Italian Mediterranean Diet Cooking & Coaching Seminar

Never before it has been so important and crucial to us to keep in good health, to fight against unpredictable epidemics. The Mediterranean diet is not just a way of eating or cooking, it is a combination of using a variety of high-quality fresh foods with balanced life habits.  It is not a “don’t do it” diet, but instead teaches how to buy and use local products, like veggies, fish, extra virgin olive oil, and red wine; all of which are integral components of the Mediterranean Diet.  After 50 years of study, its proven benefits range from lowering the risk of obesity and fighting cardiovascular disease to relieving discomforts related to aging. The Mediterranean Diet is about improving your overall health. It is not by chance that the Mediterranean Diet is suggested by major universities and important medical institutions.

Each session will be divided in two parts;  the first part will be an explanation of the base of the subjects. The second part will be hands on and at the end everybody will participate to a practical application of the cooking process and they will eat what they cook. Student can sign up for a single session or at a discounted rate for the entire series.

February 1  - What is the Italian Mediterranean Diet?

Mediterranean diet: eating behaviours and lifestyles. The discovery of the health benefits of the Mediterranean Diet is attributed to the American scientist Ancel Keys of the University of Minnesota School of Power, which pointed out the correlation between cardiovascular disease and diet for the first time. The “Mediterranean Diet”  is more than a diet, it’s a lifestyle that also encourages eating with friends and family, socializing over meals, mindfully eating your favourite foods, as well as mindful movement and exercise.

February 8 - The Italian Mediterranean Diet Pyramid

The Mediterranean diet pyramid was developed based on the eating habits of long-living adults in the Mediterranean. It follows a general food pyramid guideline (not specific quantities) and encourages communal eating and an active lifestyle.

February 15 - Pasta & Legumes

The main benefit of combining pasta with of legumes and/or vegetables is that the carbohydrates will be absorbed more slowly due to the higher fibre and protein content, having a different impact on blood sugar, not to forget 1-pot recipes are simple yet delicious, vegan and amazingly good, economical, flavour some, and full of nutrients.

February 22 - Extra Virgin Olive Oil in the Mediterranean Diet

Extra Virgin Olive oil, a monounsaturated fat, is part of the “healthy” fat group and an essential Mediterranean diet component. Many of the health benefits are associated with the polyphenols and oleic acid in the oil. Extra virgin olive oil contains the most beneficial components. Olive oil is  one of the main  component of the Mediterranean Diet. It’s a very versatile oil, probably even much more than people think, you can sauté, fry, and bake with olive oil. 

March 1 - The importance of Red Wine in the Mediterranean Diet

It is certain that wine is not bad, but why not say that it is good? All studies indicate the same thing: a moderate consumption of wine with meals is associated with a greater longevity and a reduced risk of death from cardiovascular and neurological diseases. A great message emerging from scientific studies on wine and red wine in particular is that the benefits are strictly connected with the consumption at meals. Consumption of red wine during a “fatty” meal significantly reduces the harmful consequences of oxidized fats, such as those present in” fatty foods” subjected to prolonged cooking. The oxidized fats are the first cause of atherosclerosis.  The wine antioxidants polyphenols, greatly reduce the oxidative state of these fats eliminating the potential harmful excess before these molecules are absorbed. It’s interesting to note that the Italian traditional cuisine requires the use of red wine as an accompaniment to succulent dishes based on game or pork, almost like if our Italian ancestors had discovered this scientific basis.  

March 8 - Vegetables in the Mediterranean Diet

Vegetables are an important staple of eating patterns of peoples in all the countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea, providing valuable nutrients and satiety. These benefits are amplified because the vegetables are normally cooked or drizzled with extra virgin olive oil and combined with pasta, rice or cereals such as farro and barley.