The Mediterranean Diet Food Pyramid

If you were to examine the Mediterranean Diet Food Pyramid, you would notice that it looks very different from the structure of our own food pyramid here in the U.S.

Here is how the pyramid is structured:

The Base: The base of the Mediterranean Diet is composed of breads, pastas and other starches like potatoes, rice, grains and couscous. These are the foods that are consumed in the greatest volume.

Second Level: The second level of the pyramid is composed of vegetables, fruits, nuts and beans.

Third Level: Here we have olive oil. Substantial amounts of olive oil are consumed in the Mediterranean Diet, and it's a good portion of the total fat consumed on a daily basis.

Fourth Level: This level is dairy products like cheese and yogurt - which are consumed in much smaller quantities than any of the previous foods on this list.

Fifth Level: Here we find fish and poultry, then eggs, sweets and lastly red meat. Red meat is at the top of the pyramid (i.e,. it's the food that is consumed the least within the pyramid.) This is very different from our diet in the U.S., which contains a much higher level of red meat consumption. As you know, the Mediterranean Diet is great for people searching for a healthy, natural way to lose weight.

For your own Mediterranean Diet guide, click here
Mediterranean Diet Guide