Eat Healthier with the Mediterranean Diet – Here’s How
The Mediterranean diet is one of the best eating patterns for your health – and it’s delicious! Based on the traditional eating habits of people in Italy, Greece, Spain, and other countries that border the Mediterranean Sea, the Mediterranean diet is much healthier than the traditional American diet.
When scientists studied people in these regions, they discovered that they had lower rates of heart disease, diabetes, obesity, and other health issues. What makes eating Mediterranean-style so good for you? This cuisine features lots of fresh vegetables and fruit, minimally processed whole grains, and nuts and seeds. Many traditional dishes are vegetarian or use small portions of seafood or lean meat.
As for fats, Mediterranean cuisine uses olive oil, which is a monounsaturated fat, in place of butter, reducing your intake of unhealthy saturated fats. In addition, the flavors of Mediterranean cuisine are derived from herbs, spices, and ingredients such as tomato sauce, making these recipes much lower in added salt.
Join us in the Thrive Kitchen as we put together a simple and delicious packable feast that explores the flavors and health benefits of this cuisine.
Our Menu:
- Watermelon with leta and mint
- Endive leaves with Harissa carrot yogurt
- Falafel Salad
- Hummus with crudités and pita bread
- Freekeh and chickpea pilaf
Thrive Kitchen classes take place at Kaiser Permanente Mission Bay and are open to all. Fees are $30 for Kaiser Permanente members and $40 for non-members and include a hands-on cooking class, take-home recipes, nutrition discussion and the meal we’ll cook together.
Registration is now open; call (415) 833-3450 or email SFHealthEd@kp.org to secure your spot!
To learn more about my cooking and my Thrive Kitchen classes, visit my Facebook page, where I announce upcoming events. For more recipes and healthy cooking ideas, check out my blog, spiceboxtravels.com.
