The general guidelines to follow the Mediterranean diet that dietitians provided to participants included the following positive recommendations:
- abundant use of olive oil for cooking and dressing dishes;
- consumption of ≥ 2 daily servings of vegetables (at least one of them as fresh vegetables in a salad), discounting side dishes;
- ≥ 2-3 daily servings of fresh fruits (including natural juices)
- ≥ 3 weekly servings of legumes;
- ≥ 3 weekly servings of fish or seafood (at least one serving of fatty fish);
- ≥ 1 weekly serving of nuts or seeds;
- select white meats (poultry without skin or rabbit) instead of red meats or processed meats (burgers, sausages);