Ten Reasons Why Italians Are Thinner

by Danielle Russo

A phrase I hear a lot in Rome from tourists is, "how come you never see fat Italians?" So how is it that Italians can stay so thin when all they eat is pasta and pizza? To many outsiders the Italian diet is a carbaholic's dream, but really there is a lot more to it than that. The following are the top ten reasons why the Italians have the most healthy diet and attitude to food in the world, this can be proven by their low obesity rate, longevity statistics, and the general better health of the Italian race.

Reason 1:

Starting with the most important meal of the day... Breakfast: While lots of people imagine the bigger the breakfast the better it is for you, this does not seem to be the case in Italy. The typical Italian breakfast consisting of just a croissant and cappuccino may seem like a fattening way to start the day, however this sweet combination will only set you back about 250 calories from your daily allowance. You may be wondering how this can be and the answer is quite simple it all comes down to portion size, a theme you will be hearing more of in this article! If you think that the average cappuccino in Italy is about a quarter of the size of its equivalent in Starbucks

Typically Italians eat breakfast later then Americans, they don't eat before they leave for work instead they wait till they arrive at work and soon after clocking in they take their morning break heading straight to the bar for their cappuccino and croissant fix, this will then tied them over till lunch and so they won't need to have a snack in between.

Reason 2:

Lunch is the main act in terms of meals for Italians; this will be their biggest meal of the day. A typical Italian lunch consists of three or more courses. An antipasto, pasta or rice dish, meat or fish dish, vegetables, fruit or dessert, and coffee, in that order. Portion sizes are small and side dishes like veg and salad are shared. Lunch is not a quick meal as Italians take time to savor each dish, stopping for a pause between one course and the next, this allows you time to realize if you're getting full and it's also much better for digestion.

Reason 3:

The Italian diet like a lot of other Mediterranean climates is made up of fresh, inexpensive, and simple ingredients. Certainly Italian cuisine does feature some divinely creamy and rich recipes; however the most basic meals tend to be the most popular ones such as, Pasta al pomodoro, risotto with seafood, roasted meats, raw, grilled, or stewed vegetables, etc. What's missing? Just about anything fried, breaded, or processed in anyway.

Reason 4:

Ok so other than pasta, pizza is thought of as being about as Italian as it gets, so surly they must eat it by the truck loads in Italy? By all means. Pizza is a true art form in Italy. It comes in all shapes, sizes, and flavors, with a few common denominators. It is always fresh, the crust is thin (except for in a few regions), and it is seldom overloaded with too many toppings. By too many, I mean more than 2 besides cheese. Fresh mozzarella is the cheese of choice, and a little bit goes a long way. Oh, and did I forget to mention the fact that Italians don't generally share? That's right, to each his OWN PIZZA. Of course you know I am going to mention portion size as most pizzas in Italy come in 9 inch pies One of these pizzas with cheese and other fresh toppings carries about 750 calories. In comparison to the American version of pizza, which according to the American pizza data shows us that one slice of American pizza can pack in up to 530 calories! But one slice is never enough so you have to multiply that by three or four, before you start to get a real idea of how the numbers and therefore calories add up!

Reason 5:

Mid-meal snacks? Better not. Many Italians have replaced snacking between meals with a cigarette (clearly not the healthiest option!) and espresso, or just the espresso for those who do not smoke.

Reason 6:

Walking: Most Italian cities and towns were built long before the car and motorino were invented. So even though Italians have adopted cars and motorinos and each family has at least one of each, the fact remains that they just aren't the most convenient way to get around. Many cities have now banned vehicles from entering into their downtown areas in order to reduce traffic and smog. Even in areas outside the center, the following is an all-too familiar scenario.

You need to get groceries. You leave your apartment on the 4th floor, walk three blocks to where you were fortunate enough to find a parking space the last time you used the car. You then drive the 8 blocks to where the supermarket is, you circle around the area 4 times looking for a place to park, and you finally find a spot up the street. After shopping you leave the supermarket, lug your bags to the car, drive home, circle the block another million times, until you finally get a spot which is hopefully not hours away. All told, you kick yourself for not just taking the little shopping trolley (yes, the one that the little old ladies walk around with) and walking to the shops in the first place, somewhere in the back of your mind you take a mental note to never take the car again!

Reason 7:

Drinks; Browse though any Italian home goods store and you will find some beautiful glassware. You will most likely be thinking, what lovely shot glasses, but where are the real drinking glasses? Those ARE the real glasses. Italians use tiny little glasses for all their drinks be it water, beer, wine, soda, etc. Whatever it is, it is NOT a 64 oz. big gulp and therefore HAS to be less fattening.

Reason 8

Digestion; Everything I know about it, I owe to the Italians. I have never come across a race more in tune with their digestion. If you want to know about the right order in which one should eat things, when and what to drink, what to avoid, ask an Italian. They just seem to instinctively know!

Reason 9

Gelato; How can this creamy cold goodness not be the worst thing in the world for you and your hips? Well again it just isn't, because Italians gobble it up at all times of day, any season, every which way. The difference as always is in the serving size. While a little cup of gelato will satisfy a sweet urge, it probably won't break your zipper, the problem with American is to get the good stuff you need to buy a big tub and once its open its hard to close so you end up eating way more then you plan to!

Reason 10

Another kind of comfort; we have all heard of the term "comfort food." My comfort food takes the form of apple pie and vanilla ice cream; everyone has their "go to" food when the going gets tough. My feeling is that Italians do not tend to indulge as much, preferring a chamomile tea or a talk.

The proof is in the pudding, literally. If the above reasons don't have you convinced, just stroll down any Italian street and there is not a giant fanny to be found!

Article contributed by Danielle Russo of When In Rome Tours WhenInRomeTours.com, Experts in Vatican Tours and Rome sightseeing Private-Tours since 1999.

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