A Day in Spain
It is hard to believe that I have been in Spain for a week already! It has been go, go, go but a lot of fun and I wanted to give you an idea of what a typical day in Spain is like.
I can’t start my day without café con leche, coffee with milk. Coffee is a staple in Spain and has many health benefits: improved cardiovascular health and lower risk of type 2 diabetes, certain forms of cancer and neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s.
Adding a splash of mil to your coffee can be great for your bone health too! Coffee contains oxalates that can leech calcium from bones but adding milk to coffee can negate the actions of the oxalates giving bone health a boost.
Most days for breakfast I have been having toast with tomato, avocado and olive oil. This is a pretty traditional Mediterranean breakfast. It has healthy fats from the avocado and olive oil to keep me full until lunch. It also has electrolytes like potassium from the tomato and avocado to help keep me hydrated with all of the heat here!
Lunch is the largest meal of the day in Spain and normally consumed a bit later in the day, between 2-3pm. I have made a point to have gazpacho or salmorejo everyday while I am here. You may have read my previous post about gazpacho (https://www.yournutritiondoc.com/blog/the-mediterranean-diet-fruits-and-veggies) salmorejo is similar but is only tomatoes, olive oil, bread and garlic.
Gazpacho is traditionally consumed later in the summer but there are some restaurants serving it already.
Generally, lunch consists of olives, vegetables, and meat. Most often, people will eat fish followed in frequency by chicken and pork. Very rarely, beef is eaten.
After lunch is la siesta, or the nap. Everyone takes a rest from the day and the heat. Did you know studies have found that a 20 minute nap in the afternoon boosts productivity?? The Spaniards are on to something!
After the nap is el paseo, or the walk. Everyone is able to get the blood pumping to wake up from their nap and work off the big lunch they ate.
Dinner in Spain is late, 9-11pm, but is very light. Normally dinner is comprised of tapas, small plates that are shared with a few people. Tapas are similar to lunch with a focus on vegetables, olive oil and seafood.
Generally, a glass of red wine accompanies dinner. One serving of red wine can lower your risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes and neurodegenerative disorders like dementia. And for women, studies have found that one serving of wine in the evening can boost weight loss results!
And that, my friends, is a day in a Spanish life. What do you think? Can we incorporate this Mediterranean style of life in the States?
What is one step you could take towards implementing the Mediterranean lifestyle? Comment below!
