We have all heard the praises of the Mediterranean diet. Why do Italians live longer than anyone on the planet - more than 83 years on average? Is it their food, is it free health care for all, is it the tradition of the siesta following lunch, is it the aperitivo followed by the passegiata, or long family meals???
I think the magic formula is all of it. In this time of Covid give it a try. I am sure some of you are working from home. If you were an Italian you would stop and eat lunch at 1pm, and then sometime between 2pm and 2:30pm you would be taking a 30 minute nap. Give it a try!!!
Aperitivo is about 5pm. Stop!!! Have a small Aperol Spritz and some olives. Passegiata is the walk following dinner and/or aperitivo.
The nap, meals and walks with loved ones de-stress our stressful lives !!! Try the Italian rhythm out and see what you think.
Simple summer Mediterranean lunch.
Pecorino Cheese (grass fed high in omega 3 fatty acids / Blue Fox Cheese Shop on Main St / or try any hard Italian cheese)
Wild Boar Salami by Olli (wild foraging boars, salt and time make a great and healthy salami / also high in omega 3 fatty acids)
Toasted Pecans and Walnuts with drizzle of extra virgin olive oil and sea salt
Mixed lettuces with dress in this order coarse sea salt, black pepper, extra virgin olive oil, white balsamic vinegar
Fresh summer tomatoes, with dried oregano from southern Italy, sea salt, extra virgin olive oil
Fresh summer cherries
This is how Mediterranean peoples eat and almost without thinking - it is the culture. But, when you take a close look, 8 different plants are in this simple lunch and the animal proteins are grass fed or wild foragers making this a very nutrient dense meal.
Buon Appetito!