Middle Eastern Diet & Foods
Written by Sky Taylor, Diet Bites
The Middle Eastern Diet & Foods, Weight Factors
The Middle Eastern Diet is a celebration of life which includes exotic foods (to many of us) such as grape leaves, hummus, falafel, baklava, and bulgur wheat.
Middle Eastern cuisine can make your Weight Loss Destination fun, exciting with a healthy mix of old world textures and flavors.
Interesting Facts in the Middle Eastern Diet
- Foods vary, greatly dependant upon the region, cultures and religion.
- Muslim dietary laws exclude pork and alcohol.
- Jewish dietary laws prohibit the consumption of blood.
- Filled with spices, nuts, lamb and vegetables, the Middle Eastern Diet tends to be healthy.
The Diet of the Middle East, Popular Foods
Let's review the nutrition facts for some of the most popular foods within the Middle Easter Diet. Let's start with the nutrition facts for Hummus; we'll look at the homemade recipe as well as the commercially prepared recipe to see how the two compare.
Nutrition Facts, Calories for Hummus, Plain
|
HUMMUS COMPARISON |
COMMERCIALLY PREPARED HUMMUS |
HOMEMADE HUMMUS |
|||||
|
Nutritional Elements |
Units |
100 grams |
1 Tablespoon |
1 Cup |
100 grams |
1 Tablespoon |
1 Cup |
| Energy, Calories |
kcals |
166 |
25 |
408 |
177 |
27 |
435 |
| Protein |
g |
7.90 |
1.18 |
19.43 |
4.86 |
0.73 |
11.96 |
| Carbohydrates |
g |
14.29 |
2.14 |
35.15 |
20.12 |
3.02 |
49.50 |
| Fiber, Dietary |
g |
6.0 |
0.9 |
14.8 |
4.0 |
0.6 |
9.8 |
| Sugars |
g |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
0.27 |
0.04 |
0.66 |
| Total Fat |
g |
9.60 |
1.44 |
23.62 |
8.59 |
1.29 |
21.13 |
| Saturated Fat |
g |
1.437 |
0.216 |
3.535 |
1.141 |
0.171 |
2.807 |
| Monounsaturated Fat |
g |
4.039 |
0.606 |
9.936 |
4.865 |
0.730 |
11.968 |
| Polyunsaturated Fat |
g |
3.613 |
0.542 |
8.888 |
2.109 |
0.316 |
5.188 |
| Cholesterol |
mg |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
The homemade recipe for hummus contained a few more calories per 100 grams, but slightly less fat content. Even so, they are closely matched in nutritional benefits. Let's now review the nutritional data for homemade falafel.
Nutrition Facts, Calories for Falafel
|
Nutritional Elements |
Units |
100 grams |
1 Patty, 2-1/4" in Diameter |
| Energy, Calories |
kcals |
333 |
57 |
| Protein |
g |
13.31 |
2.26 |
| Carbohydrates |
g |
31.84 |
5.41 |
| Total Fat |
g |
17.80 |
3.03 |
| Saturated Fat |
g |
2.383 |
0.405 |
| Monounsaturated Fat |
g |
10.171 |
1.729 |
| Polyunsaturated Fat |
g |
4.160 |
0.707 |
| Cholesterol |
mg |
0 |
0 |
Nutrition Facts, Calories for Grape Leaves, Raw
|
Nutritional Elements |
Units |
100 grams |
1 cup |
1 leaf |
| Energy, Calories |
kcals |
93 |
13 |
3 |
| Protein |
g |
5.60 |
0.78 |
0.17 |
| Carbohydrates |
g |
17.31 |
2.42 |
0.52 |
| Fiber, Dietary |
g |
11.0 |
1.5 |
0.3 |
| Sugars |
g |
6.30 |
0.88 |
0.19 |
| Total Fat |
g |
2.12 |
0.30 |
0.06 |
| Saturated Fat |
g |
0.336 |
0.047 |
0.010 |
| Monounsaturated Fat |
g |
0.081 |
0.011 |
0.002 |
| Polyunsaturated Fat |
g |
1.065 |
0.149 |
0.032 |
| Cholesterol |
mg |
0 |
0 |
0 |
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