How I make Healthy Mediterranean Style Meals Inspired by NASA’s Artemis 2 Mission

By Loookability Club Staffer

Whether you represent a typical family or friends and family of people with disabilities or other inclusive communities, we all can benefit by eating healthier meals.  If you did get a chance to watch this year’s  historical event of the NASA Artemis 2 Mission and its highly anticipated launch of the Orion spacecraft into Space on April 1st, 2026, some of you may not even have given a second thought to the menu that the astronauts will be eating while they travel so far away at lightening speed to fly by the moon while conducting testing during the trip. And who knows if various testing conducted in Space could one day lead to space travel becoming accessible to individuals with disabilities and people with a wide ranges of backgrounds as well as abilities and other space missions for those interested in para-astronaut programs.

Well while we wait for a chance to experience amazing opportunities like Space Travel for an even wider range of individuals and people with disabilities, who says we cannot enjoy an Artemis 2 Style Menu that we make our own special way with healthy ingredients from the Mediterranean style diet.

I found myself getting inspiration for a variety of Meal Planning options just at the thought of all the possibilities.  Let’s say I like to get fresh inspiration from as many places as possible.  So when some of the news outlets shared the menu of the astronauts for all the onlookers and fans to see, this  gave me so many  ideas on how to spice up a menu like this Mediterranean style and make it my own.

For instance. I saw that the foods listed on the Artemis 2 Menu included a variety of

Tortillas, Wheat Flat Bread, Vegetable Quiche, Breakfast Sausage, Couscous w/Nuts, Mango Salad, Granola w/Blueberries, Almonds plus Cashews, Barbequed Beef Brisket, Broccoli Au Gratin, Spicy Green Beans, Macaroni & Cheese, Tropical Fruit Salad, Butternut Squash, Cauliflower.

Here’s how I spiced things up with my own Mediterranean touch.

I prepped a few dishes with ingredients that are known to be staple foods of the Mediterranean diet.

For example, when I was in the mood for Tortilla Tuesday, here’s what I did:

I added the following Ingredients:

2 to 3 cups of cooked chicken chopped into small bite-sizes

then added 2 to 3 avocados smashed

You can also add half a cup of chopped tomatoes or cheese like Feta cheese or any other favorite cheese.

I also like to add a few small pieces of tofu chopped.

If you and your family members like to add a kick to it so you can experience the heat of a hot peppery taste just add a pinch of the following spices of your choice: hot paprika, cayenne peppers, red chili flakes,

If you prefer to experience a softer, warmer sensation of heat, I like to add juice from 1 lemon and ginger minced, grated or cut very tiny and fine.

If you like the taste of Salsa & Chips you can also add about half a cup of your favorite Salsa.

I also like to prepare sauteed vegetables with some of  my favorite veggies like asparagus and red and green peppers and onions which I either eat on the side or I add some veggies in my Tortillas. Other veggies that you can consider selecting to add based on your preferences can possibly be any one or a combination of the following options- green leafy vegetables like spinach or kale. Other options for veggies can be zucchini, eggplant, cucumbers, onions, garlic, broccoli, cauliflower, brussels sprouts, cabbage,  carrots or potatoes.

I also like to include my favorite legumes like Chickpeas, lentils, fava beans or green beans. For those of you who like olives, you can add a few olives chopped in halves or smaller pieces.

You can also add  additional flavors to desired taste like salt and pepper if you wish. However if you

prefer no salt, then stick with your favorite spices.

The key to making it your own is to add your favorite healthy ingredients. Consider substituting healthy whole grain breads like whole wheat pitas or whole grain sourdough if you would like a change from Tortillas. There are also other options like Pita flatbreads or you can use other breads like Italian Focaccia.

Another interesting fact form the menu is that I saw that the astronauts will also get to enjoy items described as Culinary Flavorings such as Maple Syrup, Chocolate Spread, Peanut Butter, Hot Sauce, Spicy Mustard, Strawberry Jam, Honey, Cinnamon and Almond Butter.

If you are wondering what Beverages the Astronauts will be drinking, the list includes, Coffee, Green Tea, Mango Peach Smoothie, Chocolate Breakfast Drink, Vanilla Breakfast Drink, Lemonade, Apple Cider, Pineapple Drink, Cocoa and Strawberry Drink.

It’s always nice to  add a beverage like a bottle of Red Wine as part of Mediterranean-style dining.  Red Wine is associated with cardiovascular health benefits, like lowering risks of heart disease, reducing inflammation as well as cholesterol benefits like improving the”  good” HDL cholesterol levels.

Let’s give a toast to the Artemis 2  Mission and its Food Menu which gives us the inspiration to create delicious healthy dishes we can all enjoy.