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Mediterranean Diet

How often have we heard people mention the “Mediterranean diet”? In these times of mad cows and chicken flu, the experts never tire of reminding us of the importance of maintaining a balanced diet. The Mediterranean diet includes abundant fruit and vegetables, olive oil as the principal source of fat, more fish, the discreet consumption of wine with meals, and the use of typical ingredients like ham, garlic, onion and nuts. Instead of a high obesity rate, the Mediterranean diet dazzlingly produces better proportioned figures, less cholesterol and higher life expectancies.


In the Mediterranean countries, however, the onslaught of “fast food” has destroyed good feeding habits, supplanting family reunions around the dinner table and profaning the cult of traditional cooking, which for decades had shone as an example of the alimentary canon. The main reason for this phenomenon is that a higher status leads to a greater consumption of meat than vegetables, more sauces than oil and vinegar dressings, whisky instead of wine, soft drinks instead of water, and a sedentary lifestyle instead of cycling or long walks. Consequently, there are more digestive problems and higher blood pressure. According to some sociologists, health has declined proportionally with the rise in the economy, and gastronomic ignorance has spread in pace with the cultural revolution.

Adapted from: Ronda

1. Add True or False, quoting the relevant information from the text to justify your answer. (3 points)

1.Mad cows and chicken flu are only a few examples of important ingredients in a balanced diet.
2.Paradoxically, feeding habits in the Mediterranean countries are getting worse and worse.
3.According to some sociologists, the richer the country, the healthier the population.

2. Answer the following questions according to the information given in the text. Use your own words. (2 points)

1.Is it true that meat and alcohol are strictly forbidden in the classical Mediterranean diet?
2.Why do you think that the more developed countries suffer from food-related diseases?

3.Complete the following sentences. The meaning should be the same as that of the sentence above. (2 points)

1.I’d prefer you to have water instead of soft drinks.
(…) rather (…)
2.A higher status leads to a greater consumption of meat.
A greater consumption of meat (…)

4.Write a composition with the following title (80 -120 words):

“Body image and the pressure to be perfect (e.g. dieting, keeping fit, tattoos, piercing, etc.): discuss.” You should include a personal comment in your composition. (3 points)