Salmon is the cornerstone of a Mediterranean diet because it's chock-full of heart-healthy omega-3s. Image Credit: Ekaterina Smirnova/Moment/GettyImages

The Mediterranean diet is more than a meal plan, it's a lifestyle — at least, that's the opinion of registered dietitian Stefanie Dove, RD, who enthusiastically recommends it as a smart and healthful way to go about choosing the food you eat.

Here's what to know about this much-lauded diet, plus an easy and tasty seven-day meal plan to get you started.

What Is the Mediterranean Diet All About?

Simply put, the Mediterranean diet relies on the long-lasting overall eating habits of people who live in countries that border the Mediterranean Sea, according to the American Heart Association (AHA).

The plan favors whole grains, fruits, vegetables, seafood, legumes and healthy fats, plus a moderate amount of wine and shuns red meat, trans fats, items with added sugar and processed foods such as refined grains and oils.

Sounds sustainable, right?

Indeed, a December 2019 study found that participants on the Mediterranean diet were able to follow it more closely and stick with it for a year than those trying intermittent fasting and paleo, per research in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

"The Mediterranean diet does not eliminate food groups, which is important. All food groups are vital for health and wellness."

"These are general guidelines for overall good health, so as a dietitian, I always favor those plans that promote balance," Dove tells LIVESTRONG.com.

"The Mediterranean diet does not eliminate food groups, which is important. All food groups are vital for health and wellness."

Benefits of the Mediterranean Diet

Although this style of eating could be higher in overall fat than a healthy diet promoted by the AHA, people who follow a Mediterranean diet actually eat less saturated fat than those who adhere to the average American diet.

Additionally, both heart disease and death rates are lower in Mediterranean countries than in the U.S., although that could be attributed to other lifestyle factors, such as physical activity, the AHA states.

The heart health benefits of the Mediterranean diet have been widely researched and that's what this eating plan is most praised for.

Related Reading 11 Simple Ways to Keep Your Heart Healthy and Strong

A significant study of more than 7,400 people found that sticking to a Mediterranean diet that included olive oil or nuts is linked to a reduced risk for heart attack, stroke and heart-related death by about 30 percent compared to a low-fat diet, per April 2013 research in The New England Journal of Medicine found.

Although there were flaws in the initial analysis of the study, a second examination of the results in 2018 confirmed these findings, according to the American College of Cardiology.

And an April 2020 meta-analysis in The BMJ that reviewed 121 randomized trials found that the Med diet was the only diet that continued to improve cardiovascular risk factors (i.e. blood pressure and cholesterol) in the long term (past 12 months). It also found that the diet was effective for weight loss.

That's not all: The Med diet was associated with a lower risk of cognitive impairment in an April 2020 study in Alzheimer's and Dementia that looked at 8,000 participants with and without age-related macular degeneration.

However, the cognitive function results weren't as significant: These potential effects were observed at the population level, so individual people likely won't notice a difference in cognitive function.

What's more, the Med diet is rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which are found in fatty fish and some seeds such as chia and flax.

Supplementing with omega-3s or eating more fatty fish is tied to lower triglycerides and larger HDL cholesterol particles, which are better at removing unhealthy LDL cholesterol and potentially preventing plaque buildup and heart disease, according to a February 2020 study of 26,034 healthy women in JAHA.

Mediterranean Diet Foods

Fill your plate with plenty of veggies on the Med diet. Image Credit: Westend61/Westend61/GettyImages

Healthy fats and plant-based foods are the cornerstones of the Mediterranean diet, which also emphasizes eating seafood regularly and poultry, eggs and dairy in moderation.

Key foods for a Mediterranean meal plan, according to the University of Wisconsin, include the following.

Foods to Eat a Lot Of

Vegetables: Leafy greens, broccoli, cauliflower, zucchini, carrots, mushrooms, asparagus and more, as well as starchy vegetables such as potatoes and sweet potatoes

Leafy greens, broccoli, cauliflower, zucchini, carrots, mushrooms, asparagus and more, as well as starchy vegetables such as potatoes and sweet potatoes Fruits: Berries, apples, oranges, bananas, citrus and more

Berries, apples, oranges, bananas, citrus and more Fats: Olive oil, avocado, olives, nuts and nut butter, seeds

Olive oil, avocado, olives, nuts and nut butter, seeds Whole grains: Whole wheat pasta, brown rice, quinoa, farro, barley, bulgur, whole-grain bread, oatmeal

Whole wheat pasta, brown rice, quinoa, farro, barley, bulgur, whole-grain bread, oatmeal Legumes: Beans such as garbanzo, white, black and kidney, as well as lentils

Beans such as garbanzo, white, black and kidney, as well as lentils Seafood: Fish — especially fatty varieties such as salmon and herring — as well as shrimp, clams, oysters, crabs and more

Fish — especially fatty varieties such as salmon and herring — as well as shrimp, clams, oysters, crabs and more Herbs and spices

Water : H2O should make up the lion's share of the beverages you choose on a Mediterranean meal plan.

