ABOUT DAMN TIME we are finally bringing out the fabulous summer temperatures! And of course with the gorgeous weather upon us comes summer salads.
This salad brings out all the flares of a Mediterranean dish with colourful veggies, red wine-olive oil dressing, and some creamy *vegan* feta.
Did you know that the Mediterranean eating pattern is one of the most studied eating patterns in the world with research dating back to 1986?!
What's most impressive about the Mediterranean diet is that it has some of the best high quality evidence to support its' health benefits. For example, some studies have shown that the Mediterranean diet can decrease incidences of cardiovascular events by 30% in people at high risk of cardiovascular disease, reduce incidences of diabetes by 52%, and improve blood cholesterol levels. With its' supportive evidence, the Mediterranean diet has been incorporated into many clinical practice guidelines including the Diabetes Canada Clinical Practice Guidelines for Nutrition Therapy.
What makes the Mediterranean diet so special? Likely its emphasis on high fibre foods like vegetables, fruit, and whole grains, use of healthy fats like olive oil, and moderate consumption of lean protein foods. In addition to its' focus on diet, the Mediterranean lifestyle also encourages folks to enjoy meals with others and incorporate daily physical activity.
If you are looking for more support and recipes to implement the principles of the Mediterranean eating pattern, check out Oldways!
Looking for other tasty salads. Check out these recipes below: