Lunch: Mediterranean Bowl (make hummus, tzatziki and quinoa the day before, follow meal prep instructions in the recipe).

It’s time for the last section in our collection of easy Mediterranean diet recipes! Truly saving the best for last, because all of these appetizers can make most of the dishes above even better! Don’t get me wrong, I love souvlaki and grilled fish as much as everyone else, but my favorite part of any dinner table are the sides and appetizers. They’re actually the main stars of the show. So, here are some of my personal favorite Mediterranean diet recipes when it comes to sides and appetizers. Carotenoids: These are green and orange/red foods like tomatoes (sun-dried and tomato paste are also good), carrots, spinach, kale, and arugula.Red Lentil, Bulgur and Spinach Soup. Super hearty and filling vegan soup! Some of the ingredients include lentils, bulgur, spinach and onions. You might think it’s too simple, but you’ll want to eat this soup again and again and again. Mediterranean Salmon Bowl. This is one of my most popular and loved Mediterranean diet recipes. The bowls are filled with pan-seared salmon, broccoli, hummus, olives all layed on a bed of an incredible cabbage salad. I know, an unexpected combo, but a real keeper. Don’t be fooled, this is a salad, but it’s not one of those side dish things. It’s a meal. I still felt light and alive after, because it’s a healthy salad, but it was super satisfying. Shrimp and Calamari in Tomato Garlic Sauce– enjoy this one with whole grain rice, pasta or your favorite bread!

When you’ve arranged everything, prepare the dressing. I used olive oil, lemon juice and minced garlic (obsessed with garlic right now, making everyone around me happy). I also added some toasted sesame oil, because I LOVE the flavor. But it’s optional if you don’t have it. Something else you can do is toast sesame seeds and sprinkle over the salad – SO GOOD!It also looks so pretty and it tastes really good. Like illegally good. But it’s definitely legal and it’s gluten and dairy-free! It’s: