ABSTRACT
Dietary modifications are considered to be among the most important of the lifestyle changes resulting from industrialization and technical and economic development. Dietary fiber is found in vegetables, fruits, grains, seeds, nuts, and legumes. The variety of foods, cooking procedures, and exceptional palatability of the diet and the pleasure taken in eating are the distinctions of this healthy dietary pattern. Nutritional analysis data show a higher energy consumption than Spanish dietary allowances. Dietary guidelines for Western countries encourage a considerable increase in carbohydrate intake, but nowadays more precise recommendations distinguishing between available and unavailable carbohydrates is necessary. Olives are included in the fruit group, but normally they are consumed as an appetizer, and olive oil is the first source of dietary fat in Spain. The pyramid model designed as a dietary guide by the United States Department of Agriculture in 1992 corresponds to the relative proportions and frequency of servings of foods and food groups consumed traditionally in Mediterranean regions.
