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What is the Mediterranean diet and should you try it? ...with Associate Professor Evangeline Mantzioris

Nutrition Science Bites with Professor Clare Collins AO

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What is the Mediterranean diet and should you try it? ...with Associate Professor Evangeline Mantzioris

In this conversation, Professor Clare Collins talks to Associate Professor Evangeline Mantzioris about the Mediterranean diet, exploring its cultural variations, health benefits, and practical ways to incorporate its principles into everyday life. They discuss the importance of olive oil, the role of vegetables and legumes, and importance of herbs and spices. Their conversation emphasises the Mediterranean diet as a lifestyle choice that promotes health and well-being. They encourage listeners to adapt their own recipes and make achievable changes in their usual dietary patterns.

Try Evangeline's Lentil Soup recipe.

Key Takeaways

  • The Mediterranean diet is diverse and varies by region of the world.
  • Olive oil is a key component of the Mediterranean diet.
  • Health benefits of olive oil include heart health and anti-inflammatory properties.
  • Plant-based foods are central to the Mediterranean diet.
  • Cultural traditions play a big role in dietary patterns.
  • Herbs and spices enhance flavor and provide health benefits.
  • The Mediterranean diet is linked to improved health outcomes.
  • Adapting recipes can help families incorporate Mediterranean principles.
  • Eating together and sharing meals is important for health.
  • Simplicity and practicality are key to dietary changes.

To access the Healthy Eating Quiz: Click on the top right hand 'green button' called 'How healthy is my diet' https://nomoneynotime.com.au/

Want a more Personalised Food, Nutrient Assessment Report? Use our Australian Eating Survey - For a 50% discount enter the 'DietCheck' code at the checkout! Purchase here https://australianeatingsurvey.com.au/

Here's the link to the No Money No Time closed Facebook group (be sure to take the Healthy Eating Quiz first) https://www.facebook.com/groups/386824626838448

Our No Money No Time email: nmnt@newcastle.edu.au and our Nutrition Science Bites email: nutritionsciencebites@newcastle.edu.au

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Keywords: Mediterranean diet, health benefits, olive oil, cultural variations, nutrition, plant-based diet, herbs and spices, family recipes, dietary patterns, nutrition science

Your Personal Healthy Eating Quiz

What you eat or don’t eat affects how you look, feel and perform. Take our short quiz to find out what foods you could introduce to help you be your best.

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What is healthy eating?

Eating healthy is making sure you enjoy a wide variety of foods from each of the five major food groups daily, in the amounts recommended. The five major food groups as recommended by the Australian Guide to Healthy Eating are:

  1. vegetables and legumes/bean
  2. fruit
  3. lean meats and poultry, fish, eggs, tofu, nuts and seeds, legumes/beans
  4. grain (cereal) foods, mostly wholegrain and/or high cereal fibre varieties
  5. milk, yoghurt, cheese and/or alternatives, mostly reduced fat.

Foods are grouped together because they provide similar amounts of key nutrients and eating a variety of foods from the list above helps to promote good health and reduce the risk of disease.

How do I improve my diet?

If you want to improve your diet you have come to the right place. By completing the Healthy Eating Quiz you’ll receive instant personalised feedback and a report on your diet quality to highlight any areas where you can improve your overall eating habits. Your score is based on the frequency and variety of the foods consumed from the five major food groups mentioned above. No Money No Time can help you improve your score by providing tips, goals and suggestions. On top of this we will provide quick, cheap and healthy recipes as well as credible answers to diet hacks, myths and FAQ’s.

Is my diet healthy?

Dietary habits are different between people. Some people choose to follow a particular diet (i.e., Keto diet or vegan diet) while some have to make changes due to certain food restrictions or health conditions. If you want to know if what you usually eat is healthy, then do the Healthy Eating Quiz today to give you the answers in less than 10 minutes.

Why is healthy eating important?

Your HEQ score and personalised feedback report is based on the frequency and variety of healthy core foods you usually eat. This is important because no single food contains all the nutrients we need to stay healthy. Some foods are higher in nutrients than others and people who have a lot of variety in the foods they eat are more likely to be healthy and to stay healthy. In other words, if you can eat a large variety of vegetables as opposed to only 2-3 types of vegetables, the benefits are much greater. This type of diet also helps you to feel better, think better and perform better during your usual daily activities.

Take the Healthy Eating Quiz