How do Italians eat pasta, pastries, and pizza… and still stay slim? After 20 years of living in Italy, I’ve seen firsthand how the locals approach food, health, and daily habits—and it’s not about dieting or hitting the gym seven days a week.
I break down key reasons Italians don’t get fat, from their tiny breakfasts to their attitude toward food, wine, and even snacking. These aren’t tips you’ll find in a diet book—they’re cultural habits that make a massive difference.
If you’re traveling to Italy or just curious about how to eat better without obsessing over calories, this one’s for you.
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30 Comments
Eating in Italy: What to Expect 🍝🍷https://youtu.be/3uVXZHlkdls?si=CTAaJohA7l7sTX9O
Children are getting fat
The great secret of Italians is the following: WE EAT LITTLE AND WE PAY VERY ATTENTION TO CALORIES AND FATS!
The great secret of Italians is the following: WE EAT LITTLE (PREFERIBLY VEGETABLES AND FRUIT) WE PAY VERY ATTENTION TO CALORIES AND FATS AND WE TRY TO WALK AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE, THOSE WHO DON'T DO IT ARE AS FAT AS THOSE WHO DON'T DO IT IN THE REST OF THE WORLD! Simple, right?🤣🤣🤣
Hi Gregor, I agree with you. If I may add a kind of key words I would say measure and pleasure. I am 52 and my generation is the first one that had the opportunity of traveling Europe with a certain ease by “interrail” and “erasmus” and we have been forced to blend our glass of wine a meal attitude with cocktail fueling from 5 PM to late night. I remember when first fast food opened in Rome, I was 13. Eating there was so cool, so new, so good and the perfect match would have been a Bruce Springsteen concert soon after. Our generation discovered a “secret meal” that is the one you have late at night when you get back home or just before that. It was just a cornetto caldo, meaning the first rush of pastry by local ovens. Later, open all night bars (the first in Rome was “quelli della notte” wich borrowed the name of a famous tv show of the time) appeared and a cappuccino at 2-4 AM became an option. But the real peacekeeper one was at home. A fast dose of pasta aglio e oglio, ready in 10 minutes or food leftover by family generous dinner portions just to tame our sinful adolescent “serate”. But, even in this case, it was something not so new. We just pushed later our parents “spaghettata di mezzanotte” to something better fitting those new habits. Probably I am a little off topic but I would like to point out that our habits are slowly changing through years. So please accept my clumsy contribution to your precious work. Please go on.
Why isn't there any Autogrills in the US? My new addiction as we make our way across and down Italy.
It's not really true… but i saw a lot of Italian who lives in unit states and eat a lot of Italian food vthey are over weight. ..they are 😊😊😊. I don't think so depending on the age
ITALIA PATRIMONIO MONDIALE DELL BUON CIBO, SALUTI DALLA SARDEGNA..
Bravo, hai colto molte cose vere. Interessante soprattutto il tema "psicologico": per noi il cibo è socialità, cultura e piacere;
solo raramente è colpa o ricompensa.
When I visited Italy years ago I ordered a cappuccino in the afternoon. Big no no, idk it was only for the morning. Because of the milk. The Italians are big on maintaining their gut health. So I’ve adopted this lifestyle except for an occasional cheat day of ice cream for dessert. The Mediterranean people don’t eat until they are full they know when to put the silverware down. I saw it in Greece and Spain. Also they eat their heaviest meal in the afternoon. Makes a difference
I have travelled in italy and noticed MacDonald's had few customers. I hate it but love the fresh food there
When in Italy, the dinner starts very late, seven, eight and sometimes even later, especially in Summer. That's why in the morning I just crave a good cappuccino with cornetto and can easily wait without food till lunch time.
The weather is conducive to walking. And they are less stressed, so less cortisol. And the genes help. It’s funny. Italians were considered slightly porky when Americans were lean. The most beautiful Italian women were chubby by those standards, with their extra fat very well distributed.
Lower stress, walking, community vibe, love, quality ingredients, Olive oil, being present with loved ones family and friends.
When I studied in Rome for an entire year there was a need in second semester to buy a few shirts and pull-over knits. The salespeople did not like the idea of a shirt hanging loose on my frame. This was a surprise to me. Yes, they are concerned with appearances, and looking slim is part of that.
When we were getting up with the sun and going out to plow the back forty, breakfast was important….
We ain't doing that anymore.
Italian Americans sure do get fat …..ask me how I know 🙄
my grandmother was fat
HA…when we go to Italy we have people all tell us they stay slim because the have 4 cigs before noon and at least 4 cups of coffee………how are they healthy???????
Tieni presente , che in Italia i dietologi e nutrizionisti sono molto ricchi 😉👋
My experience of 60 days in Italy is that breakfast is the biggest meal in rural areas. In the city, it is the same as in USA suburbs & city – none or very small. I am sure that the big breakfast is a rural thing in the USA as well.
On my vacations I have a very big breakfast, no lunch and a small dinner. Often dinner is 3-5 pm when not very busy.
Italians eat their food too hot for me. Temperature not spice. Italian friend who works for an American company said this is typical, he warns his American colleagues.
40% of adults in Italy are overweight.
There were demonstrations in front of McDonalds before it opened. Italian actors were very loud in their opposition.
It was a sacrilege to have the golden arches near Piazza d'Spangia. Can't spell 😊
can you do a video on the gyms in local towns? i know the nation is huge of course but a gyms video would be appreciated. also, is most food filled with seed oils? what is the prevalence of gmo foods?
I always eat the local breads when I am in Europe. It's amazing, so much better than the American style bread we have in Australia
I eat fast.. but my rule is to wait everybody to sit around the table before starting.. more than food is the people you eat whith that matters
Italian kids are some of the fattest in Europe.
I had to check and it looks like itslians are pretty much just as fat as other europeans and about half ot them are overweight.