Have you ever gone to a restaurant and thought, “I’d rather get 3 or 4 appetizers instead of a dinner”. Well, join the club. Sometimes it’s just more mouthwatering to order several starters that sound good and eat them with a glass of wine, a margarita or a beer. I think in the American culture it has been ingrained that if you don’t eat a plate of food, and sometimes along with an appetizer and dessert later, then we haven’t had a complete meal. The mindset is so different then in the Mediterranean. For instance, in Greece, just ordering a few appetizers (called “meze” in Greece, meaning small dish), or a souvlaki me pita with some horta (greens) and eating it family style with a few friends over a drink would suffice for an evening meal. Pair that with sitting at a table overlooking the water….ahhh, it’s like heaven. People need to get back to clean eating and not overeating.
Take for instance the food in the picture above, that I took in Greece in 2015. It is a plate of fried potatoes, tzatziki (cucumber yogurt dip) and some eggplant in oil (lathera-dishes made in Greece that incorporate A LOT of olive oil and vegetables of some sort-very yummy, especially when you dip some good hot and fresh bread into the juices!). Add some feta cheese with it (which I believe was in another plate on that table) and you got a satisfying meal for 2-4 people.
Again, just a few simple appetizers shared with some of your favorite people is enough to satiate the palate, the mind and the heart. You definitely will feel better later on when you go to bed with your belly feeling just right rather than saying “oooohhhh, why did I eat so much”. I know you have been there…many times…I have too!
Although it’s good to watch your calories, a general rule I have is to make healthy choices and eat more of those then unhealthy ones. You get more bang for your buck with healthier options. You feel more satiated and your body feels good, and you know your are nurturing your body…especially if you eat a lot of olive oil :). Healthy doesn’t mean tasteless! What are your thoughts on simple meals? I’d love to hear from you!
