Italians are known worldwide for their pizzas and pasta. Both carb-focused dishes that they eat daily, yet they have the lowest obesity rate compared to other developed nations. Italians thrive on their delicious food while Americans keep getting fatter and fatter on the same food.
Italians eat the most pasta worldwide – about 60 pounds of pasta per person per year. Most Italians eat pasta every day but they keep their portions in check. A portion in Italy is about a cup and the meal includes a small portion of meat and a large portion of vegetables and salad.
This is something many Italians take great pride in, as it has become the most popular main course dish in the world. It's no secret that pasta has become incredibly important to Italian culture, not only for Italians but also for people worldwide.
The short answer is “yes,” almost. For most Italians. According to recent statistics, nearly two-thirds of Italians reported eating pasta every day or almost every day.
A typical Italian diet consists of three meals in a day. The most common foods in the Italian diet include pasta, cheese, vegetables, olive oil, meats, and wine. Italians give a lot of importance to fresh ingredients. They use seasonal ingredients to prepare meals.
Breakfast is not the main meal of the day in Italy – it's more like a quick burst of energy to get you going in the morning not a feast to linger over. Italians have dinner quite late at night – so, the idea is that they don't need to load themselves with heavy food first thing in the morning.
Have you ever wondered why the Italian do not get fat despite an abundance of pizza, pasta, and dairy? Well, it is because of the Mediterranean diet! People in Italy enjoy a diet rich in vegetables, fruits, beans, tomatoes, poultry, whole grains, olive oil, red wine, dairy ― and they consume very little red meat.
Italian food is packed with ingredients that offer powerful antioxidants such as vitamins A, C, and E. Like olive oil, Italian meal ingredients such as vegetables, grains and nuts, and fruits provide the benefit of antioxidants – and flavor!
In 2022, pasta consumption per capita varied significantly across countries. Italy topped the list, with its citizens consuming an average of 23 kilograms of pasta annually. Tunisia ranked second with a per capita consumption of 17 kilograms.
Italians still eat their pizza one bite at a time, but they treat pizza in the same regard as they would one of their world-famous kinds of pasta. Pizza in Italy is respected and the traditions are revered along with the customary way in which people eat them.
Italians are known to be very devoted to their food and they love seasonal and fresh ingredients. Their foods contain little or no fatty creams and oils and are always in fairly sized portions. These eating habits are basically the proper way a person should eat if such a person chooses to eat healthy.
1. Italian Food Is Focused on Fresh Ingredients. Real Italian cooking, like the cooking of Italian grandmothers everywhere, relies on the freshest, often local, ingredients. Eating fresh, not frozen vegetables, seafood, and pasta is healthier because there are fewer processed ingredients.
No Spoon Twirling
It's customary to set the table with a fork, knife, and spoon, and you can use your spoon to add sauce and cheese, and then to mix the pasta. However, pasta is meant to be eaten with your fork alone – no spoons to assist.
1. Penne. Italy's most popular pasta is penne. This quill-shaped pasta is unusual in that it has a very precise origin.
1/ Okinawan diet – Japan
Widely considered to be one of the healthiest diets in the world, the Okinawan diet has numerous health benefits. So much so that Japan has the lowest obesity rates and second longest life expectancy of any developed country.
Obesity rates are low in Italy, relative to most OECD countries, but are very high among children. About 1 in 10 people is obese in Italy, significantly less than the OECD average of 1 in 6. More than 1 in 2 men and 1 in 3 women are overweight.
In the 'health' department, Greek is in fact superior to all cuisines when considering nutritional and health benefits which lead to longevity as confirmed in many scientific studies. With fewer sauces and more vegetables than Italian, the Greek cuisine is very attractive to vegetarians as well.
Italians believe in eating a variety of food, real food, with quality ingredients that are fresh and local when possible. This results in a diet that's rich with beneficial vitamins, minerals and antioxidants for luscious hair and flawless skin.
India, Indonesia and South Korea, where people eat the least amount of fat, consume 10 grams, 15.5 grams, and just over 20 grams per capita, respectively.
Italians are known for having high cheekbones and a strong jawline, giving them sharp-looking facial features. What is this? Coupled with their dark hair and eyes, plus their auquiline noses, Italians can give off an imposing aura when they wear a serious expression.
The most common classic breakfast food in Italy is the “cornetto”, or croissant. A cornetto is often filled with some kind of cream, custard, jam or chocolate spread, and accompanied by a coffee.
The Typical Italian Dinner
Italian dinner or la cena, usually from 8:00 to 10:00pm, is another time that Italians enjoy sitting down together and socializing. Dinner can be much later than 10:00pm, especially if eating out or dining at a friend's house.