The Mediterranean Diet Is Not a Diet
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Vefa's Kitchen
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The Complete Book of Greek Cooking
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Regional Greek Cooking
Price: $15.55
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How to Roast a Lamb: New Greek Classic Cooking
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But It Is Delicious
I worked for Greeks and lived.
I do not say this to cast a disparaging cloud over an entire nationality, but rather to point out that, no matter what you may think about political correctness and so on and so forth, the truth is that working for Greeks (at least where I come from) is definitely not for pussies.
Greeks really do yell a lot, and they really are very proud, and they really do work your ass off, usually while yelling, a lot.
Whenever I tell other people who have worked for Greeks that I also once worked for Greeks we laugh and shake our heads and we have an instant bond. It's a badge of honor that ushers you into an international brotherhood of persons who have survived Greek employers and their colorful,..personalities.
Kind of like a prison tattoo only way more honorable.
If you're going to last a day working for Greeks you learn really fast to: 1) work hard, 2) yell back at them, and 3) love food.
I worked for Greeks for about five years; for a father and son who owned a big landscape nursery that used to be a small fruit market. I liked it. I learned to stand up for myself, and I learned I was a lot stronger than I thought I was, and I really liked the plants and shrubs.
But you what else I liked?
The food.
Until I worked for Greeks, I never had a non-restaurant job where my employer fed me as a condition of my employment. The deal at the landscape nursery was that if we left the site for our half hour lunch then we did it on our own time and got exactly half an hour. If we stayed on site to eat, then they fed us on the clock and if it was slow, our lunch dragged on and on. On busy days, lunch was something they provided and we grabbed when we could.
Either way, it was always on the house.
Did they come out ahead or did we?
Are you serious?
Greeks know how to eat. Go to any Greek restaurant in the U.S. and the first thing you notice is that the menu is 12 pages long and every item comes with soup or salad and tapioca pudding if you want it, all for between five and seven bucks. I mean, you could grow old making a decision, that's how long the menus are.
The decorating is always aqua blue and shades of pink. Don't ask me why.
But I'm drifting off topic...
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The Mediterranean Diet
Price: $3.83
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The New Mediterranean Diet Cookbook: A Delicious Alternative for Lifelong Health
Price: $15.87
List Price: $35.00 |
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The Miami Mediterranean Diet: Lose Weight and Lower Your Risk of Heart Disease with 300 Delicious Recipes
Price: $9.89
List Price: $16.95 |
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The Mediterranean Heart Diet: How It Works and How to Reap the Health Benefits, with Recipes to Get You Started
Price: $7.95
List Price: $18.95 |
The Healthiest Diet in the World
It might seem weird that people who love to eat this much would have what has been labeled the healthiest diet in the world. But they do.
People who live on the Greek Island of Crete have an average lifespan of over 90.
Of course, people on Crete (and in many other parts of Greece) are used to negotiating steep stair cases fifty times a day to get anywhere. They also tend to walk wherever they need to go. That's definitely part of the longevity thing. But the food matters too.
The Mediterranean Diet is not a weight loss diet, but rather a way of eating specific to the countries that border the Mediterranean Sea. The Greeks don't own the Mediterranean Diet, they just brag about it the most and own the most restaurants.
You may lose weight on the Mediterranean Diet, but even if you don't you will definitely improve your heart health and your energy level. The foods eaten in that part of the world contain lots of antioxidants (which rid the body of environmental poisons and disease agents) and Monounsaturated Fatty Acids (aka 'MUFAs'), which protect the heart. Omega 3 fatty acids in fish and nuts also protect the heart.
The Mediterranean diet consists (more or less) of:
- Lots of fresh vegetables and fruits.
- Fish at least twice a week, chicken, and very little red meat.
- Olive oil instead of butter or other kinds of fat.
- Red wine with dinner (if you can drink wine).
- Lemon juice and vinegar.
- Nuts, seeds, and avocado.
- Whole grain breads and cereals.
- Yogurt and cheese.
The Mediterranean Diet minimizes or eliminates the following foods:
- Sugar in all forms except honey.
- Refined starches and processed foods.
- Red meat.
One lunch staple at the landscape nursery where I worked was Greek Salad. It's easy to make Greek Salad and it's really delicious. Just chop a head of iceberg and a head of romaine lettuce with a big knife. Add chopped fresh tomatoes, chopped cucumbers, chopped peppers, and chopped or sliced red onion. Toss with a dressing made of 1 part red wine vinegar to 2 parts olive oil sweetened with a very small dash of honey. Serve with chunks of feta cheese, Kalamata olives, anchovies, and pita bread.
There is nothing on this earth more refreshing and satisfying than a big Greek Salad on a hot summer day.
So that's it. that's my offensive politically incorrect essay about Greeks and the stuff they eat and what a bunch of good it can do for anybody. God, it's SUCH delicious stuff. I seriously suggest you start eating it yourself. Hopefully Sufidreamer and Frieda Babbley will come along and offer some additional advice and/or corrections here, and possibly also chastise me for my inappropriate ethic generalizations.