: H2O should make up the lion's share of the beverages you choose on a Mediterranean meal plan. Coffee and tea: These are also acceptable, but avoid using sugar to sweeten your beverages.

Learn how to fill your plate with healthy, nutrient-dense foods by logging your meals on the MyPlate app. Download now to fine-tune your diet today!

Foods to Eat in Moderation

Eggs

Poultry: Chicken and turkey

Chicken and turkey Dairy: Greek yogurt, cheese and milk

Greek yogurt, cheese and milk Wine: Unlike a number of other eating plans, the Mediterranean diet not only allows but encourages a moderate amount of wine, particularly red wine. But indulging is completely optional. Women should limit their alcohol consumption to one glass a day, which is about 5 ounces, while men can have up to two glasses per day.

Related Reading 10 Mediterranean Diet Staples You Can Get at Costco

Foods to Avoid

The Mediterranean diet doesn't eliminate any particular food group, but it does discourage eating certain ingredients.

For example, red meat such as beef and pork should be rarely eaten on a Mediterranean meal plan, while processed meats such as sausage, bacon and hot dogs should be avoided entirely.

Other ingredients to limit or avoid, according to the Cleveland Clinic, include:

Foods with added sugars: Soda, candy and ice cream

Soda, candy and ice cream Foods with trans fats: Margarine or commercial baked goods

Margarine or commercial baked goods Foods made with refined grains: White bread, white rice and white pasta

White bread, white rice and white pasta Refined oils: Soybean oil and canola oil

How to Meal Plan for the Mediterranean Diet

Making a meal plan can be overwhelming to a beginner, particularly if you're getting started on a new eating plan such as the Mediterranean diet.

To simplify the process, pick a few recipes that contain fewer than 10 ingredients, Diana Gariglio-Clelland, RD, of Balance One Supplements, tells LIVESTRONG.com.

"The diet emphasizes fresh fruits and vegetables, so eating those items in season will allow consumers to save money at the checkout counter."

"A Pinterest search or just Googling 'easy Mediterranean meals' is the way I do it personally," she says.

Gariglio-Clelland also recommends picking recipes that use the same main ingredient, like focusing on salmon or shrimp recipes during a one-week period, noting that this method saves money because it reduces waste and time spent shopping for several ingredients.

At first glance, a Mediterranean meal plan might seem like it's a budget-buster, but that couldn't be further from the truth, Dove notes.

"The diet emphasizes fresh fruits and vegetables, so eating those items in season will allow consumers to save money at the checkout counter," she says.

"Eating seasonally also encourages you to try new fruits and vegetables they otherwise would have never considered."

Related Reading How to Build a 7-Day Healthy Meal Plan on a Budget

Dove recommends using beans and eggs as inexpensive protein sources, as well as buying beans, whole grains and nuts in bulk.

"Fish and lean proteins will often be the most expensive items," she admits. But stocking up when the proteins are on sale at your local supermarket and freezing for later is always an option.

Plus, choosing frozen or canned fish or venturing to the nearest wholesale club to purchase bulk packs and individually freezing them can help you save some cash on the proteins, too. "Whether frozen or fresh, both still pack the nutritional punch you need," she says.

Image Credit: LIVESTRONG.com

Your Go-to 7-Day Mediterranean Meal Plan

Monday

Breakfast: Vitamin-rich spinach is the star of the 202-calorie Mediterranean Morning Scramble.

Vitamin-rich spinach is the star of the 202-calorie Mediterranean Morning Scramble. Lunch : This Crunchy Tuna and Feta Salad packs in a solid dose of fiber from the veggies and gluten-free crackers.

: This Crunchy Tuna and Feta Salad packs in a solid dose of fiber from the veggies and gluten-free crackers. Dinner: Top your Grilled Veggie Quinoa Salad with grilled chicken or a piece of fish for added protein.

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday