A typical Mediterranean-style diet, as defined by the Fundación Dieta Mediterránea, primarily consists of unprocessed foods (fruits, vegetables, whole-grain products) and moderate amounts of fish, olive oil, and dairy products. Also, small amounts of lean meat are recommended. While the traditional Mediterranean diet of the 1960s included more than 200 grams of meat per day[1] in certain regions, study participants of the emblematic PREDIMED study[2] reported an average of 120 grams of meat per day, which is about 70% higher than the current U.S. intake (about 71 grams per day) and seven times the amount recommended by the Mediterranean Diet Pyramid[3] (less than 120 grams per week).
What does the Mediterranean diet include?
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•Last Updated: May 16, 2025
The Mediterranean diet primarily includes unprocessed foods such as fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, along with moderate amounts of fish, olive oil, and dairy, and small amounts of lean meat. Historically, this diet featured higher meat consumption, but current recommendations suggest less than 120 grams of meat per week.