Um, sorry? (Sort of?)
In the meantime, I'll post some cookbooks on the sidebar.
Buy one if you can, so I can keep our house in olives. God I love Kalamata olives.
Oh yeah, and, "Opa!"
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Comments
"Until I worked for Greeks, I never had a non-restaurant job where my employer fed me as a condition of my employment."
Same for me ;-) SY
Yet they do cook a fair amount of lamb and goat. Squid, roasting on wires slung over charcoal braziers, don't smell too appetising... I like Greek food, more than Italian and less than Turkish. But on balance it's a plus. Thai still takes a lot of beating though ;)
I feel hungry! :)
Sufi--Hi! I did forget the oregano! So all of you people--don't forget the oregano in the salad. And yes, the fact that you have your own Kalamata olive trees does make me envious. Can you eat them fresh? I never saw a fresh olive. How about figs? Do you have a fig tree too? I think fresh figs are possibly one of the most perfect foods on earth. Thanks for stopping in so fast!
Sybille--I see you are part of the same fraternity! Thanks for affirming my observations. :)
Hi Paraglider--I did eat calamari once. I thought it was OK. It wasn't something I'd eat twice though--not disgusting by any means but not special either. Gyros is certainly made with red meat and it's pretty good too. There aren't really any Turkish restaurants around here, but I'm interested in Middle Eastern food too. I make tabouleh and baba ghanoush at home during the summer. I think Greeks eat that too though.
Gypsy Willow--Me too! I'm off to make some salad...
people will get more healthy with you...i enjoy it
tommywong
Now you've gone and made me hungry!
Hi Pam - fresh olives are too bitter, so we soak them in brine for a week or two. We have five fig trees and they produce more figs than we could possibly eat - maybe fig wine is in order :)
And the good news for us Yanks -- at least in many parts of the country -- is you don't have to travel to Greece to get the benefit. ALL the BEST DINERS in America (no overgeneralization here) are owned by Greeks. Remember the Saturday Night Live skit with John Belushi? Cheese-boigey, Cheese-boigey, No Coke, Pepsi?
Pam, your hub made me hungry, too. Makes me want to head over to Petaluma to Papa's Taverna on the Petaluma River. A little bit of Greek Heaven on the water (although this water is kinda brown instead of Mediterranean Blue). Opa to you, my dear!
Thanks Tommy!
RVDaniels--Nice day today--Make a salad and grill some chicken. :)
Sufi--Fig jam sounds good too. Good to know on the olives. The weather here is too variable for them to fruit, although we have some Russian olives on our property, just no olives from them. I hope I get to visit Greece someday. It looks so beautiful in photographs.
Hi MM--It's so true about the Greek restaurants. The burger joint from the Saturday Night Live bit is based on a diner in Chicago called the Billy Goat Tavern that is still serving cheesburgers today and is pretty close to the atmosphere in the Olympia Cafe of the skit. I love Chicago. Now there's another potential food hub--Chicago eateries. (I'm sure it would take several hubs!)
Chicago eateries -- YUM. Somehow seems more appropriate for cooler weather, with all the deep dish pizza, beef and meat-based dishes. Go for it!
Meantime, anyone venturing to too sunny (107 today) Sacramento is cordialy invited to Penisi's Deli, owned by my brother-in-law. Sounds Italian, but he's 100% Greek and the food reflects that fact. Hubby and I will meet you over there! MM
107 degrees? OMG. You know, this climate change thing is getting damned scary. It was near 100 here in Michigan most of last week, but today it's dry and in the 70s, really perfect. Summer only lasts a couple of weeks here in any case. It's be snowing any day now...
At least that's how it will feel.
Now you made me hungry! My sister loves, looooves the Greek culture, and made her life long dream trip to Greece two years ago with her Americanized Greek friend, and had the time of her life. She said, she had tears in her eyes when she was standing in Greece with its rich culture., exquisite cuisine and warm folks. I enjoy the Greek gyros... Hmmmmm.. good.
Hi Violetsun! I love gyros too, especially that cucumber sauce you put on top of them. I also like Greek yogurt on cereal instead of milk, with a little fresh fruit. Yum, and so good for you. :)
Wonderful article and yes, the Greeks are very loud and gregarious. However, they do eat healthy and know how to prepare delicious meals just like the Italians, French etc.
Hi Nancy, yes, good food and lots of it. Thanks for stopping by! :)
Haha, great hub!
My husband worked for awhile for some Greeks, I'll have to show it to him too. He'll love it. He was luckier than some in that he comes from a very loud and expressive culture himself, so it didn't take much adjusting!
Greek food is one of my very favorite ethnic cuisines. Yummy!
