Songs that are on your mind

Hiawassee88 · April 2022

snowflake954 · April 2022

Washboard12 wrote: »

@snowflake954 I was going to visit the promised land and I asked a 'native' how they stayed so fit with all the good food. He said it's because everyone is always dodging bullets. I've never forgotten that but I know that's not the case in your neck of the woods. Italians know how to moderate their portions, don't they. They come by it naturally, oy vey.

What do they think of all these cockamamie food protocols we're always cooking up. They must think there goes another unhinged dieter. There's always another streetcar coming around the corner with some new zany rules.

There are several thoughts on why the Italians are still "thinner".

First off Italy is surrounded by the sea and most go to the beach in the summer for a month. This means there is the famous "prova di costume" starting about now. This is dieting or cutting back after the Christmas and Easter holidays to fit into a bathing suit and have "una bella figura" (don't be embarrassed by your looks--cut a nice figure).

Second, most people still smoke here--even young people. That keeps your mouth busy all the time and kills your taste buds.

Thirdly, they eat quality food and know what it is and have access to it.

Fourthly, people walk more --"la passagiata". Especially in the cities, but even in small villages there is still the idea of the daily "promenade", where people dress up in the afternoon and walk back and forth down the main street, stop to talk to friends, and just generally show themselves and their look. Most live in apartments with no yard and this is a way to get a daily airing.

However, with all that being said, the American Food Culture and dieting trends are here too. Especially with COVID and credit cards and the ability to order food (which arrives via bicycle or scooter), fast food is the primary choice. These changes mean an increase in the percentages of the overweight. Obesity is still rare, but I fear for the future.