One of ten pillars
Nutrition
Our philosophy
Seasonal, local and predominantly organic plant-based nourishment, guided by a paddock to plate philosophy and the Mediterranean dietary pattern.
At La maréa, food is a central part of the experience. It is designed to be nourishing, Mediterranean-inspired, and practical, with a touch of chef-led luxury. You will learn and taste meals that feel enjoyable and realistic to continue at home.
Our lifestyle wellness retreats are deeply inspired by the Mediterranean way of living, where nourishment is simple, seasonal, and shared.
The Mediterranean dietary pattern is widely recognised as one of the healthiest in the world. It’s built on an abundance of fresh vegetables and fruits, whole grains, legumes, nuts, quality olive oil, herbs, and seafood, along with a naturally relaxed approach to mealtimes. It’s as much about how you eat as what you eat: slowly, socially, and with gratitude.
On a retreat
What nutrition looks like on the day
- Fresh, local, and seasonal whole-food meals, thoughtfully prepared using local organic fruit and vegetables.
- A Mediterranean inspired menu with a strong emphasis on plant based whole foods, plus locally sourced seafood.
- Meals designed in alignment with Belle’s evidence based approach to nutrition and lifestyle wellness.
Backed by research
The science
Our bespoke lifestyle retreats are grounded in science and inspired by years of research and hands-on practice working in evidence-based wellness and high performance sport.
What the research shows
The Mediterranean Diet
- Reduces cardiovascular disease, CVD events, and all-cause mortality. (Martinez-Lacoba et al., 2018; Pant et al., 2023)
- Lowers risk of age-related cognitive disorders including dementia and AD. (Fekete et al., 2021)
- Improves mood and reduces depression risk via anti-inflammatory and gut-microbiome pathways. (Lai et al., 2023)
- Enhances gut health by increasing microbial diversity and SCFA production. (Estruch et al., 2022)
Plant-based diets
- Reduce risk of major chronic diseases. (Wang et al., 2023)
Organic diets
- Lower pesticide exposure and may improve select metabolic/reproductive markers. (Jiang et al., 2024)
Key references
The Mediterranean Diet
- Mediterranean diet and health outcomes: a systematic meta-review (opens in a new tab)Martinez-Lacoba R, Pardo-Garcia I, Amo-Saus E et al., European Journal of Public Health, 2018
- Primary prevention of cardiovascular disease in women with a Mediterranean diet: systematic review and meta-analysis (opens in a new tab)Pant A, Gribbin S, McIntyre D et al., Heart, 2023
Plant-based diets
- Associations between plant-based dietary patterns and risks of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer, and mortality - a systematic review and meta-analysis (opens in a new tab)Wang Y, Liu B, Han H et al., Nutrition Journal, 2023
Organic diets
- The effects of organic food on human health: a systematic review and meta-analysis of population-based studies (opens in a new tab)Jiang B, Pang J, Li J et al., Nutrition Reviews, 2024
Curate a day for your group
From chaos to calm, stress to serenity. Let the tide guide you home.