You have probably heard or read about the value of a Mediterranean diet. The benefits are far-reaching, affecting the heart, the brain, the microbiome and all the organs. You may be wondering what actually constitutes a Mediterranean diet, and whether you can follow such an eating pattern in the US. The answer is that there is not one single Mediterranean diet, but many versions of this healthy approach to eating. In addition to Greece, Italy and Spain, southern France borders the Mediterranean sea. We recently heard from a reader who wonders why don’t Americans eat well like her French neighbors.
How People Eat in Provence:
Q. I moved from England to Provence a year ago. In this region of France, farmers use no pesticides nor GMO products. We now eat seasonally, hardly any beef at all, some pork and the amazing local lamb, which grazes on thyme and rosemary.
Mostly, we eat a lot of fish and the local olive oil. We buy from local markets. The goat cheese is local and delicious and the fruit – cherries, strawberries, melons, tomatoes – are out of this world. We only use the supermarket for paper products and washing powder. In other words, we don’t eat processed foods and are not part of the corporate food industry.
This is why we live here. I’m originally from the US and when I return to visit family, I don’t know what to eat. When the children come here, they are amazed at the taste of food. Why doesn’t the US adopt this approach, which seems healthier as well as more satisfying?
How Could Americans Eat Well?
A. It all has to do with values. As you have pointed out, farmers in your part of France value the flavor that comes from traditional agricultural practices, such as avoiding pesticides. Perhaps sustainability is also a high value.
In the US, we put more emphasis on price. Consumers want low prices, while producers attempt to maximize their profit. In addition, we seem to value convenience. All those local products you mentioned are only available when they are in season, whereas you can get tomatoes or even strawberries throughout the year in US supermarkets.
Americans eat well, or at least much better, if they shop at local farmers’ markets and consume vegetables and fruits when they are at peak season. But too many people don’t have that option. They may feel lucky if the local store has any produce, especially if it something they can afford.
We agree that the approach you’ve described is healthier. The health hazards of consuming ultra-processed foods, however cheap and convenient they may be, may not be worth the price.
