I’m not sure if I cling to this lifestyle because I grew up with Mediterranean culture, or if I would still choose this lifestyle even if I were raised in a completely different culture. All I know is that the Mediterranean lifestyle is my passion. For a healthy body and mind, the way of life I always follow, no matter where in the world, is this!
Maintaining this lifestyle in a rainy country where the sun doesn’t always shine hasn’t been easy. So how did I start doing this? Belgium’s food culture was vastly different. While initially, exploring the tastes of a new culture was delightful, I soon realized the importance of cooking at home and adapting to Kortrijk. I made a decision to align my dietary habits and stabilize my physical and mental well-being. It was crucial for both my health and budget.
Yes! I’m telling you how I integrated the Mediterranean lifestyle into my life! If you are wondering how I can achieve this in Belgium, I am talking about how I integrated this lifestyle into my own life in Belgium, step by step! Then keep reading!
Step 1: Deciding what to cook and shopping for suitable ingredients accordingly
Mediterranean cuisine relies on fresh and natural ingredients. Therefore, it was important to decide what to cook and procure the appropriate ingredients before starting to cook. Firstly, I needed to find a market where I could access economical and quality products. Aldi became my go-to choice. Having a variety of affordable and quality olive oil options was crucial for me, which is why I appreciate the olive oil I buy from Aldi. I also prefer Aldi for fresh vegetables, although sometimes I opt for local markets as well.
Step 2: Meal Planning
The second step was to make a weekly meal plan, taking into account the fresh ingredients and groceries I purchased. This enabled me to eat a healthier and more balanced diet in my daily life. I can also save time by preparing pre-planned meals and having a ready-made meal to take to school the next day.
Step 3: Setting Balanced Nutrition Goals
I determined my own nutritional goals, taking into account the healthy eating principles of the Mediterranean cuisine. For example, I set goals to eat more fruits and vegetables, cut down on processed foods, and eat more fish and seafood. That’s why I make sure to consume seafood 2 days a week. I usually buy fresh seafood such as shrimp, salmon and horse mackerel from Proxy.
Step 4: Increasing Physical Activity
The Mediterranean lifestyle should be supported not only by nutrition but also by regular physical activity. That’s why, among the activities I can do in Belgium, cycling and walking are activities I do every day.
Step 5: Paying Attention to Stress Management
Stress management is also important in the Mediterranean lifestyle. It is important to protect mental health by doing stress-reducing activities such as yoga, meditation or hobbies. That’s why I started Yoga through StudentApp and I also make sure to do mindfulness meditation on a daily basis. Thus, by staying in the moment, I improve my stress management and live life more comfortably.
And here you read how I integrated my Mediterranean lifestyle into my life in Kortrijk. I hope this article could inspire you a little. If you want to start somewhere, be sure to follow my steps. It’s never difficult. A healthy body and mind is the biggest advantage of the Mediterranean lifestyle and we can achieve this anywhere in the world. We don’t necessarily need the sun. If you follow any of these steps or have any questions, be sure to share them with me in the comments. Your interactions are very important to me. Goodbye!