WHEN IN ROME, EAT LIKE THE ROMANS
I figured out why the Mediterranean diet is so healthy, but my revelation didn’t come from reading books or articles on the subject. It came from watching real live “Mediterraneans,” well, actually, Romans and Venetians.
We know that the typical Mediterranean diet contains lots of fresh vegetables and fruits, and plenty of olives and olive oil, one of the essential fatty acids that our bodies need to function, but what about the other foods Italians typically eat – pastas, cheeses, and crusty breads? After all, those aren’t exactly waist-whittling foods. In fact, I’ve basically cut them out of my diet here at home. You know, bad carbs and all.
Another revelation: Italians eat late. Many restaurants don’t even begin serving dinner until 7:30 p.m., which means most people go to bed on full stomachs. Isn’t that a diet no-no? Yet I didn’t notice any obese Italians, only obese tourists. What gives?
Here’s what I figured out: the Mediterranean diet isn’t solely about food choices. It’s a lifestyle. They don’t eat just to fill their stomachs; they dine, and they do it slowly. Lunches typically last two hours, dinners three. Wine isn’t meant to be chugged; it accompanies a meal, just as that crusty bread does. Portions are modest, not ginormous; the courses are served at a leisurely pace; waiters don’t whisk your plate away the second you put your fork down; customers are never rushed in and out so that more can take their place. It’s not about volume, it’s about relaxtion and pleasure, and no one does pleasure like the Italians.
People converse during meals. They put their forks down after a bite. They take a sip of wine. They pick up their forks again. Food is savored, never shoveled, which is what I see most often at restaurants back home.
So if you want to follow the Mediterranean diet, which I truly believe is much healthier than the typical American diet, (less processed foods, more veggies) then you must to adopt their lifestyle, too. Don’t eat– dine! Savor each bite. Serve smaller portions, linger over them, have conversations, then take a walk afterward. Not only will you eat better, but you’ll feel better and be more relaxed, too. Watch that blood pressure drop.
So go ahead, slice that crusty panne, uncork that bottle of vino. Don’t be afraid to enjoy your food. Remember, it’s all about the lifestyle.
Buon appetito.
