John Cox

Blogs · @wyome

Tagged mediterranean · everything

www.themanual.com

The ultimate guide to the Mediterranean diet

The Mediterranean diet emphasizes whole, plant-based foods—vegetables, fruits, legumes, whole grains, nuts, and olive oil—modeled after traditional eating habits in Greece and Italy during the 1960s, when these regions had notably low rates of heart disease, diabetes, and obesity. Extensive research shows the diet reduces cardiovascular disease risk by roughly 30%, lowers blood pressure and cholesterol, aids weight loss, and is more sustainable than restrictive fad diets because people actually stick to it long-term. The approach avoids processed foods, refined grains, processed meats, and artificial ingredients while allowing moderate amounts of fish, poultry, dairy, and eggs, with red meat consumed sparingly.

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www.tasteofhome.com

Gyros

This recipe shows how to make Greek gyros at home without a rotisserie by processing ground lamb and beef into a paste, baking it in a water bath, pressing it with weight, then slicing and pan-searing the meat until crispy. The detailed instructions cover everything from ingredient selection (emphasizing well-marbled meat to prevent dryness) through assembly with traditional toppings like tzatziki, tomatoes, and lettuce, plus storage and freezing tips for make-ahead meal prep.

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www.seriouseats.com

5 Delicious Cheeses You Should Throw on the Grill

Grilling cheese means searing slabs so they brown on the outside while softening inside, and this Serious Eats guide by Joshua Bousel highlights five cheeses that withstand heat: [[Halloumi]], [[Kefalotyri]], a labeled grilling cheese from Central/South America, [[Queso Panela]], [[Provolone]], and bonus [[Kasseri]]. Bousel explains origins (for example [[Halloumi]] from [[Cyprus]]/[[Greece]] and [[Queso Panela]] from [[Mexico]]), milk types, textures, and best uses—salads, saganaki, tacos, salsa-backed plates, and provoleta-style toasts—plus tips for pairing bold seasonings, citrus, and herbs. He emphasizes halloumi’s high melting point and chewy bite, kefalotyri’s saltiness, panela’s fresh softness, and when softer cheeses like kasseri or provolone can still shine despite melting quickly. Practical serving ideas and cautions about sticking and meltability round out the piece, with links to recipes for trying these cheeses on the grill.

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www.mensjournal.com

83-Year-Old Triathlete Joseph Maroon Shares the Six Daily Supplements He Swears By

Joseph Maroon, an 83-year-old neurosurgeon and competitive triathlete, credits his transformation from poor health at 40 to his current fitness level to a combination of six daily supplements—fish oil, turmeric, fisetin, resveratrol, trimethylglycine, and magnesium—along with a Mediterranean diet and avoidance of processed foods. Each supplement serves a specific function, from fish oil's cardiovascular benefits to magnesium's support for the intense exercise required in his seven triathlons since age 53. Maroon's regimen began as a response to depression and poor eating habits following personal losses, demonstrating that significant lifestyle improvements can start at middle age.

Permalink nutritionhealthfitnessmediterranean

www.allrecipes.com

15 Greek Recipes So Good They'll Make Your Yiayia Swell with Pride

Yiayia’s Favorite Greek Recipes gathers a selection of comforting, home-cooked dishes inspired by family kitchens and traditional flavors, spotlighting time-honored preparations like [[moussaka]], [[spanakopita]], [[tzatziki]] and [[baklava]]. The gallery emphasizes fresh, straightforward ingredients — abundant [[olive oil]] and tangy [[feta]] — and recipes for soups, salads and pastries that travel easily from weekday suppers to festive tables. Readers find classics such as [[Greek salad]], lemony [[avgolemono soup]] and stuffed vine leaves like [[dolmades]], alongside tips for flaky phyllo and balanced seasoning. Photographs and short recipe notes make each entry approachable, encouraging cooks to recreate these Mediterranean flavors while honoring the warmth and practicality of a yiayia’s kitchen. Suggestions for ingredient substitutions, make-ahead strategies and pairing ideas with wine or simple sides help modern cooks adapt recipes to dietary preferences while preserving authentic flavor.

