The Mediterranean diet is rooted in the cuisines of countries on the Mediterranean coast and is widely embraced by leading health professionals as a pattern of eating that leads to improved health and longer life. This diet is nothing new to Cooking Light readers, as it aligns with our philosophy of a healthy lifestyle. Rather than being a restrictive "diet," the Mediterranean way of eating is defined by a focus on plant-based foods such as vegetables, fruits, healthy grains, legumes, nuts, and seeds, along with fish, and shellfish. While the Mediterranean diet is strongly plant-based, it is not exclusively vegetarian. With this issue, readers get over 70 recipes plus tips for eating the Mediterranean way.