ISSUE 46 — APR 2019
Produce Packed:
The Rise of Healthy Alternatives The popularity of produce filled diets is only growing and it shows, in early 2019 the Mediterranean diet was been crowned the best diet of the year and our major supermarkets are continually increasing their alternative options. Since your school days you have probably heard that you should be eating about 5 serves of vegetables and 2 serves of fruit every day, and finally it seems that diet trends are starting to reflect that recommendation. It’s a positive move that discourages the unhealthy “starve-yourselfskinny” diets like the 5:2 diet and major calorie restrictions, and instead focuses on what you are eating overall and finding balance. In early 2019 this trend was reflected in the Mediterranean diet being voted the Best Overall Diet for the year, and it also took top spot in several smaller categories such as the Best Diet for Healthy Eating, Best Plant-Based Diet, Best Diet for Diabetes, and Easiest Diet to Follow. The central message of the Mediterranean Diet,
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which has always been a core element of traditional Mediterranean cooking, is that fruit and veg are king and need to be the base of your diet. This diet focuses on fruit and vegetables, grains, beans, nuts, and seeds, and — as any Nonna would tell you — a good dollop of extra virgin olive oil. Red meat does appear at times, but it is not meant to be the central element of a dish, instead it’s just one of many flavours — however, fish is an often-used ingredient. Studies conducted on this diet have found that it is capable of reducing the risk of diabetes and high cholesterol, while it also can be a preventative for dementia, memory loss, depression, and breast cancer. And of course, there is also the added benefit of weight loss on top of all that.