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www.acouplecooks.com

50 Mediterranean Diet Recipes: Rice Bowl & More

This is a recipe roundup from A Couple Cooks author Sonja Overhiser, compiling dozens of tested Mediterranean-style lunch and dinner recipes (salmon, shrimp, lentil soups, grain bowls, salads) organized around olive oil, seafood, legumes, and whole grains. It frames the collection with credentialing context—her Harvard lifestyle-medicine coaching certificate, an upcoming cookbook with husband Alex, and physician endorsements—plus a plain-language explainer on what the Mediterranean diet actually entails, its lifestyle components beyond food, and cautious notes on its links to cholesterol and blood sugar management. Worth keeping mainly as a reference hub for specific weeknight recipe ideas rather than for any single argument.

Permalink recipesmediterraneanvegetarianwhole grains

www.acouplecooks.com

28 Day Mediterranean Diet Meal Plan

This free four-week Mediterranean diet meal plan from A Couple Cooks organizes dinners into weekly sets of three recipe options rather than a rigid daily schedule, letting readers pick which nights to cook and fill remaining days with leftovers or eating out. It covers fish, shellfish, chicken, vegetarian, and vegan dinners with make-ahead prep notes for each, plus simple no-recipe suggestions for breakfasts and lunches so cooking energy stays focused on dinner. Worth keeping as a flexible, low-overwhelm framework for sustainable healthy eating rather than a strict day-by-day menu.

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theplanetd.com

Delicious Greek Food – 29 Traditional Greek Dishes To Try Now

This is a practical food-primer for travelers heading to Greece, compiled with a Zakynthos-based local expert alongside the authors' own repeat visits and Toronto Greektown experience, running through nearly thirty dishes organized by course: dips like melitzanosalata and taramosalata, mains such as moussaka, pastitsio and stifado, street food like gyros and souvlaki, and desserts including baklava and galaktoboureko. Beyond definitions and recipe links for each dish, it explains dining customs—ordering order, portion sizes, the theatrical presentation of specialty meals, and drink pairings like ouzo and Mythos beer—so it doubles as etiquette coaching for ordering confidently at a taverna. Worth keeping as a quick-reference glossary plus cultural cheat sheet rather than a single-recipe piece.

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cleanplates.com

19 Healthy Cold Lunches That Actually Make You Excited To Pack For Work

A roundup of nineteen no-heat lunch ideas aimed at office workers bored with sandwiches, ranging from jarred Mediterranean chickpea salads and sesame noodle bowls to DIY poke and sushi bowls, curry chicken collard wraps, and bistro-style apple-and-cheese boxes. Each entry emphasizes make-ahead convenience, ingredients that hold up or improve overnight in the fridge, and swaps like lettuce or collard wraps for bread and riced cauliflower for grains. Worth keeping as a grab-bag reference for varying weekday meal prep without relying on reheating.

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www.31daily.com

Mediterranean Diet Skillet Dinners Meal Plan (September 18)

A weekly meal-plan post built around Mediterranean-diet skillet dinners, framing the diet as a flexible lifestyle (lots of produce, fish, legumes, whole grains, mindful eating) rather than a restrictive plan. It lays out a five-night menu — chickpea-spinach soup, a quick skillet chicken dish, curry lentil soup, honey garlic salmon, and a Southwestern chicken quinoa bake — plus a no-refined-sugar pumpkin muffin for dessert. Worth keeping mainly as a ready-made, fall-flavored dinner lineup with links to each individual recipe.

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chicago.suntimes.com

The Mediterranean diet recipes to help you eat healthy

The article highlights the health benefits and practicality of the [[Mediterranean diet]] and offers recipes from [[America's Test Kitchen]] to incorporate its flavors at home, whether or not readers follow the diet strictly. Standouts include a sturdy, flavor-forward [[Pasta e Fagioli]] made with pancetta, orzo and a Parmesan rind shortcut; a balanced [[Shakshuka]] with piquillo peppers, tomatoes and runny eggs; a crunchy [[Mediterranean Chopped Salad]] built on escarole, chickpeas, Kalamata olives and walnuts; and easy [[Marinated Artichokes]] simmered in olive oil, lemon and herbs for a versatile pantry staple. The piece emphasizes fresh vegetables, legumes, healthy fats and bold seasonings, and gives practical tips for ingredient substitutions and time-saving techniques to make Mediterranean cooking accessible on weeknights. Each recipe includes clear instructions and practical substitution tips.

