Greek and Middle Eastern
Some of these dishes are high in fat (usually from monounsaturated fat in olive oil), but others aren't. The more you know, the more you can enjoy them.
Tips: Ask for dishes to be prepared with less oil and served with high-sodium foods like feta cheese and olives on the side. Phyllo pastry dishes are usually high in butter, so skip them. Most Greek desserts are high in fat. If you want to splurge, split one with a friend.
Instead of
Try
Meat-stuffed appetizers
Appetizers with rice or eggplant
Fried calamari
Dolmas (rice mixture wrapped in grape leaves)
Baba ganoosh (eggplant appetizer)
Tzatziki (yogurt and cucumber appetizer)
Moussaka (lamb and beef casserole) and other creamy or cheesy entrees
Roast lamb; shish kabob; couscous or bulgar wheat with vegetables or chicken
Gyro (beef or lamb rolled in pita bread with a yogurt-based cucumber sauce)
Chicken pita sandwich
Spanakopita (spinach pie with egg and cheese)
Plaki (fish cooked in tomatoes, onions and garlic)
