterranean diet, which is now considered one of the healthiest in the world, but she also discusses how what she ate didn't matter as much as how she ate. Fresh, organic foods straight from the garden were the norm, as was cooking with heart-healthy olive oil instead of fatty butter. She found that the Greeks tend to incorporate lots of healthy vegetable dishes into each meal, making them a regular part of the diet rather than an afterthought. Meals took several hours to eat, so everyone was able to fully enjoy the flavors in the food, as well as their dining company. Plus, not rushing allowed them to realize when they were full, rather than gorging on too much too fast.

If you love the idea of the eating the Mediterranean way as much as I do, take a look at the article to see ideas on how to make it a reality in your life. There are also a number of recipes for delicious-looking Greek dishes you can try at home.