The Italian Paradox: Why Italian's Don't get fat

....but they eat so much bread?????

It's not surprise to anyone that I am obsessed with food. There is simply no greater feeling of pure bliss than when you take your first bite into a croissant. Before coming to Italy I am sure you all were sick of me joking about how truly fat I was going to get here as I snacked on bread, cheese, and meat every single day three times a day. However, now I have been in Italy for exactly two weeks and have lost about 7 pounds??????? Obviously, the first thought would be that I walk much more than I do at home and, as always when I'm not in a routine, I eat less often. Though I look around me and there is nobody that is "fat" and they all eat a steady diet of meat, cheese, bread, pasta and wine. Naturally, I have taken it upon myself to get to the bottom of this because It's simply not fair (some would even say an attack.)

1. Breakfast

The classic phrase "breakfast is the most important meal of the day" does not apply in Italy. Although Italian's eat breakfast everyday it is by far the LEAST important meal they will consume all day. The typical Italian breakfast is a far cry from the American sugary cereals, eggs, or pancakes for breakfast. Italians will pop into their local "bar" and have a cappuccino or espresso with a croissant or biscotti. They are in and out in about five minutes and only have a small amount of food to sustain them through the day. In the U.S. we either eat a heavy breakfast or we don't eat one at all. This all or nothing attitude sets us up for failure throughout the day. Either way, the Italian's place little emphasis on this meal, but still satisfy their sweet tooth.

2. Meals are a Production

As someone who has as an affinity for the dramatics, meal time in Italy is my favorite part of the day. It is not uncommon for Italian's to take two hours off at lunch to get food and enjoy their company. As I have said earlier, eating dinner is a long event starting with appetizers and ending with desert (always). Whenever I am out to eat here, there is no one on their phones or staring off into the distance. Italian's enjoy both their food and their guests. They eat slowly and have many courses. Because of this, Italian's do not snack. They eat large meals that satisfy them until the next. At the penny market across the street you cannot buy any snack foods and nothing is frozen. Everything is meant to be served in a meal.

3. Freshness

If you've ever spent an extended amount of time in Italy, you know that food goes bad very quickly. As annoying as this is, it is because all of the ingredients are brought in fresh that morning and contain no preservatives, GMOs, or pesticides. Organic products are not a gimmick or health trend in Italy-- it's just the way things are. Whether you feel strongly about this topic on either side, the fact of the matter is that your body does digest natural substances and organic matter better than anything that has been modified in some way. I've actually found myself enjoying salads and not intolerant to the same foods that I am in the states.

4. Walking

Given that in every city walking is more common, this doesn't seem to be something that is specific to Italy. I have walked on average 16,000 steps a day since I have gotten here. If you lived with me before, you'd know that I'd rather go through the hassle of getting in my car, plugging in the aux, buckling up, just to drive down the street--than walk. Obviously, such a big change contributes to your overall health, but Italian's (like everything else they do) take walking and put it on steroids. They like to walk after dinner, around town, in large groups, out to lunch, after lunch for a stroll, and then home at night. They love to move. Not to mention that added calorie's burned with their hand gestures alone, movement is a big part of the Italian way of life.

5. Olive Oil

Seems pretty self-explanatory that Italy is filled with Olive Oil. It is one half of the Italian salad dressing of choice. Coming here, I have given up my beloved Ranch and traded it in for olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Although the Italian diet has a heavy emphasis on carbs, the after dinner salad is a staple. It is always served the same way. You can't buy "dressings" here at all. Olive oil and balsamic are king. I am sure the most surprising fact of all is that I eat salad almost every day here.

6. Alcohol Consumption

Italian's are known for their wine. The Milanese are known for their cocktails. I have tasted and evaluated my fair share of wine's since I have been here. A bottle of wine at the neighborhood market across the street is literally cheaper than water. In fact, the best bottle of wine I have ever had cost about 1.5 Euros. Regardless of how synonymous Italians and wine are, they are not known for being drunk all the time--even though they do drink all the time. When they drink, though, its one glass. One glass with lunch, one glass with aperitivo, one glass with dinner. Occasionally they'll drink more on the weekends, but they don't binge. Alcohol is apart of the culture, but not something that is relevant enough to add too many calories.

It's now been exactly two weeks since I've been here, and I've lost more weight than I did when I dieted for an entire campaign season. It's safe to say something is in the water here that makes everyone so slender--and I'm not complaining either.

Ciao!

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Listening to: Girl Wash Your Face, Rachel Hollis

Reading: The Boston Globe

Fall Count: 12

Italian phrase of the week: Vorrei un panino e un cappuccino (my lunch everyday)