Perks of a Mediterranean Diet

Being of Armenian descent, I grew up eating a Mediterranean diet. My elders would always explain to me how healthy our meals were, which mostly consisted of protein, vegetables, and olive oil based meals. 

I knew my grandparents were onto something when I began to see pre-made hummus on the shelves in supermarkets, basically when hummus became a mainstream health food. The only hummus I had ever known was homemade, with chickpeas manually crushed by my grandmother and every other ingredient added afterward. 

Following a Mediterranean diet has many benefits. Olive oil, nuts, wine, vegetables, whole grains, and fish are the main staples of the diet. Other sources of protein and fruit also greatly make up the diet. 

Here are some of my favorite recipes that follow the Mediterranean diet plan: 

Foul Mdamas (Fava bean soup) 

This soup of Lebanese origin is one of my absolute favorite meals, which I normally eat for breakfast. Fava beans are a great source of protein, and can have a great impact on building muscle when consumed regularly. I also like to add in as many vegetables as possible when eating this. Some of my favorites to add are tomato, cucumber, onion, and parsley to taste. Fun fact: eating this meal for dinner one night resulted me in dropping 3 pounds the next morning! It is a very filling meal, so you won't feel the need to snack or have dessert. 

Hummus

Hummus is another staple in my household. I have tried Sabra brand hummus and yes, it's good, but nothing beats homemade hummus in my opinion. Hummus is very nutritious and is packed with plant based protein, and is also great for regulating blood sugar due to its low glycemic index. It's also high in fiber so it will keep your digestive system in great shape. I personally try to stay away from eating my hummus with pita bread which is the true Mediterranean way. I stick to dipping veggies, such as carrots, celery, and bell pepper sticks, to incorporate more vegetables into my diet and steer from the complex carbohydrates present in pita bread. 

Tabbouleh Salad 

Another one of my favorites: tabbouleh salad. This mix of chopped parsley, tomato, and bulgur wheat is sure to satisfy your cravings and keep you full for a while. This salad is great as a side or eaten completely on its own, and I love to eat it with lettuce how it is shown in this photo! The simple olive oil, lemon juice, and garlic dressing will leave you with a tangy flavor that compliments the vegetables perfectly. This salad is very low in calories, which is a major bonus! I like to prepare this in large batches and store it in the fridge to be eaten on multiple occasions throughout the week. 

If you have not yet considered following a Mediterranean diet, I would definitely recommend giving it a try. You don't have to follow it completely, but just incorporating a few of these recipes into your diet will ensure that you are adding enough vegetables and healthy fats into your diet on a regular basis. Try these recipes out and let me know what you think!

How To Make a Watermelon Cucumber Salad

We are in the midst of the summer season, and one of the easiest meals to whip up is a salad made of fresh ingredients. In my opinion, fresh fruits and vegetables are much tastier in the summer, especially if they are in season. 

One of my favorite salads to prepare during the warm summer months is a watermelon cucumber salad. This salad is delicious and easy to make with a mix of savory and sweet flavors, and it's the most refreshing choice on a scorching hot day. 

The recipe I prefer is listed on a site called Dinner at the Zoo, although different variations to the recipe can work as well. 

Here are the ingredients you'll need to make your salad: 

• Cubed watermelon
• Sliced cucumbers
• Crumbled feta cheese
• Mint leaves 
• Lime juice 

If you do not prefer cubed watermelon, you can always use a melon baller and create circular watermelon chunks instead. The author recommends adding mint leaves right before consumption since they tend to brown over time. Lime juice dressing is optional for this recipe, but it does tie the different flavors in the salad together for a complete taste! 

If you are interested in the ingredients and flavors listed in this salad, give it a try! This Mediterranean inspired recipe will not disappoint, and is so easy to throw together! I'll definitely be making this sometime this week as a refreshing lunch or snack. 

Fit Foodie Finds

One of the best ways we can gain inspiration from others is by reading their advice and following tips and tricks that have helped others reach their goals. For this reason, I think it important to follow blogs where content is posted by regular people who are disseminating helpful information for all. 

A fitness and wellness blog that I have been following for several years, called Fit Foodie Finds, posts everything from healthy recipes, workouts, fashion and beauty related articles, as well as mental health articles. 

I especially enjoy their fashion and style blog posts, because they incorporate my two favorite things! Their fashion posts have a lot to do with working out, but it depends on the author or the topic of the post as a whole. One of their posts which really interested me was about the best workout leggings for women, which is something that almost all women are interested in. Leggings are a staple of every woman's wardrobe, from what I've seen. 

This article focuses on the experiences of different women who have distinct body types, and includes the reviews of women who have tried different brands and their legging styles and fits. 

These work out leggings ride high and stay put. I am 5′ 3”, and I’ve got wide hips. Generally, when I try on yoga pants they are too long. So long that it looks like I am wearing leg warmers over my pants. The Elation pant in 7/8 rocks because they hit me right at the ankle. I also appreciate that these elation workout leggings are a true high rise pant that holds everything in when I am in a forward fold. -Linley // 5’3″

The blog post includes photos, explanations, and reviews of the different leggings that were tried on. This facilitates the buying process for readers, because they can purchase a legging featured in the articled based on their height, likes and dislikes! 

Fit Foodie Finds is overall a one-stop-shop for all things health and wellness related. Whether it be that you're searching for new meals, new workouts, or style and wellness advice, you will most likely find what you're looking for! Check them out! 

Summer Smoothie Recipe

My favorite foods to snack on during the summer would have to be any type of fruit or vegetable. In my opinion, fresh produce tastes way better in the summer than it does in the winter, so I try to enjoy it this time of year as much as possible. With that being said, an easy and tasty way I like to incorporate several different types of fruits and vegetables into my daily diet is through drinking smoothies! 

With the help of online recipes, I've found some wonderful fruit combinations that make a great smoothie. My favorite website to find recipes is called "Modern Honey," which lists some great smoothie options here: https://www.modernhoney.com/6-healthy-superfood-smoothies/. 

The smoothie I reach for the most can be found in that link above! To make it easier for you, I will include it here in this post. 

This smoothie, called the Sweet Cherry Almond Smoothie, has the perfect sweetness, and also includes a nutty flavor because of the almond milk that is included. 

Sweet Cherry Almond Smoothie:

1. 1 1/2 cups Cherries frozen.
2. 1 cup Almond Milk.
3. 1 scoop Protein Powder.
4. 1 Banana.
5. Ice.
6. Blend all items together until you have a consistency that works for you. 
7. Optional: top with unsweetened coconut flakes + almond butter.

I really hope you will try this recipe out, along with any of the other drinks that are included in the post linked above! Enjoy!