The Pyramid
Health Benefits
Principles
Shopping List
Healthy Proteins and Fats
100

These foods make up the base of the Med Diet Pyramid

What are whole grains, pastas, rice?

100

Chronic diseases such as cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and stroke occur less often when this diet is followed.

What is the Mediterranean Diet?

100

There are 2 non-food related principles of the Mediterranean way of life, and are part of the Pyramid.

What are Daily Physical Activity

and Healthy Socialization?

100

These are grain products that would be kept on hand for using this diet.

What are whole grain breads, pasta, rice, couscous, quinoa, ferro, sweet and purple potatoes, and other whole grain items. 

100

Following the Mediterranean Diet, a cook would reach for this healthy fat more often than the unhealthy, saturated fat of butter. 

What is Olive Oil?

200

A healthy, monounsaturated fat used often in the Med Diet.

What is Olive Oil?

200

Controlling this is easier when the Mediterranean Diet principles are followed, including getting daily physical activity.

What is weight?

What is glucose levels?

What is heart health? 

200

This is often eaten in the place of dessert.

What is Fruit?

200

These are types of animal products that would be found in the Mediterranean Diet kitchen.

What are fish, poultry, eggs, cheese, and yogurt?

200

Red meats such as beef and pork are high in this type of fat. This fat has been shown to increase blood cholesterol levels and is related to heart disease. 

What is SATURATED FAT?

300

Eaten sparingly and only on special occasions.

What are Desserts?
300

The Mediterranean Diet is regularly seen in use by people who live in these healthy areas around the globe. 

What are BLUE ZONES?

300

This is a good option for a snack food that is high in healthy fat and provides protein.

What are Nuts and Seeds?

300

This is the main source of daily hydration on the Med Diet.

What is WATER?

300
These are sources of healthy fats in the Mediterranean Diet.

What are olives, avacado, nuts, seeds.

400

This type of meat is eaten in limited quantities and only a few times per month. 

What is red meat?

400

This aspect of the diet protects and improves Gut Health.

What is a high level of fiber?

What is a high level of fresh fruits and vegetables?

400

This beverage is often consumed with this diet. It provides a strong antioxidant called RESVERATROL. It is allowed, not necessarily recommended. 

What is Red Wine?

400

Keep these on hand to limit daily salt intake.

What are herbs and spices?

400

Besides having more unsaturated fat, this protein source provides this fatty acid that has been shown to improve heart and brain health. 

What is OMEGA-3 fatty acids found in fatty fish.

500

This type of animal protein is eaten on a regular basis on the Med diet in those countries surrounding the sea. 

What is fish?

500

Because the diet is low in saturated fat, it naturally protects the health of this organ.

What is the Heart?

500

These are foods that are eaten DAILY on this diet.

What are whole-grain products, fruits, vegetables, yogurt, light cheese, olive oil, and nuts/beans/legumes?

500

This is a list of grain choices that are not very commonly used in the US.

What are: farro, bulghur, buckwheat, fonio, freekeh, millet, quinoa, sorghum, spelt, teff, wheat berries,   oats and wild rice.

500

These are types of fish to limit in any diet.

What are farm-raised, and predator fish like swordfish?