We grabbed bagels with cream cheese on Sunday morning, which probably wasn't the best choice. My everything bagel was whole wheat, though, and I topped it with a low-fat scallion spread. Unlike with other diets, I didn't feel as guilty improvising a meal out. That's probably because the Mediterranean diet doesn't outright ban any foods.
We had a late breakfast so we didn't eat again until dinner. My boyfriend took charge of the meal, serving pan-cooked chicken in whole-wheat pita wraps with cucumbers and tzatziki sauce.
I assumed that by Day 7, I'd be excited to finish the challenge, but really, things hadn't been hard at all. I had to spend more time planning my meals, but that's standard with any diet change.
I didn't notice a difference in my depression symptoms, but the trial period was admittedly short. I also didn't save money on food — my boyfriend and I spent about the same as we usually do in a week. That being said, I did lose two pounds, without changing any other part of my routine.
This might have been because we hadn't added salt to any of our home-cooked meals — the Mediterranean diet involves using seasonings like herbs instead. Research has found that a diet high in salt may make us want to eat more, as Business Insider previously reported.
Above all else, it was easy to maintain, which is a major plus in my book. So easy, in fact, that I’ll continue loosely following the meal plan. For example, I’ll keep buying whole-grain pasta instead of regular pasta — I thought it tasted just as good.