A New Way of Living

Benefits of Clean Eating and the Mediterranean Lifestyle

In this age of social media, it seems almost everyday there is a new fad diet, or new way to burn fat and keep it off in just one simple step. Our innate desire for instant gratification and the shortest route possible to not feeling any pain, physically or emotionally, leaves us spending millions of dollars for the next quick fix to our many health problems. We fight with each other over closer parking spaces instead of taking the few extra steps that would actually have a huge impact on our bodies over time when small changes are made. We manage on the go life styles that leave us plotting our routes to pass the nearest coffee shop for another shot of energy. We look for fast food restaurants with the shortest drive thru line or best app for ordering as we taxi around to the many events in our over scheduled, overfilled lives. The results are people who hit the bed every night exhausted and drained in every area of their lives hoping the hours somehow get longer before the next day begins and we do it all over again. Where is the hope for better way? The Mediterranean Lifestyle of course! More than just a clean way of eating, this lifestyle allows for a holistic approach to living, shown in the Mediterranean food pyramid , which makes the foundation time outside and with those who are close to our hearts.

Let’s start by defining a term we hear a lot these days, especially in the Mediterranean lifestyle. Eating clean has been a concepts flooding the market for some time now. Unfortunately, the overwhelming majority of our food these days here in the U.S. are over processed and highly refined. Looking at the ingredients list on labels can sometimes be reminiscent of grade school phonetics class trying to sound out words we can’t pronounce. We put chemicals and low nutrient foods in our bodies and then wonder why what we get out of them leaves us sluggish, achy and sick. Ironically, when we go to fill our gas tank, we know that the different options have a lasting effect on our engine so we make choices and sometimes choose better for our cars than we do our bodies.

Clean eating is simply keeping food as close to it’s natural form as possible. This is where reading nutrition labels is so very important and why sometimes it takes me forever to shop, but in the end it’s worth the time investment. It is also worth the financial investment because clean eating can be more expensive but at least you know the value of the return it gives by the way you begin to feel mentally and physically.

It is a process to get off the refined food for some people, especially the refined sugar which can be like a drug for the body. Some people notice it more than others as the body “withdrawals” from the refined chemicals in the foods, but once it clears after consistent clean eating, the results are so amazing that you really do not even want to cheat! Look for my post coming soon all about refined sugar and the damage it causes.

Plus, there are so many good clean foods on the market now that your carb and sweet cravings will be fully satisfied in a clean, healthy way. As stated earlier, fresh is best but these snacks hit all the marks for clean eating. Simple Mills is one I discovered nine months ago when my commitment to clean eating began after having my sixth child and only daughter. They make great, clean snacks that taste better than regular crackers. Their cookies are even toddler approved by my picky 4 year old! Autumn Gold is another if you can have a nut based grain free snack. Both can be found in local markets. A deeper dive into different diets like paleo, vegan and vegetarian will be covered in an upcoming post.

When you are out and about, look for restaurant with the Por Vida logo. Por Vida is an initiative of San Antonio Metro Health. They recognize local restaurants and food service establishments committed to creating healthy environments in San Antonio. They also have many other vital community resources and education available. They have a list of restaurants and their offerings to make healthy choices easier to find.

Of course, your first stop when your out and about should always be Papouli’s Greek Grill! Let us do the work for you in not only preparing the food but guiding you to menu options that fit the Mediterranean clean eating lifestyle and our options on the Por Vida menu. As a scratch kitchen, we prepare most menu items in house so we know exactly what’s in them, which is especially helpful for those with food allergies as well. Both of our locations have a patio and dine in seating where you can enjoy time with friends at our home, or take the food to go through calling in, walking in, or online ordering, and enjoy the food in your own home. For your next large gathering, we can help you make it extra special when you use our catering services. No matter how you enjoy Papouli’s Greek Grill, you can be confident you are getting award winning, fresh, healthy Greek food guaranteed by our promise to you to provide our guests with excellent food, excellent service and an excellent atmosphere. See you soon at Papouli’s!

P.S. And if your looking for a GREAT place to work, we are always looking for GREAT people! Click here to join our amazing team!

Welcome Back!

Yassas!

It is with great joy we say “Welcome Back” to the Eat Fit to Live Blog by Papouli’s Greek Grill! It is our hope that this finds you and your family in good health and spirits. It has been quite some time since our last post and since then many new events have morphed our lives into a new reality, both individually and as a society. Here at Papouli’s, our hearts are filled with gratitude for your loyal support during the recent pandemic. Faithful visits, patience, and prayers, enabled us to thrive through what throttled many other restaurants.

Due to this recent pandemic, our diet is even more is crucial to good mental and physical health. Social distancing and indoor isolation go against our natural human desire for connection to people and nature. This naturally leads to a decline in a how we think, feel and relate to others. Processed foods and on the go lifestyles assist in that decline. That is why at Papouli’s, our heart is to serve food that is real fresh, real healthy, and real Greek. The clean, fresh ingredients from Greece give us a palate to create and enjoy foods in support of the holistic approach for living that is crucial to the mediterranean diet.

Papouli’s is fully committed to helping others find the treasures of this lifestyle. Through healthy eating education, community events and partnerships, we hope to provide connections and resources as a guide to this way of life. This fall will bring new and past menu items, fun times on the patio, and supporting other vital community organizations through service and financial giving opportunities.

So, Papou Nick invites you and your family to join ours at either location, I-10/Huebner or the Forum to grab one of our award winning gyro’s or simply stay connected with us here to keep up with what’s happening at Papouli’s, the surrounding community and learning all about eating fit to live!