In Blue Zones founder and longevity expert Dan Buettner’s words, “If you want to live to a healthy 100, eat like healthy people who’ve lived to 100.” For most of their lives, Blue Zone inhabitants have chosen foods that promote a healthier lifestyle1. “Ninety to 100% of their diets consist of whole, plant-based fare. They eat this way because fruits, vegetables, tubers, nuts, beans, and whole grains are affordable and accessible,” says Buettner. “Their kitchens are set up. so it’s easy to make these foods; they spend time with people who eat the same way, and they possess time-honored recipes to make healthy food taste good.” The secret of a strong longevity protocol is vividly simple and straightforward. “Because the Blue Zones diet approach is meant to promote longevity, make sure that the foods you’re eating are ones you enjoy (and will want to enjoy still when you’re 100 years old!) as opposed to making yourself choke down things you think you ‘should’ be eating,” says Jess Cording M.S., R.D., CDN, registered dietitian, mbg Collective member, and mindbodygreen Functional Nutrition Program instructor. “Also, if the Blue Zone diet looks very different from your current eating pattern but you want to explore it, start with small changes that feel doable, or incorporate a few Blue Zone recipes at first.” Whether you’re looking to power your path to 100 or optimize your diet through pure, accessible ingredients—these tasty Blue Zone recipes might be the culinary inspiration you’ve been looking for to eat like a healthy centenarian. Approaching health and well-being from a holistic lifestyle perspective has never been more relevant and necessary than right now. As a functional nutrition coach, you’ll be equipped with the tools to deepen and enhance both your individual well-being and the collective well-being of others. Cooking in alignment with the Blue Zone diet isn’t only about what to eat but how to eat—sharing food with loved ones, saying grace, and pausing to savor the joy of living is equally indispensable for a happier, longer life.
