With the UAE winter at hand and the festive season just around the corner, it’s time we followed some GRK Fresh Greek tips on healthy eating during this cool season. I don’t know about you but my appetite tends to go on overdrive when it’s cold outside. And we all know how tough it is to kick those extra kilos off after you are done with all the eggnoging and chocolaty desserts.

To help out, one of the nice head honcho over at GRK Fresh Greek (a Greek restaurant that strives to serve healthy and fresh food) reached out with some tips on healthy eating this winter. You see, according to this nice guy – Andres Gonzales – from the GRK Fresh Greek, the Greek diet has evolved into one of the healthiest in the world. Its foundations are built on simple and nutritious food that offers a host of health benefits. These immunity boosting ingredients help to fight against heart disease, cancers, diabetes, and cognitive decline.

In order for you to benefit on what a Greek diet has to offer, here is how you can get healthy leading up and during the holiday season.

GRK Fresh Greek: Tips on Healthy Eating

Maintain a Balanced Diet

The Greeks consume their food in the purest form. They include a variety of nutrient-rich recipes consisting of raw fruits and vegetables, whole grains, fish, and a small amount of cheese and yogurt. Dairy products, poultry and fish are consumed in moderation, whilst red meat consumption is kept to a minimum. These elements are key to a balanced, healthy diet.

So how can GRK Fresh Greek assist you here? The restaurant, according to Gonzales, offers a range of quality produce imported from Greece. This includes extra virgin olive oil, pure and natural Greek honey and Greek yogurt. They also have the highest quality local meats, fresh herbs, vegetables and fruits, in order to deliver an authentic dining experience.

Snack on Fruits and Vegetables

During the festive season, most of us are used to snacking on sweets and everything sweet. In order to maintain a healthy eating habit during this time, you should “try” Filling up on fresh fruits and vegetables (I know, boring). This includes apples, oranges, lemons, apricots; and vegetables such as eggplants, artichokes, leafy greens, tomatoes, and cabbage. The high levels of antioxidants in these foods help fight against diseases that affect the nervous system, and generally contribute towards good health.

GRK Fresh Greek offers a range of mouth-watering vegetarian options, including flavorful, fresh salads, Portobello mushroom Pita, Grilled Mediterranean Vegetable Souvlaki, paired perfectly with fresh Tzatziki sauces and healthy sides such as Brown Rice, Aegean Slaw and Grilled Halloumi.

Prepare your Meals the Traditional Way

Greek people are famous for their love of olive oil, which contains less saturated fat than butter and is a healthy choice for cooking. Other traditional seasonings include nuts, tahini, garlic, herbs, cinnamon and cloves, which add an intense flavour to dishes without fat or sodium and supports nutrient absorption.

The GRK Fresh Greek menu offers a range of delicious meat based dishes, which are prepared using traditional healthy methods, such as chargrilling or roasting on a traditional vertical spit. One of the bites on the GRK Fresh Greek menu that you should try is the iconic Yeero. It is prepared using all natural, grass and grain-fed meat, marinated in a special blend of aromatic spices and fresh herbs, served with a range of unique house-made Tzatzikis.

Stick with Healthy Carbohydrates

Well, I’m always hearing how carbs are bad and what-not. I love my carbs and no one can tell me anything. On the other hand, the GRK Fresh Greek folks are saying you should stick to whole grain breads, rice and potatoes. Just curious, are there any other popular types of carbs? Anyway, these three are the ideal carbohydrate choice of the Greek cuisine, with another popular choice including Filo dough, which is a light flaky pastry. So I guess it all comes down to portion control, and the festive season is no excuse.

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Include Healthy Servings of Yogurt and Cheese

Greek yogurt has become a diet staple in most households today and has a number of health properties. Consuming Greek yogurt is a great way to get more protein into the diet. It is also packed with probiotics which are great for the digestive system. If you are having your yogurt at GRK Fresh Greek, you should know that they import it from Greece. And it is served with a variety of fruits, traditional preserves, nuts and pure and natural Greek honey.

Cheese is also a rich part of Greece’s culinary history, with Feta cheese being the most popular local option. Feta cheese is vitamin rich and serves as a low fat and protein-rich alternative to other cheeses. GRK Fresh Greek has a house lentil soup which is made with lentil puree and Greek yogurt, topped with Feta and fresh mint, incorporating the best of dairy from Greece.

If by any chance you follow these great healthy eating tips for winter, let me know how it goes come January. Will the scale still be in your favor?

xoxo