Enjoy Mediterranean Diet Month with Barilla & Chef Lorenzo

I adore the fresh flavors of classic Mediterranean fare – from a crisp Greek salad to hearty Italian pasta, I haven’t met a Mediterranean meal that I didn’t love. Especially after our Greek Honeymoon, I remain interested in ways to adopt different food cultures into our daily lives. That’s why I’m excited to partner with Barilla this month to celebrate Mediterranean Diet Month and learn about the lifestyle.

The focus of the Mediterranean Diet is on fruits, vegetables, grains, nut/seeds and lean proteins. It does not adopt crazy restrictions on specific food groups, but rather a focus on moderation and eating various sources of fiber. As we all know, pasta is a staple ingredient in the Mediterranean country of Italy. Paired with lots of veggies and lean protein, in addition to proper serving size, pasta is a wonderful addition to your Mediterranean diet. This helpful infographic shows how pasta can be a healthful part of our diet, keeping us fuller longer.

Need help getting your Mediterranean Diet Month started? I loved this article by Green Nutritionist, Kate Geagan, 5 Tips for Adopting the Mediterranean Diet Style of Eating on the Barilla website. You’ll also find Med Diet inspired recipes from Kate Geagan, as well as Barilla’s own Chef Lorenzo Boni.

Great for you, Great for the planet

Barilla’s Center for Food and Nutrition found that foods recommended most as part of the Mediterranean Diet are also the foods that have the lowest environmental impact. The infographic of the Mediterranean Diet Double Pyramid shows it – the foods mostly highly recommended are those with that harm our earth the least. On the Barilla website, the “Shop for Sustainability Game” lets consumers go into a virtual grocery store and see the environmental impact of what they’re putting into their cart.

5 Questions for Chef Lorenzo

Are you wondering more about the nutritional benefits of the Mediterranean Diet? What makes this way of eating so much healthier than others? Would you love some professional tips on how to incorporate the diet into your lifestyle? Or, are you like me, and wondering what a Med Diet breakfast would entail? Here’s your chance to find out!

Barilla’s very own Executive Chef Lorenzo Boni has (so kindly) offered to answer a few questions from De Su Mama readers! Isn’t that amazing?! Chef Lorenzo Boni was born in Bologna, Italy and has studied the art of Italian food extensively. Chef Lorenzo says, “I love healthy and tasteful pasta dishes with whatever the pasta is combined with, such as vegetables, seafood, or different meats. Working with pasta every day gives me the opportunity to be creative and I just love it!”

So, beloved readers, have at him! This Italian Chef is looking for our questions and is eager to help us understand how to incorporate the Mediterranean Diet into our lives…

*Disclosure: Barilla provided me with product in order to write this post. However, my opinions on the product are entirely my own and I have not been paid to publish positive sentiments towards Barilla or their products.