Hi kerry--Yes, it's definitely a 'thing', working for Greeks. I almost hated to say it--it's kinda politcally incorrect--but that doesn't make it not true! lol!
Hey, Pam! I'm glad it's almost dinner time here :-) And whaddaya know, I'm going to dine in pure Mediterranean Diet style: tomato salad with olive oil and oregano, artichoke omelet, and some toast with garlic and olive oil! Yumm! I hope you're hungry, too, now -- ought to serve you right! :P
It made me laugh what you say about the Mediterranean Diet not being really a "diet" as we understand the concept.... I can attest to that when I visit my mother. God, the woman can put pounds on me with all the Mediterranean hubbub! :-)
Hi Elena--Yes I'm afraid I'm a bit that way as a mother myself--I even push food on the dog! I can't help it. If I don't do it, they all think something is wrong. :)
Enjoy your dinner!
Reading this made me so hungry we're off to have a Baby Greek (local name for a local salad at a local Greek eatery).
Hi Jerilee--It does seem to be having that effect on visitors. Thanks for stopping by!
The Greeks are really on healthy food. The list that you mentioned has totally eliminate 90 percent of what the world population have been eating.
Yep, I want to snack now, but you make me wish that I could work for some Greeks too. Greece is now moving near the top of my list of countries to visit - thank you, you made me laugh several times!
Hi metaphysician and Alexander--Thanks for your comments. :)
I used to live by some a greek who married into an Italian family. Talk about yelling!. But the food is great,
Where Iive now, we have some greek restaurants. Oh, talk about good food! And one of my best friends and working colleaqe is from Greece. Great guy!
Keep on Hubbing.
Hi eovery--I know quite a few Italians too. I can imagine the drama at your friend's place! I love food. I'd also love to visit Greece some day. And Italy is right next door!
Love this article, Pam. You are so right about everything. And may I just say, it's not yelling, we're just.... dramatic =D We don't hold back, do we.
I grew up on a "mediteranian diet" and you're head on with all apects of that. It's not a "diet" it is the types of foods. And it is so so so so healthy. We do use LOADS of lemon. I hadn't taken much thought about the health benefits of my diet growing up until I began eating more American (it all started with dating and progressed horribly while trying to cook and eat more "variety" and things my husband was used to and enjoyed. Nasty nasty nasty, despite the delicious flavors.
Did you know that mediteranian women are less prone to PMS (in fact it's really not there) because of their diets? I'm not talking about cramps, but PMS. It's true. I never had PMS until my diet switched over almost completely (the last five years I'd say). Amazing isn't it? Another plus for that "diet".
Plus if you notice, our foods contain things that "cut" like lemon and vinegar and such. It's one of the reasons we can eat so much and be so healthy in figure. And yes, sufi is right on with the oregano. No meal is ever complete without that. Good flavor and good for the body.
Thanks for covering this topic P!
Frieda--Thank you for much for coming by and validating my rambling! I am trying to eat more like this all the time. I get very into sugar and it's SOOOOOO bad for me, but I find if I eat like this I don't crave it. There's a movie coming out this week about the American diet called "Food Inc" that is supposed to be really good. I want to see it and write a review. I believe you about the PMS thing, and I think that really, if we could just eat more fresh food and, as you say, the foods that 'cut' like lemon and cider vinegar, we'd see an improvement fast. I think sometimes we just make it all worse by focusing on weight. It's really about health and good food, real food, not salt,sugar, fat and chemicals. Thanks again!
I'm going to have to check that out. I hadn't heard of it (but the I haven't watched tv in ages). So will it be in the regular theatres then? I'll be looking forward to your review.
By the the way, if you notice that last photo of yours missing, it'll be because I ate it! =D
Great article. I can see why you have a 100 score.
Thank dabeaner! :)
Yummmmm, as she sits at her computer drinking red wine with dark chocolate!
Hi Jewels--I'm glad to hear you have chosen a healthy snack! lol! Seriously, both red wine and dark chocolate--rich in magnesium, the mineral that makes women happy! :)
I knew that!? LOL. I'll booked the same snack for tomorrow night, and the one after that, and....... LOL.
Great hub - I feel like I've travelled to the Aegean and had a fantastic lunch by the sea (reality did not live up to this ideal, I'm afraid) all in one reading. Also very timely in terms of New Year's resolutions!!
Sufidreamer says:
5 months ago
mmmm....Kalamata Olives. Would it annoy you if I said that we have our own Kalamata olive trees....?
Great stuff, Pam - I have been looking forward to this one. The only thing wrong with the generalization is the shouting. They shout far more than that - must have been treating you gently ;)
It certainly is a great diet - the Greek paradox is that they live for years despite smoking two packs of cigarettes a day. The secret is not just the diet, but eating slowly, with good conversation. The way that we should live.
PS -you forgot the Oregano on the salad!
Going to have a Greek Salad and a bottle of Mythos beer - you made me hungry :D
Thanks for writing this - Geia Sas to everyone.