Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Health and Fitness

Study reveals another great reason to follow the Mediterranean diet (that has nothing to do with your health)

Get healthy and save some dough with the Mediterranean diet

Lindsay Parrill
By
Raw salmon on plate with other ingredients
David B Townsend/Unsplash

For years now, it’s been pretty widely accepted that the Mediterranean Diet is one of the healthiest diets one can adopt. Not only is this way of eating nearly limitless in its delicious possibilities, but it’s fresh and beautiful, easy to stick to, and even allows wine and cheese (within reason). If you ask us, that last reason alone makes it, hands down, the best diet one can stick to.

And while we’re at it, the word “diet,” as it is currently used in society, isn’t the prettiest label to slap on this way of eating. Sure, the word can refer simply to the food one eats, regardless of weight loss implications. But in our toxic diet-culture age, the very word has become one of the uglier four-letter-expletives — one the Mediterranean style of eating is far above. Even without the goal of lowering the number on the bathroom scale, the Mediterranean diet is both a beautifully delicious and healthful way to eat. And, it turns out, in addition to its sea of flavors, long list of health benefits, and bounty of delicious recipes, there’s something more to love about this way of eating.

Recommended Videos

According to recent findings, compared to other diets, the Mediterranean diet meal plan is the easiest on the wallet. In a recent study released by MDPI, the Mediterranean Diet was found to be far and away the most frugal option when compared to other Western diets.

Related

What is the Mediterranean diet?

hellofresh vegetables on display.
Nathan Dumlao/Unsplash
The Mediterranean Diet is made up of large amounts of extra virgin olive oil, fruit, vegetables, legumes, nuts, seeds, moderate amounts of fish, poultry, dairy, and small amounts of red meat.
Its many health benefits include improved cholesterol and blood pressure, better brain function, easing of anxiety and depression, and defenses against diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, and obesity.

The study

Colorful spread of vegetables
Chantal Garnier/Unsplash

The study consisted of creating grocery baskets for four reference families based on data from Australian censuses and population statistics. Seven-day meal plans for the Mediterranean Diet and Western Diets were made for reference families that were entered into Foodworks software and aimed to meet 100% of nutrition and energy requirements based on the Australian Guide to Healthy Eating. Baskets representing different diets were created for these families, then tested against each other for things like nutrition, energy requirements, and financial cost.

The results

Charcuterie board
Ana Maltez/Unsplash

The results of the study confirmed that which so many have been preaching for years — that the Mediterranean Diet is, quite simply, the best way to eat. Not only did it surpass its competitors in nutrition, but its cost was far less than that of the typical Western Diet.

Broken down, the price tag for the typical Western diet basket ranged from $75 to $315 across households. While the Mediterranean Diet basket ranged from $78 to $285. That’s a considerable difference at the checkout counter.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Lindsay Parrill
Lindsay Parrill
Contributor
Lindsay is a graduate of California Culinary Academy, Le Cordon Bleu, San Francisco, from where she holds a degree in…
Your complete guide to the South Beach diet
The diet that could potentially be the answer to your weight loss questions
Salmon entree

Are you looking for ways to achieve your fitness goals in 2023? You may have come across a large pool of weight loss programs, some of which are unhealthy. However, the South Beach diet can be a safe way to achieve sustainable weight loss.

Over the years, the South Beach diet has amassed considerable attention as a weight loss and healthy eating strategy. This diet was initially developed to improve heart health. However, its efficacy in shedding excess body fat became apparent, leading to its widespread adoption as a popular weight loss program.

Read more
Study finds that labeling meals ‘vegan’ makes people less likely to choose them
It would appear that a vegan label is a pretty big turn off
Vegan sign behind food plate

Veganism is an ever-growing way of life that millions of people worldwide embrace. The choice to partake in only animal-free products in everything from food to clothing is admirable. Regarding the vegan diet, some choose it for dietary reasons, others for its health benefits, and many for any animal rights or environmental causes. Whatever the reason, a plant-based diet can be a very healthful way to eat. Vegan products are much more widely available now than they were even just a few years ago, and even products that were always naturally vegan are now being labeled and advertised as vegan products, specifically. But it would appear that while that may be convenient for some, a vegan label isn't always such a good thing.
A recent study conducted at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) indicates that meat-eaters are far less likely to choose plant-based meals when they're described using the word "vegan."
The study was done twice on two different groups of college students at MIT. In each study, both groups of students were invited to dinner events and asked to pre-select a meal choice via the virtual invitation. The menu choices were A) A veggie hummus wrap and B) A Greek salad wrap. For both options, each ingredient was listed.
In both groups of students' invitations, the menus were identical except for one tiny difference. For the first group of students, the veggie hummus wrap was labeled as vegan, while the Greek salad wrap — which contained feta cheese — was not. The word "vegan" was left off in the second group's menus.

In the first group with the Vegan label included on their menus, 36 percent of students opted for the vegan dinner. And when the Vegan label was omitted, 60.7 percent of students chose the exact same menu item.
In the second group, 36 percent of students chose the known vegan option, and 63.8 selected the same item when it didn't have the word "vegan" attached.
It would appear that the word "vegan" is something of a repellant for most people, even if the food is otherwise something they would opt for and enjoy. We'd argue that this says more about the human mind than anything else. It could be that in discovering a product is vegan, some may automatically politely exclude themselves from the enjoyment of that food, saving it for those for whom it's intended. But the assumption that someone who eats meat can't enjoy a simple veggie wrap merely because it just so happens to be vegan is silly.
Fear of the unknown and a lack of education are also at work here. Unfortunately, there are people out there who refuse to acknowledge that new ideas are often good ideas and that food habits evolve over time, often for the future advancement of humanity. Even if it's only a few vegan or vegetarian meals per week, this really is a tremendously beneficial way to eat. There's no need to convert to an entire lifestyle change and start backpacking through Yosemite sporting Tevas and dreadlocks just because you ate a salad.
As for the vegan products on the shelf that aren't traditionally vegan, like yogurt or burger patties, some of them are actually remarkably tasty. After all, it's just plant-based food. There's no magical secret ingredient that automatically buys you a kayak and changes your voter registration to the green party.

Read more
Should you follow the anti-inflammatory diet? (If you’re a fan of the Mediterranean diet, yes)
Your complete guide to the anti-inflammatory diet
Healthy omelet.

The anti-inflammatory diet has been gaining popularity over the last few years as a way to reduce inflammation and promote overall health. With chronic inflammation linked to conditions like heart disease, diabetes, and autoimmune disorders, finding ways to control inflammation is becoming more critical. But is the anti-inflammatory diet just a fad, or is it worth considering?

What is the anti-inflammatory diet?
The anti-inflammatory diet focuses on eating foods that help reduce inflammation in the body and avoiding foods that promote inflammation. The diet emphasizes fruits, vegetables, lean protein, whole grains, nuts, seeds, spices, and healthy fats like olive oil. 

Read more