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camillestyles.com

Protein-Packed Lettuce Wrap Recipes You’ll Want to Devour, Stat

Lettuce wraps are an easy, versatile lunch and dinner solution that let your fillings shine without weighing you down. This roundup on [[Camille Styles]] highlights a variety of recipes—from veggie-forward options like honey-sriracha tempeh and avocado-chickpea salad to protein-packed choices featuring [[chicken]], [[shrimp]], [[salmon]], pork, and beef—plus tips for choosing sturdy greens such as [[romaine]], [[butter lettuce]], [[collard greens]], and [[iceberg]]. The guide explains which leaves hold up best, suggests sauces and hero ingredients like peanut sauce, cilantro-lime dressing, and hoisin, and offers meal-prep strategies including rotisserie shortcuts and make-ahead patties. Whether you want Mediterranean, Thai, or Mexican flavors, the collection makes swapping tortillas and bread for crisp leaves simple, fresh, and unexpectedly satisfying for weekday meals. It also highlights vegetarian swaps, quick sauces, and crowd-pleasing adaptations for parties or kid-friendly lunches.

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camillestyles.com

20 Ideas to Bring Your Dream Backyard to Life (and a Backyard Tour Video!)

This practical guide walks readers through creating a backyard they’ll actually use, starting with a simple formula to name top needs and wants and moving into actionable ideas for small spaces, budget-friendly upgrades, low-maintenance planting, and weekend DIY projects. It emphasizes defining zones, using vertical space, native and drought-tolerant plants, and hardscaping options, and suggests accessible upgrades like string lights, a fire pit, and outdoor seating. Tips cover container gardening, drip irrigation, and entertaining essentials—shade structures, lighting, serving stations—plus 2025 trends such as plunge pools, outdoor kitchens, and warm neutral palettes. Throughout the piece the author ties inspiration to visual prompts on [[Pinterest]] and weekend trips to [[Home Depot]] and invites readers to tour [[Camille's Backyard]] for ideas to adapt to any yard size. Practical product suggestions and step-by-step projects make it easy to start this weekend.

Permalink low-maintenancebackyardlandscapinggardening

Primally Inspired

Greek Meatballs with Avocado Tzatziki Sauce (Keto, Paleo, Whole30)

A straightforward recipe for Greek-style meatballs made with ground lamb or beef, seasoned with oregano, coriander, and cumin, paired with a creamy avocado tzatziki sauce that substitutes avocado for the traditional dairy base. The meatballs bake for 25 minutes and can be served over salads, zucchini noodles, or eaten as appetizers, with optional additions like feta cheese for those who eat dairy. The recipe is compatible with keto, paleo, and Whole30 diets.

Permalink recipescookingmediterranean

31 Daily

Mediterranean Moroccan Bean Soup

This recipe shares an authentic Moroccan harira soup—a Mediterranean comfort dish made with tomatoes, lentils, chickpeas, and beans that comes together in just 20 minutes. The post explains the soup's origins and silky texture while offering substitution options for ingredients like fava beans, making it adaptable to what you have on hand. It can be served as a vegetarian one-pot meal or enhanced with protein like eggs, chicken, or lamb.

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Downshiftology

Grilled Chicken Souvlaki with Dairy-Free Tzatziki

This recipe provides instructions for making chicken souvlaki, a Greek grilled meat skewer dish featuring boneless chicken breasts marinated in olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, and oregano for at least 30 minutes before threading onto skewers and grilling for 3-4 minutes per side. The dish is traditionally served with tzatziki sauce and fresh vegetables or pita bread, and leftovers can be refrigerated for up to five days or frozen for three months.

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