When I visited
Spain in 1971, among the many things I enjoyed was the food. Gazpacho, paella,
flan, huge salads, fresh fruits, sherry, sangria—they were all wonderful. Some
were new to me then; others were familiar. Pastries were tempting, too, but
having recently lost weight with the Weight Watchers program, I stayed away
from them. I was less sensible when it
came to wine, and drank too much of the cheap Rioja that was served everywhere.
It did not agree with me.
A few years
later, biologists Ancel and Margaret Keys wrote about the health benefits of
what is now called the Mediterranean diet. The Keyses based their research on observations
of people in Mediterranean countries who were healthy in spite of eating high
levels of fats as oils. Physical exercise is also considered an important part
of the traditional Mediterranean way of life. The diet lowered a person’s blood
level of cholesterol and blood pressure, leading to less heart disease. Ancel
Keys died in 2004, a few months before his 101st birthday. Margaret died a few
years later, at age 97. It appears that their personal diet contributed to a
long life span.
The diet’s
popularity grew slowly, with opposition from various sources, but by the 1990s
it had become widespread as a way of losing weight and lowering the risk of
heart disease.
- It is high in olive oil, nuts, herbs, spices, fish and poultry, legumes, fruits, vegetables, and unrefined cereals.
- Moderate amounts of low-fat dairy foods (mostly cheese and yogurt) are allowed, along with eggs and wine. (Keys himself enjoyed espresso as well.)
- Little red meat can be eaten as part of the diet.
All of this
seemed very familiar to a former Weight Watcher. I was already used to eating
lots of fish and poultry, drinking two cups of skim milk a day, and eating
lots of fruits and vegetables. The diet is no trouble to follow in general, as
the foods are appealing and satisfying. I occasionally fall off the wagon and
have some Moose Tracks ice cream or chocolate candy, but climb right back on. Chocolate
is good for the soul!
The Mediterranean
diet can be easily followed by RVers on the road, too. Farmer’s markets, even supermarkets,
now provide an abundance of delicious produce, local wines, and other heart-healthy
foods that can be prepared in a galley. It is much harder in restaurants because of
all the desserts, dinner rolls, and other refined foods that are part of nearly
every meal. The only real problems I have are my partner, who is a vegetarian
(I usually eat meat or fish only in restaurants, as cooking separate meals in
an RV can be difficult); and staying away from wine, which I love but which conflicts
with some of my medicines. Fortunately, wine is an optional part of the diet.
