Many fad diets require you to withhold from eating certain types of foods. Some say you can’t eat pasta, can’t eat meat or can’t drink alcohol. When you embrace the Mediterranean Diet, you don’t have to worry about not eating the things you like. Rather, this diet is delicious and a very healthy way to eat. You don’t need to cut out the foods you like, you just need to change some components or the foods you like and eat them in moderation. Many people who have started eating this way say they will not go back to their old ways of eating.

Eating Fruits & Vegetables
The majority of your meals should be made up of many different types of plant foods. You should be eating plenty of them and make sure you get a lot of variety. Strive to eat the freshest fruits and vegetables and purchase them when they are specifically in season. Try to eat around 7 to 10 servings a day of fruits and vegetables. Not only should you be eating fresh green salads, but eating fruit salads can also be very delicious. When you need to snack in between meals, try to have some carrots, apples or bananas as they will satisfy your snack cravings.
Carbs
You don’t need to cut out carbs. Instead of eating white bread, try to look for alternatives like whole grain breads and whole grain cereals. Likewise, instead of cutting our white rice or regular pasta, try eating whole grain rice and whole wheat pasta. You can still use your sauces on your carbs, but make sure they are not loaded with cream or fat.
Nuts
You should be eating nuts on a daily basis as they have healthy fats that your body needs. However, don’t overindulge, as fats are still fats and eating an abundance of them will still make you gain weight. Try to choose almonds, cashews, walnuts or pistachios and make sure they aren’t overly sweet or fried. If you want to use peanut butter, feel free to do so, but make sure to select a natural type of peanut butter instead of ones with hydrogenated fat added to keep it smooth and blended. One good alternative is Tahini, which is blended sesame seeds, which gives you a nutty taste and works well as a dip or spreading on bread.
No Butter, Choose Another


Instead of using butter or margarine, try to use olive oil when cooking as a healthy replacement. Instead of using sauces on your pasta, you can try using a little olive oil along with some garlic and scallions to toss in your pasta for good healthy flavor.
Herbs and Spices
Rather than use a lot of salt in your cooking and prepared sauces, try to use a variety of herbs and spices. These items are healthy and rich in good subtances for your body, and more importantly, they make your food taste good.
Fish and Meat
You should be eating fish at least twice a week, but make sure that it isn’t fried. You can grill fish as you get nice flavor from grilling and do not need to use oil. If you want that fried flavor, try to pan fry with a small amount of olive oil. You should eat red meat sparingly and try to more poultry like chicken or turkey instead. When you do eat red meat, choose a lean cut of meat and make sure the portion is about the size of a deck of cards. High fat meats, like sausages and bacon however, should be avoided
Low Fat Dairy
Choose skim milk instead of higher fat dairy products like whole milk or 2 percent milk. When you can, try to use low-fat cheese instead of a regular full cheese. Ice cream is great tasting but really full of fat, so if you can, choose a nice flavored fat-free yogurt instead.

Wine and Dine
Unless you have some health complications that prevent you from doing so, you should have a glass of wine at dinner. Red wine has good antioxidant properties and would be a good choice. Don’t drink alcohol? Don’t worry, you don’t need to start. You can have a glass of grape juice instead as it also has some of the same antioxidant properties as red wine.