Italian Eating Habits

Italian Eating Habits

Italian eating habits are known to be one of the healthiest in the world even though they are high in fat. The traditional diet combines a mix of meat, pasta, seafood and beans with fresh fruits and vegetables and served with oils such as olive oil. This type of eating is directly related to lower numbers of heart disease.

Italian eating centers on home cooked meals. Italian food customs have the woman working in the home preparing meals of several courses made with fine homemade foods, free of preservatives. Fresh vegetables and olive oils add to the flavor and the health of the meal.

The basic day for an Italian starts with breakfast around 7 am. This is usually the lightest meal of the day. This meal may consist of a coffee along with a biscuit or piece of fruit. The biscuit might be served with a light spread of jam (con marmellata). Other breads might usually be a type of croissant (brioche). The croissant might be plain (liscia), or have a type of custard (con crema). An Italian breakfast might even have the occasional chocolate (con cioccolata).

Lunch takes place between 12 and 2 pm in the north, and 1 to 3 pm in the south. Starters (antipasti) are a type of light appetizer served with cold meats (salumi). Lunch will typically come in two courses. The first course is usually a type of rice (risotto), or the antipasti. The second course will be the meat or fish. Sometimes a desert (dolce) will be ordered, but often it is something light like fruit. If an Italian person doesn't have time throughout the day the will generally have a snack. They will have a filled roll (panino) at a food bar. The basic filled roll will have tomatoes (pomodori) or Italian ham (prosciutto), which can either be cooked (cotto) or raw (crudo).

Dinner takes place during the hours of 8 to 10 pm. The dinner is usually a light meal like a salad or antipasti. Desert with dinner with usually be a sweet like a cake (pasticceria).

Italian food customs center around 2 meals a day - a combination of grains, fruits, vegetables and cheese with a tiny bit of meats. In Italian eating habits, the meats are more of an add on as opposed to the focus of the meal. This lowers the bad fats consumed and the generous use of olive oils increases the good fats. Meals are eaten in many courses at a slower pace and usually with wine - all very relaxing and stress reducing.