The Mediterranean Diet For Health & Vitality

In a constant quest for health and vitality, I try to eat very Mediterranean, and practice the positive food attitude that people in that part of the world seem to have. Picture beautiful people in Greece, Ibiza, or Cannes on a yacht with glowing skin, slender figures, wearing a caftans and gold gladiator sandals, and eating blueberries and drinking wine. That's the image I want to emulate. I read somewhere that in Greece, people average 9-10 servings of fruits and vegetables a day. I consider myself an avid produce eater, but I don't think that I get anywhere near nine servings. Do you? The diet also promotes tree nuts, in particular walnuts, which are a great source of Omega 3s and very low in saturated fats. Additionally, eating fish, especially salmon or tuna twice a week is recommended (and practiced in Greece as well, particularly by those who live near the coast). I once heard an interview from a Grecian socialite saying that she'd never even tried butter until she came to the USA in her early 20's. Incidentally, she had a beautiful body and gorgeous skin. As a cooking fat, Mediterranean people use only oils. I don't eat red meat or fowl, but free range chicken and meat are permitted in this lifestyle in moderation (a few times a month). Do you use this style of eating as a way to stay healthy and shun the Standard American Diet like we do?