A villain has come to rid Spain of the Mediterranean diet. He despises every aspect and characteristic that makes up the heroic and healthy Mediterranean diet. The whole grains and vegetables particularly cause rage and high cholesterol to pound through the villain’s veins. His name: Westernization.

Certain aspects of western culture have begun to take precedence over some Mediterranean countries. With an increase in the presence of fast food chains and along with it, the craving for foods high in sugar and fat, health is at risk. Spain is no exception. Sadly, the Mediterranean diet is on the verge of death in Spain. Spain is now assimilating to a more westernized culture, with regard to both palate and lifestyle.

Fast Food in Spain

The decline of the Mediterranean diet and lifestyle within Spanish culture is slowly fading away. Unfortunately, this generates many health-related issues for Spain. Elisabeth Rosenthal stated in her “Fast Food Hits Mediterranean; a Diet Succumbs,” that a World Health Organization survey of European countries found that among children in the first half of primary school, “35.2 percent in Spain were overweight–the worst rate” (Rosenthal, 2008). Things have only deteriorated since then. Newer generations of Spaniards are simply favoring foods that are sweeter and more processed compared to the natural rich taste of the Mediterranean diet. The traditional diet is centered around vegetables, grains, fruits, olive oil, and wine. The diet has also proven to decrease the likelihood of obtaining chronic diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, and cancer. However, it is not so bewildering as to why Spain and many other countries have begun to drift away from the Med diet in favor of the western diet.

The traditional Spanish lifestyle, like many other Mediterranean countries, is relaxed and lower-stress than many northern European nations. “La Siesta” is a prime example of this lifestyle, in which two hours of the Spaniards’ day is dedicated to eating and sleeping. Many companies and businesses permit two hours of the workday to practice this Spanish tradition, permitting workers to cook their Mediterranean meal at home, and follow the meal with a nap. Recently, this custom has shown a decline as the pace of the Spanish culture has increased, similar to that of its northern European counterparts. Harvey Morris observed in “The Endangered Mediterranean Diet,” that some Spanish people despair that the siesta is not disappearing fast enough. The long siesta culture was continuing to deplete the Spanish economy (Morris, 2012). It makes sense, then, that if the Spaniards want to build their economy, they would no longer prioritize the time to go home and self-prepare a meal. They would fall into the American system of picking up fast food, trading convenience and doing what is easiest for hunger, but not for health. But this is not the only factor undermining the Med diet.

The Mediterranean diet was once known as a “peasants’ diet.” Normally, society associates dieting and practicing a healthy lifestyle with people who are more affluent or educated. However, this stereotype does not describe the traditional Mediterranean diet as it was once known. The diet was first documented in the era after World War II when the majority of families could not afford high-end meals that contained red meats and dairy products (Dewey, 2018). Originally, poor people were first observed to practice the Mediterranean diet. Having a low income forced people to rely mostly on plants and cook their own meals. However, as Spain began to adopt more western or northern European ways, Spaniards turned to other options. Fast food restaurants provide fatty, sugary, processed foods for a relatively cheap price. It can even be argued that dining in at a fast food restaurant is cheaper than buying healthy food. Here Westernization appears to prey on the individuals with the least money, Spain’s working class.

It seems as if the Mediterranean diet has been defeated. Westernization has found the Med diet’s “kryptonite.”  However, hope is not lost. With the collective efforts of not only the Spanish people, but all people, the Mediterranean diet will survive and defeat the consequences of Westernization. Journalist Caitlin Dewey observes, “I strongly believe the principles of the Mediterranean diet are recoverable into our daily lives. This dietary pattern is healthy but also sustainable, local and economically viable. It has a future if we do the right things to protect it” (Dewey, 2018). The change starts with us. Our priories must be focused on the health of the people and our planet. Though the values of the Mediterranean diet are being lost in Spain, efforts are being made to combat this. Dewey mentioned that the latest Childhood Obesity Surveillance Initiative (COSI) reported a mild decrease in obesity rates in Spain. There may be hope yet of reversing the trend.

Do you believe the traditional values of the Mediterranean diet will be lost forever? Have these values already been lost in Spain? In your opinion, how can we bring back these values?