How to Eat like an Italian
/When you think of the Italian diet, what first comes to mind?
Pasta and pizza, right? While you wouldn’t be totally wrong (they are traditional Italian dishes, after all), there is so much more to Italian food beyond carbs and cheese.
When it comes to Italian cuisine, it’s all about simplicity. Italians subscribe to the Mediterranean diet, which is rich not only in pasta, but also fish, vegetables and fruits. Most meals aren’t made with a lengthy list of ingredients. In Italy, food is simple yet flavourful, and best enjoyed in smaller portions.
Ready to do as the Italians do? Here are our top tips to eat like an Italian.
Keep breakfast light
In Italy, breakfast is usually sweet and small. You’ve likely heard the adage that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but it’s simply not so for Italians. Forget the eggs and bacon. Instead, Italians normally start the day with a coffee (or milk or juice), as well as a small baked good, such as a pastry, or bread with butter and jam. The more filling meals are for lunch or dinner, but even then, portion control is a key part of the Italian diet.
2. Keep it simple
For Italians, the fewer ingredients a meal requires, the better. In fact, simplicity is one of the main characteristics of Italian cuisine. Rather than relying on a long list of ingredients with complex preparation instructions, it’s all about the quality, freshness and the balance of the ingredients used. Some of the most popular ingredients in Italian food are extra virgin olive oil, fresh tomatoes, basil, garlic, onion, mushrooms and cheese (Pasta goes without saying, doesn’t it?)
3. Olive oil is its own food group
Available at Graceway IGA and Graceway Gourmet
Olive oil is a staple of any Italian kitchen. And while it’s used for cooking, Italians use their best, highest-quality olive oil crudo, or drizzled raw, to add flavour to pastas, vegetables, meats and more. When it comes to extra virgin olive oil (the least processed of olive oils), there’s no need to overdo it. A light drizzle is usually all you need to get that burst of flavour.
4. Pasta is always acceptable—with a few stipulations
Available at Graceway IGA and Graceway Gourmet
You don’t have to be an expert in Italian cuisine to know that Italians love their pasta. In fact, Italy is home to more than 400 different kinds of pasta. But if you really want to eat like an Italian, be mindful of your pasta portion. You won’t find heaping platefuls of pasta at an Italian dinner table. Also, skip the bread, and ditch the knife. You’ll never catch an Italian eating pasta with a side of bread, and to eat your pasta properly, a fork alone will do.
5. Take time to enjoy your meal
Not only do Italians believe in eating well, but they also believe in taking the time to truly savor their meals. This not only allows you to fully enjoy your meal, but it also allows the opportunity to relax and socialise. So when you sit down for lunch or dinner, take your time if you can. Life moves at lightning speed as it is—let’s all do as the Italians do, and spend a little extra time enjoying our mealtimes together.
And once you’ve finished your meal? There’s only one way to end a meal in Italy—and that’s with espresso.
