An Italian Perspective on American Diets

There was a great op-ed piece in the New York Times last week called "You Are How You Eat", written by Italian cookbook author Giuliano Hazan. Hazan looks at the low-carb craze sweeping the nation from a puzzled Italian point-of-view -- after all, if carbohydrates are so bad, why is the percentage of obese Italians (with their heavy pasta diets) less than half what it is in the US?

Hazan suggests that what matters isn't what we eat -- no one food group (carbs, proteins, etc.) is to blame; the important thing is our relationship to food itself. Italians take their time to eat, family mealtimes are considered sacred, and many businesses still close for extended lunch hours (or three hours). Portion sizes are much smaller and there's less "eating on the run." In the end, many Americans have forgotten what it means to eat sensibly and that preparing, eating, and enjoying food with others is one of life's great joys.

"Americans' quest for the ultimate miracle diet has engendered a dizzying array of often contradicting messages. Whether it's salt, fat and now carbohydrates, it seems as if no food group will be left unscathed... Eating sensibly is really the best diet, and the better we can teach our children to appreciate good food and the pleasure we can take from eating leisurely together as a family, the less likely we will be to feel the need to try the latest diet fad. Savoring a good meal simply makes us feel good. Food should not be feared. It should be a source of pleasure and well-being."

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