Healthy Eating And Italian Food

With everyone watching carbs and calories, can Italian food really be healthy? If Italian food is so fattening why do I know so many skinny Italians? Not all Italian food fits the stereo type of piles of pastas under sauce, meat, and cheese. Authentic Italian food has many healthy options and some regions in Italy actually use rice more than pasta in their dishes. In general, the people who live along the borders of the Mediterranean Sea are very healthy. There is even a weight loss diet that is based on the foods common to the Mediterranean area. This diet actually includes an occasional glass of wine!

 Some of the characteristics of healthy Italian food:

 Balance-true Mediterranean food includes beans, seafood, fruits, vegetables, meats, whole grains, and pasta that are eaten in moderate portions.
 Olive oil is the main fat in the diet-though Italian food is not considered low fat, olive oil is known for many health benefits including lowering the risk of heart disease. Often olive oil is used instead of butter.
 Minimal fatty foods-the meats are often lean and there is a minimal of butter used, many sauces are tomato based instead of cream based.
 Absence of fried foods-Italian dishes rarely includes fried food on the menu.
 High percentage of vegetables-Italian diets usually include about 60% vegetables that are prepared in a variety of ways and included in a large number of Italian dishes.
 Casual dining-it may seem like Italians eat a lot because they are at the table so long, but they actually eat in moderate portions because they take their time and dont rush through a meal.
 Tomatoes-there are many health benefits to eating tomatoes and they are one of the main ingredients in Italian dishes. The tomatoes may be sun dried, fresh, pureed, or cooked.

 As the Italian young people gravitate towards the western lifestyle and the habit of eating fast foods, the healthy Italian diet is becoming lost. The Italian government is combating that by educating children in school about the health benefits of the Italian diet and healthy eating in general. The health education campaign is countrywide.

 For westerners who enjoy Italian food but choose to watch their carbohydrate intake, there are many Italian dishes that dont have pasta as an ingredient and though tempting, the garlic bread can always be skipped. Some Italian dishes that arent pasta based include the following:

 Chicken with sun dried tomatoes
 Roasted lamb
 Sausage and peppers
 Chicken Parmesan
 Meatballs (extra large served on their own)
 Roast chicken with fennel
 Chicken Marsala

 Many herbs are believed to have medicinal and health enhancing properties. One main ingredient in Italian food is garlic. It is easy to get fresh garlic and it is in almost every Italian recipe. Garlic is known for being a natural antibiotic (broad spectrum). It is also believed to boost the immune system and its a powerful antioxidant. For some people, consuming garlic can even repel mosquitoes!

 Adding fresh vegetables to any diet is going to increase the health of the person who adds them to their diet. Large salads made with deep colored lettuce and lots of fresh ingredients can be the start of any Italian meal.

 When you are planning on going out to eat healthy food, you can choose an Italian restaurant like Mama Jennies Italian Restaurant, Pizzeria, and Catering, which is located in Florida.

A Good Healthy Eating Plan

With the increase in obesity, more and more people have become concerned about their eating habits. Many diets and weight loss programs have been formed to provide effective and safe weight loss results. Being healthy does not mean burning calories and losing fat; rather it is a state of physical and mental well-being where all your body organs are functioning harmoniously.

 A healthy eating plan gives your body the required nutrients while staying within your daily calorie limit for weight loss. Simply choosing any diet plan does not help you gain optimal results. Rather, making small changes in your eating plans followed by healthy lifestyle practices can help you achieve optimal fitness. A balanced healthy diet is based on appropriate proportions of all the food groups, cooked in a healthy way. Your body type and food preferences help in deciding your own healthy diet plan.

 You can make your healthy eating plan by following these simple steps:

 Switch to healthier options - Eating healthy is all about making smarter food choices. A healthy diet plan comprises of all the healthier options like complex carbs, unsaturated fats and lean protein. Switch to low fat dairy products that are healthier and less in calories. Apart from that, focus on your eating techniques. Eating slowly can also help in shedding those extra calories and promotes better digestion. It helps to identify the feeling of fullness and can give a signal of 'Stop eating'.

 Wide choices of fruits and vegetables - Fruits and vegetables are nutrient dense foods containing loads of vitamins, minerals and anti-oxidants. Vibrant colored food not just provide nutrients and fiber to the body, but also make a delicious and wholesome mid-meal snack.

 Reduce portion size:

 Eating healthy does not mean you have to ban unhealthy foods completely. If you avoid your favorite food, it is natural to want that food more, and in the end you succumb to your temptation. Hence, start by reducing the portion size and then not eating them often.

 Smarter cooking habits:

 Apart from making healthy food choices, it is important to incorporate healthier cooking habits like grilling, steaming, roasting or boiling. This will ensure that the nutrients are not destroyed and unwanted calories are not added to your body.

 Detox your body:

 Another important way to stay healthy is by detoxification of your body. Detoxification is a cleansing mechanism to eliminate the waste build-up from your body. A detox diet can help you get rid of the toxins in the body that get accumulated due to unhealthy eating habits and adulterated food items. Detox diet comprises of natural foods that help in removing waste materials and maintaining internal balance in the body.

 When followed regularly, detox diet reduces the ingestion as well as absorption of harmful chemicals ingested with food. It also provides healthy foods comprising of all the necessary nutrients that help in better digestion and absorption and maintains healthy functioning of all organs. Cleansing your body improves your energy levels and keeps you mentally and physically fit.