Can the Mediterranean Diet Inspire Healthy Shopping Habits?

Fad diets have been around for a long time—from the 1980s’ famed cabbage soup diet to the recently trending low carb, high protein diet to the unusual cookie diet.

One diet that’s not a fad, however—the Mediterranean diet—has been around for centuries. Why is that?

The Mediterranean diet is a lifestyle, and it’s been practiced widely in countries that surround the Mediterranean Sea. It includes plenty of wonderful choices—wine from various regions, Filone di Renella bread and Taleggio cheese, for example—and don’t forget the olive oil. But the biggest ingredient in the Mediterranean diet is moderation.

So, if moderation and variety amount to a winning combination for a Mediterranean diet, how can retailers use this to promote healthy shopping habits?

The locally inspired Mediterranean diet

Consumers are always looking for simple ways to stock their kitchens with healthy food options. Why not offer some healthy assistance in the way of all those food pairings that come naturally in the Mediterranean way of eating?

This doesn’t mean selling imported foods, either—quite the contrary. The Mediterranean diet is all about local. Adapting this diet to support local growers and locally produced foods (which is also a major consumer preference) is key.

Retailers can encourage shoppers to “taste the Mediterranean” right here in the U.S. with tantalizing displays of meal plans and healthy snacks, such as:

Bringing Home a Piece of the Mediterranean

During COVID-19, shimmering a little Mediterranean brightness on the consumer experience can—even subtly—take shoppers across the pond where lifestyle and appeal of this diet are celebrated every day. Can you imagine feasting in Italy, Spain, Portugal, Morocco, Greece, Cyprus or Croatia? How about highlighting those Mediterranean flavors, which are all available right here in the USA?

With shopping carts full of delicious, healthy and locally produced items (and perhaps even a new cookbook) consumers may find themselves fully embracing the joy of cooking in their evening kitchens: pouring a glass of California wine, turning up the Bocelli and cooking away.

Grab more data-backed tips here to inspire customers to shop and enjoy life the Mediterranean way.