7-Day Mediterranean Diet Meal Plan for Healthy Aging, Created by a Dietitian

As we age, we lose muscle and bone mineral density, and our risk of chronic disease increases. But there are many ways to help slow down the progression of aging, especially through healthy diet and exercise. One way is by following the Mediterranean diet. The principles of the Mediterranean diet focus on eating more whole foods, like fruits, vegetables, nuts and whole grains, while eating fewer highly processed foods and less red meat, saturated fat and added sugar. It’s intentionally flexible and focuses on food groups rather than specific foods so it can be easily customized. Research shows that adhering to the Mediterranean diet can help keep you agile and feeling good—both physically and mentally—for longer.   

The Mediterranean diet focuses on foods that are high in antioxidants, substances that scour your body’s cells and help rid them of free radicals, which are molecules that can harm your body over time. Some of the most commonly known antioxidants are vitamins C and E and beta carotene, which are all present in high levels in many fruits and vegetables. The Mediterranean diet also is rich in nuts and lean protein, both of which have been shown to help us retain muscle mass and reduce frailty as we age.  

Why This Meal Plan Is Great for You

In this plan, we created a full week of antioxidant-rich Mediterranean diet meals and snacks specifically to support healthy aging. As with all meal plans, this should serve as inspiration rather than as a strict guide. Feel free to make substitutions and tailor the suggestions as you see fit. Remember to eat mindfully and listen to your body’s hunger and fullness cues to truly feel your best.

This 1,500-calorie meal plan has modifications for 2,000 calories to support those with different calorie needs. While we previously included meal plans and modifications for 1,200 calories, we no longer do. The 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans suggests that limiting your calories to 1,200 per day is too low for most people to meet their nutritional needs, plus it’s unsustainable for long-term health and well-being.

How to Meal-Prep Your Week of Meals:

1. Make Muffin-Tin Omelets with Feta & Peppers for breakfast on Day 1 and freeze the rest for breakfast on Days 3, 5 and 7.
2. Prepare 2 servings of 3-Ingredient Overnight Berry Muesli on the night of Day 3 for breakfast on Days 4 and 6. 
3. On the evening of Day 4, prepare and pack Vegetarian Chopped Power Salad with Creamy Cilantro Dressing for lunch on Days 5 and 6.
4. Use Avocado Pesto to toss with pasta for lunch on Day 4 and as a dip for snack on Day 5.    

Day 1

Breakfast (360 calories)

• 1 serving Muffin-Tin Omelets with Feta & Peppers
• 1 whole-wheat English muffin

A.M. Snack (210 calories)

• 1 medium banana
• 1 tablespoon natural peanut butter

Lunch (418 calories)

• 1 serving Avocado Tuna Salad
• 1 slice whole-wheat bread

P.M. Snack (124 calories)

• 1/4 cup hummus
• 1 medium stalk celery
• 1/2 cup sliced red bell pepper

Dinner (388 calories)

• 1 serving 20-Minute Balsamic Mushroom & Spinach Pasta
  3 ounces cooked shrimp

Daily Totals: 1,484 calories, 81 g protein, 128 g carbohydrates, 27 g fiber, 79 g fat, 2,048 mg sodium

To make it 2,000 calories: Add 1 orange to breakfast, increase to 2 Tbsp. peanut butter at morning snack, increase to 1/2 cup hummus at afternoon snack, and add 2 cups mixed greens with 1 serving Balsamic Vinaigrette and 3 Tbsp. sunflower seeds to dinner.

Day 2

Breakfast (229 calories)

• 1 serving Lemon-Blueberry Yogurt Toast
  1 orange

A.M. Snack (211 calories)

• 1 cup raspberries
• 3 tablespoons unsalted roasted cashews

Lunch (436 calories)

• 1 serving Chicken & Veggie Quesadilla

P.M. Snack (180 calories)

• 1 large pear
  1 ounce low-fat Cheddar cheese

Dinner (454 calories)

• 1 serving Chickpea Dumplings in Curried Tomato Sauce

Meal Prep Tip: Save ½ serving Chickpea Dumplings in Curried Tomato Sauce for lunch tomorrow.

Daily Totals: 1,501 calories, 61 g protein, 179 g carbohydrates, 40 g fiber, 6I’m 9 g fat, 1,451 mg sodium

To make it 2,000 calories: Add 2 hard-boiled eggs to breakfast, add 1/2 cup plain low-fat Greek yogurt to morning snack, add 2 Tbsp. guacamole to lunch, and add 1 whole-wheat naan to dinner.

