Report on the Mediterranean Diet Conference, and Our Virtual Cookie Exchange Kickoff

© N. Gaifyllia, Licensed to About.com

I just returned from Oldways' 15th Anniversary International Conference on the Mediterranean Diet, so I'll be be devoting the next few blogs to sharing what I learned at the scientific and culinary symposium. But first, some background. In 1993, together with the World Health Organization and the Harvard School of Public Health, Oldways -- a non-profit "food issues think tank" dedicated to nutrition education and the preservation of traditional, health-promoting foodways -- launched the Mediterranean Diet Pyramid. At the time, low-fat diets were the conventional nutrition recommendation, so the idea that a moderate fat diet was healthier seemed renegade. But a decade and a half later, rigorous scientific studies have consistently elucidated the exceptional health-promoting benefits of the traditional Mediterranean eating pattern. Much more of an enjoyable lifestyle than a prohibitive diet, the Mediterranean pattern emphasizes plant-based eating, with lots of vegetables and fruits, whole grains, heart healthy fats from olive oil and fish, and yes -- even regular, moderate wine consumption. Dining is a social event, and it's all balanced by regular physical activity. The payoff? Adopting the Mediterranean eating pattern can help prevent -- and often help treat -- heart disease, cancer, diabetes, obesity, and perhaps Alzheimer's disease. And that's just scratching the surface.

It's arguably thanks to Oldways' efforts that so many of us have heard about the health benefits of olive oil, so I was thrilled to see that this year's About.com Virtual Cookie Exchange kicks off with a recipe from Greek Food Guide Nancy Gaifyllia. It may sound strange, but baking with olive oil can yield incredibly delicious results. I actually prefer to bake my grandmother's Apple Cake, and these Chocolate Chip Cookies with extra virgin olive oil. And I can't think of a better cookie recipe to celebrate the holidays Mediterranean style than the one that appears below.

Virtual Cookie Exchange- Our guide to Greek food has a special recipe for Melomakarona which is a traditional Greek holiday cookie made with cinnamon and cloves, soaked in a honey syrup, and sprinkled with sesame seeds, walnuts, and cinnamon.