FOOD FOR THOUGHT: Bread, one of the most ancient foods in the world, is an intrinsic part of the Mediterranean diet. It is also the quintessential comfort food. There are many theories as to why bread is so comforting, from the physical act of kneading to the olfactory pleasure brought on by the mere smell of freshly baked bread. Wheat is one of the foundational foods of the Mediterranean diet and has played a role in the culture and table in this part of the world from at least the creation of the Greek myths. Wheat calms us; in Greece, we make a funerary preparation of wheat and dried fruits and nuts, something to sooth in a time of loss. Even though bread – carb-packed! – has gotten a bad rap in the past few years, it is still an important and nutrition-packed food in the Mediterranean. It anchors to the region’s history and it somehow connects us to nature and to each other. In Greece, to “break bread” or to “eat bread and salt” with another human being is a symbol of friendship.