Day 3

Breakfast (311 calories)

• 1 serving Muffin-Tin Omelets with Feta & Peppers
• 1 cup blueberries

A.M. Snack (208 calories)

• 1 serving Fig & Honey Yogurt
  
  

Lunch (388 calories)

• 1/2 serving Chickpea Dumplings in Curried Tomato Sauce
• 1/2 whole-wheat naan or pita bread

P.M. Snack (107 calories)

• 1 plum
• 10 almonds

Dinner (481 calories)

• 1 serving Salmon Rice Bowl 

Daily Totals: 1,495 calories, 56 g protein, 171 g carbohydrates, 25 g fiber, 70 g fat, 1,731 mg sodium

Meal Prep Tip: Prepare 2 servings of 3-Ingredient Overnight Berry Muesli for breakfast on Days 4 and 6. 

To make it 2,000 calories: Add 1 whole-wheat English muffin to breakfast, add 2 Tbsp. granola to morning snack, increase to 1 whole naan at lunch, and increase to 2 plums and 1/4 cup almonds at afternoon snack.

Day 4

Breakfast (250 calories)

• 1 serving 3-Ingredient Overnight Berry Muesli

A.M. Snack (217 calories)

• 1 medium apple
• 3/4 cup 1% cottage cheese

Lunch (383 calories)

• 1 serving Avocado Pesto with 2 ounces cooked whole-wheat pasta and 1 cup halved cherry tomatoes

P.M. Snack (198 calories)

• 2 servings Lemon-Parm Popcorn

Dinner (452 calories)

• 1 serving Green Veggie Bowl with Chicken & Lemon-Tahini Dressing

Daily Totals: 1,499 calories, 82 g protein, 182 g carbohydrates, 29 g fiber, 55 g fat, 1,539 mg sodium

Meal Prep Tip: Save 1 serving Avocado Pesto for snack for tomorrow. Prepare and pack Vegetarian Chopped Power Salad with Creamy Cilantro Dressing for lunch tomorrow and on Day 6.  

To make it 2,000 calories: Add 2 tablespoons peanut butter to breakfast, add 3 Tbsp. chopped walnuts to morning snack, and add 1 ounce dark chocolate to afternoon snack.

Day 5

Breakfast (360 calories)

• 1 serving Muffin-Tin Omelets with Feta & Peppers
  1 whole-wheat English muffin

A.M. Snack (219 calories)

• 2 clementines
• 1 ounce low-fat Cheddar cheese
• 10 unsalted roasted almonds

Lunch (362 calories)

• 1 serving Vegetarian Chopped Power Salad with Creamy Cilantro Dressing

P.M. Snack (159 calories)

• 1 serving Avocado Pesto
• ½ cup sliced cucumber
• ½ cup sliced carrot

Dinner (402 calories)

• 1 serving Southwestern Cauliflower Rice Bowls with Shrimp & Avocado Crema

Daily Totals: 1,501 calories, 78 g protein, 132 g carbohydrates, 25 g fiber, 79 g fat, 1,877 mg sodium

To make it 2,000 calories: Add 1 large pear to breakfast, add 3 ounces cooked chicken to lunch, increase to 2 servings Avocado Pesto at afternoon snack, and add 1/2 ounce dark chocolate to dinner.

Day 6

Breakfast (250 calories)

• 1 serving 3-Ingredient Overnight Berry Muesli

A.M. Snack (307 calories)

• 1 large pear
• ¼ cup unsalted dry-roasted shelled pistachios

Lunch (362 calories)

• 1 serving Vegetarian Chopped Power Salad with Creamy Cilantro Dressing

P.M. Snack (145 calories)

• ½ cup plain lowfat Greek yogurt
• ½ cup pineapple
• 1 teaspoon honey

Dinner (442 calories)

• 1 serving Dijon Salmon with Green Bean Pilaf

Daily Totals: 1,506 calories, 74 g protein, 161 g carbohydrates, 30 g fiber, 66 g fat, 1,121 mg sodium

To make it 2,000 calories: Add 2 tablespoons peanut butter to breakfast, add 3 ounces cooked chicken to lunch, and increase to 1 1⁄4 cups yogurt and 2 tsp. honey at afternoon snack.

Day 7

Breakfast (360 calories)

• 1 serving Muffin-Tin Omelets with Feta & Peppers
  1 whole-wheat English muffin

A.M. Snack (210 calories)

• 1 medium banana
• 1 tablespoon natural peanut butter

Lunch (304 calories)

• 1 serving Green Goddess Salad with Chickpeas

P.M. Snack (63 calories)

• 1 serving Cinnamon Popcorn

Dinner (559 calories)

• 1 serving Chicken Parmesan & Quinoa Stuffed Peppers
  

Daily Totals: 1,496 calories, 94 g protein, 164 g carbohydrates, 31 g fiber,  55 g fat, 1,889 mg sodium

To make it 2,000 calories: Add 2 clementines to breakfast, increase to 2 Tbsp. peanut butter at morning snack, and add 2 hard-boiled eggs and 22  almonds to afternoon snack.