Make Produce the Star

Quick Win

Vegetables and fruit, central to the Mediterranean diet, are bursting with flavor (and nutrients). Get more in your diet with these simple steps.

Try This Today

• Flip your ratio. Make vegetables the foundation of your meals, not an extra. Instead of baked chicken with a veggie side, for instance, top a big bed of greens and other veggies with slices of chicken. Our Greek Cauliflower Rice Bowls and Spinach & Strawberry Salad highlight the veggie-forward approach. 
• Celebrate what’s in season. Your best option for freshness and flavor is local, seasonal produce. In the summer, try recipes like our Heirloom Tomato Salad and ​Very ​Berry Fruit Salad; in the spring, our Spring Pizza; in the fall or winter, Moroccan Chickpea-Stuffed Acorn Squash. 
• Explore techniques. Roasting brings out vegetables’ natural sweetness. Case in point: our Balsamic Roasted Carrots. Soups and stir-fries, like our Happy Family Stir-Fry, are a great way to get a variety of vegetables in one serving. 

Why

Plant-based diets rich in a variety of fruits and vegetables, particularly green-leafy vegetables and berries, are associated with better brain health, according to “Brain Food,” a 2018 report from the Global Council on Brain Health.