Mediterranean diet

noun

: a diet typical of many Mediterranean countries (such as Italy and Spain) that consists mainly of cereals, grains, vegetables, beans, fruits, and nuts along with moderate amounts of fish, cheese, olive oil, and wine and little red meat

The Mediterranean diet is a veteran of the diet scene and not quite as trendy or weight-loss-focused as some of its siblings. But it's a perennial favorite of doctors and dietitians, buoyed by studies that suggest it can lower the risk of diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

—Gisela Telis

Examples of Mediterranean diet in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The Mediterranean diet’s pyramid focuses on fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, seeds, some fish and heart-healthy olive oil, with an emphasis on meals with family and friends and daily exercise. —Sandee Lamotte, CNN Money, 20 Jan. 2026

To increase your odds of becoming a super ager, Topol recommends following a largely Mediterranean diet — which means eating foods such as fresh fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, olive oil, seafood and poultry. —The Washington Post, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Jan. 2026

The site includes choices like GLP-1, vegan, low-calorie, Mediterranean diet, Asian, pescatarian, gluten-free vegetarian and more. —Andrea Strong, Bon Appetit Magazine, 10 Jan. 2026

Atkins, keto, South Beach, the Zone, low carb, no carb, ultra-low fat, liquid only, Jillian Michaels, Jane Fonda, Suzanne Somers, full-body HIIT workouts, gym memberships, a YMCA weight coach, DietBet, StepBet, a Mediterranean diet, a vegetarian diet, the raw food diet, intermittent fasting. —CBS News, 9 Jan. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1928, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for Mediterranean diet

• disquiet
• panchayat
• unquiet
• guyot
• piet
• quiet
• riot

Medical Definition

Mediterranean diet

noun

: a diet typical of many Mediterranean countries (as Italy and Spain) that consists mainly of cereals, grains, vegetables, beans, fruits, and nuts along with moderate amounts of fish, cheese, olive oil, and wine and little red meat