WE'RE CELEBRATING THE MEDITERRANEAN DIET MONTH!

Celebrating the Mediterranean Diet

Dear İsmail, Greetings from Baltimore! This month, as eaters across the Northern Hemisphere start the grilling and picnic season, we’re celebrating International Mediterranean Diet Month as a reminder to eat to protect health and the planet this summer. Praised by doctors, scientists, and chefs alike, the Mediterranean Diet is better for mind, body, and planetary health. Emphasizing plant-based, nutrient-rich ingredients and limiting meat and alcohol consumption, the diet is tied to reduced risks of heart disease, improved sleep, lower rates of obesity and diet-related illnesses, and—according to new research from the American Psychological Association—reduced risks for late-life depression. The Mediterranean diet represents a change in eating culture beyond the food we put into our bodies. Eating communally amongst friends and family—a central recommendation of the Mediterranean eating style—cuts through poor eating habits created by on-the-go eating and globalized, standardized food customs. Through food, the diet fosters a sense of belonging amongst eaters and throughout communities, which is pivotal to nourishment. Proponents of the Mediterranean diet are overturning outdated understandings of the connection between our bodies and the planet. Findings from the EAT-Lancet Commission on Food, Planet, Health and the Barilla Center for Food & Nutrition prove that the foods that are healthiest for people are also healthiest and the least burdensome for the planet. A diet formed mainly by fruits, vegetables, nuts, and legumes can reduce diet-related GHG emissions by up to 30 percent, agricultural land use by an average 27 percent, and water use by an average 10 percent. By making smarter choices about what to eat, the public can join mental health experts, nutritionists, and environmental activists in pressing for a better food system. How are you eating consciously this month for mental, physical, and environmental health? Please email me at danielle@foodtank.com to share with us! Sincerely, Dani