The most noticeable thing ...
What's the most noticeable thing about Italy that you remember?
This is the most interesting question I ask first time travelers to Italy. It's a loaded question, because I already know the answer. It's always the same. And it's answered this way:
"We Americans are REALLY FAT!!!"
It's kind of a backward way to answer the question. They never say, "Italians are so thin!", or, "Italians are in better shape!", or anything of that ilk.
Men and women then typically go on to say how beautiful everyone is. How no matter where you are, you are surrounded by just gorgeous people. When you get to a large airport and start associating with Americans again, it's very, very noticeable. Chunky, overweight, obese ... and lacking the style of Italians ... baggy sweatsuits and fleece rule the day. Quite a contrast!
Then again, who'd want to wear those close-fitting styles with bodies like most Americans?
I've given this topic considerable thought, and lots and lots of personal research ... it was soooo arduous ... researching all those Italian women. But, someone had to do it. I've paid particular attention to Italian women (surprise, surprise), but the same can be said of the men.
Everyone's into fashion and style, so dress is never sloppy or messy. I'm certain they can pick out many Americans from this alone. This applies not only to clothing, but hair styles, makeup, fragrances, footwear, accessories.
On the weight front, it's clear (at least to me) that there are many contributing factors.
First, by and large Italians walk a heck-of-a-lot more than we do. I'd say 4 to 5 times, at least, more than us. This alone would cause them to be much slimmer than us.
Second, they don't eat the JUNK we do. Little or no "fast food". McDonalds would be a once a month "treat" (if you could call it that) for Italian kids, not a daily meal replacement like here. No frozen pizzas. The food is fresh, wholesome, and balanced. They also never eat the huge bowls of pasta for an ENTRE like we do. Even the salty snacks are healthier ... check out the labels next trip, you'll be floored.
Third, they don't snack like we do, nor do they drink sugary soft drinks as much as we do. It seems like they've figured out that eating 3 balanced meals, often a very light breakfast (a cappuccino and a cornetta), a big lunch, and a reasonable dinner, and all is well. Throw in a little gelato during each evening's passeggiata, and tutto va bene!
We would do well to adopt this lifestyle. A little more (healthy) home cooking from scratch (and not sausage gravy for lard biscuits by the way) would do us a world of good, and likely lower our medical costs significantly.
This is the most interesting question I ask first time travelers to Italy. It's a loaded question, because I already know the answer. It's always the same. And it's answered this way:
"We Americans are REALLY FAT!!!"
It's kind of a backward way to answer the question. They never say, "Italians are so thin!", or, "Italians are in better shape!", or anything of that ilk.
Men and women then typically go on to say how beautiful everyone is. How no matter where you are, you are surrounded by just gorgeous people. When you get to a large airport and start associating with Americans again, it's very, very noticeable. Chunky, overweight, obese ... and lacking the style of Italians ... baggy sweatsuits and fleece rule the day. Quite a contrast!
Then again, who'd want to wear those close-fitting styles with bodies like most Americans?
I've given this topic considerable thought, and lots and lots of personal research ... it was soooo arduous ... researching all those Italian women. But, someone had to do it. I've paid particular attention to Italian women (surprise, surprise), but the same can be said of the men.
Everyone's into fashion and style, so dress is never sloppy or messy. I'm certain they can pick out many Americans from this alone. This applies not only to clothing, but hair styles, makeup, fragrances, footwear, accessories.
On the weight front, it's clear (at least to me) that there are many contributing factors.
First, by and large Italians walk a heck-of-a-lot more than we do. I'd say 4 to 5 times, at least, more than us. This alone would cause them to be much slimmer than us.
Second, they don't eat the JUNK we do. Little or no "fast food". McDonalds would be a once a month "treat" (if you could call it that) for Italian kids, not a daily meal replacement like here. No frozen pizzas. The food is fresh, wholesome, and balanced. They also never eat the huge bowls of pasta for an ENTRE like we do. Even the salty snacks are healthier ... check out the labels next trip, you'll be floored.
Third, they don't snack like we do, nor do they drink sugary soft drinks as much as we do. It seems like they've figured out that eating 3 balanced meals, often a very light breakfast (a cappuccino and a cornetta), a big lunch, and a reasonable dinner, and all is well. Throw in a little gelato during each evening's passeggiata, and tutto va bene!
We would do well to adopt this lifestyle. A little more (healthy) home cooking from scratch (and not sausage gravy for lard biscuits by the way) would do us a world of good, and likely lower our medical costs significantly.
posted by Mark Pukita | 12:42 PM
1 Comments:
Just let those Italians come here to live - have you been to Little Italy, in New York? Nobody's thin. I visited Warsaw not that long ago - thin, thin, thin. But when you visit Greenpoint, Brooklyn, where Polish is the first language, they're fat, fat, fat. It doesn't matter how thin people are in their native countries - when they get to the United States, they begin to eat the American Dream, and they love every single bite.
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