Not everyone can afford to eat these favorite dishes every day. Although, if you follow the recommendations of the Italians, you can try.
Natalia, a native of Russia, but having married an Italian, began to live in two countries. Of course, she does not look like a native resident, but she adopted many useful habits from the Italians.
1. The atmosphere is more important than food. Italians value the culture of serving food, for them the food is not as important as the atmosphere at the table. It doesn’t matter if they are in the family living room or they all went out together to a trattoria or pizzeria.
2. One dish per meal. Italians try not to mix many products and eat one thing: for example, a main course, or only pasta, or only pizza. The only way they can diversify their diet is with the help of antipasti – traditional hot or cold small-sized meat and vegetable snacks.
“Eating food at regular intervals gives you a feeling of fullness, which protects you from overeating. Moreover, they do not have such a thing that there is meat in one plate, pizza on the other, and pasta in the third, ”notes Natalya.
3. The right drinks. At lunch, Italians easily drink a glass of dry wine, which has a beneficial effect on the digestive process and contains antioxidants and flavonoids.
4. Digestive. It is usually drunk in Italy after lunch and dinner. This is any drink served after a meal. For Italians, most often it is strong coffee with sugar – espresso or ristretto, which they drink in one sip, or, for example, a glass of limoncello or liqueur.
This tradition dates back to the Middle Ages, when at the end of the meal they drank a wine drink with spices, confident that it improves digestion. But after 11:00 noon, none of the locals allow themselves a cappuccino or other dairy drinks.
5. Positive attitude. They talk a lot at dinner, and after that they like to walk a lot. And, of course, a positive disposition and a measured lifestyle also play a role and leave an imprint on the appearance of Italians. They try to live by the principle: less stress, less cortisol, and more joy and happiness.
Their food is a way of life. It’s hard to imagine an Italian eating convenience foods on the go. They prefer to leave their business and eat calmly and beautifully, as they say, with feeling and consistency. And, most importantly, slowly. That’s the whole secret!
6. No heavy food in the morning. Breakfast at Italians is quite simple and light – a cup of cappuccino and brioche (fresh pastries) or a croissant).
7. Eating on a schedule. They make sure they eat at the same time. For Italians, this is both about circadian rhythms that affect youth and longevity, and about the fact that discipline in food contributes to good digestion and metabolism.
8. Composition of products. As for the adored pasta, in Italy it is made from durum wheat, which means not simple carbohydrates, but complex ones, and this is already considered a dietary product.
The calorie content of the pasta depends primarily on the sauce, and here everyone makes their own choice. For dietary meals, pasta with vegetable sauce or seafood is suitable. And locals eat pasta slightly al dente – a little undercooked and always freshly prepared.