Why choose a Mediterranean Diet Thanksgiving?
Thanksgiving has historically celebrated autumn’s bounty. It’s a holiday feast that typically features the same traditional foods every year. But if you’ve been following a Mediterranean diet, which has been rated the top diet overall by U.S. News & World Report's panel of experts for many years, you can easily adjust your Thanksgiving recipes to include new Mediterranean-style favorites.
“Thanksgiving is a perfect time to think about the Mediterranean lifestyle,” says registered dietitian Serena Ball, co-author of "The Sustainable Mediterranean Diet Cookbook." This “conviviality” of enjoying meals with family and friends combined with a plant-forward diet rich in fruits, vegetables and whole grains is part of the reason why the Mediterranean lifestyle is linked to a lower risk of heart disease, cancer and overall mortality, she says.