MedDiet - Mediterranean Diet and enhancement of traditional foodstuff

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The project in brief Generally speaking, all Mediterranean countries have in common a dietary pattern characterised by a high consumption of plant foods such as legumes, cereals, fruits and vegetables, nuts and seeds, low consumption of meat and dairy products, olive oil as main source of fat and moderate consumption of wine. The Mediterranean diet is considered a healthy prudent pattern: high adherence to it has been associated with a better health due to the protective effect that this diet shows against various diseases. Nevertheless, deep changes have been witnessed in the Mediterranean dietary pattern over the last decades, mainly due to the increase in energy available from non-Mediterranean foodstuff which almost tripled. Against this negative trend, MedDiet project aims to raise the awareness of consumers about the importance of preserving healthy food traditions. Specific objective To increase the awareness of consumers (in particular young people and children - exposed to the risk of losing Mediterranean healthy eating habits) and of SMEs (in particular restaurants) about the benefits of the Mediterranean Diet (MD) by reinforcing the capacity of schools, local authorities, chambers of commerce/ business organizations and policy making institutions to implement effective and sustainable initiatives for safeguarding MD in Egypt, Greece, Italy, Lebanon, Spain and Tunisia.

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