Does anyone have any good tips from their experiences at eating healthy, low fat meals in Italy? (Including limitation of olive oil)

Please, please, please, if you are only going to be in Italy for a few days and not weeks, let your low-fat limitations loosen up a bit. I doubt it will ruin your health, and you would miss so much of the experience. If you are doing it for weight loss or control, your walking will more than take care of a few extra calories. Certainly, you can always get green salads, and they come "undressed." Most places offer pastas with what did not seem to be a very fattening tomato sauce. Limiting olive oil will be harder, but isn't olive oil supposed to be the chosen oil of low fatters? You will certainly not want to miss the gelato, and I doubt it would be considered low fat! My brother-in-law, is a consumate healthy eater who never waivers, and he did not seem distressed by Italian food. He had at least one gelato every day for 10 days. In Italy, more than in any country I have been to, the food seems as much a part of the fun as anything, and I would hate for you to miss out.

Please, please, please, if you are only going to be in Italy for a few days and not weeks, let your low-fat limitations loosen up a bit. I doubt it will ruin your health, and you would miss so much of the experience. If you are doing it for weight loss or control, your walking will more than take care of a few extra calories. Certainly, you can always get green salads, and they come "undressed." Most places offer pastas with what did not seem to be a very fattening tomato sauce. Limiting olive oil will be harder, but isn't olive oil supposed to be the chosen oil of low fatters? You will certainly not want to miss the gelato, and I doubt it would be considered low fat! My brother-in-law, is a consumate healthy eater who never waivers, and he did not seem distressed by Italian food. He had at least one gelato every day for 10 days. In Italy, more than in any country I have been to, the food seems as much a part of the fun as anything, and I would hate for you to miss out.

Oh boy, do I totally agree with the above post!!! If you have to cut back, do it at the continental breakfast buffet at your hotel. Drink lots of water, walk all day, leave a little something on your plate, hold the bread, but please don't hold back from the wonderful veal, wild boar, and pastas! We had amazing fish dinners on the Amalfi Coast, but then blew the calories on gelati EVERY night! Have fun (but bring elastic waist pants!)

Two weeks in Italy, ate and drank everything I wanted (yummm) and still lost 5 pounds from all the walking. Don't worry -- just enjoy!

We often skip the main course in Italian restaurants and concentrate on the "primi piatti" which are pastas and risottos, and on salads.

I'm not sure how much travelling you've done in Italy, so I hope I'm not telling you things you already know. Remember that real Italian food is not the cheese-and-sausage-laden stuff served over here, and it's usually served in smaller portions. I agree that you should enjoy your meals and that walking will keep your waistline under control. Small portions of a variety of foods has never been as much fun as in Italy. If you must restrict yourself, skip cream sauces, but please try everything else. <BR>I'm enjoying the pro- and anti-carbohydrate debate here (hold the bread/stick to pasta). <BR>PS I think gelato is lower in fat than premium ice cream in the US (not that that makes it healthful), but it's higher in cholesterol because it's made with egg yolks.

Diane - <BR> <BR>I have to agree with all the postings. After spending hard earned money, taking time off, and organizing your life so you can be gone for a period of time, do you really want to be sitting thousands of miles away saying "well, I'll just have a banana, no gelato for me!" <BR> <BR>Believe me, I understand the fat thing. I've lost 50 pounds over the past 1 1/2 and have about 30 to go. I've changed my eating habits drastically and have gotten to the point that I don't even crave all the fatty things I used to eat. <BR> <BR>As for vacation, we just got back from Paris and I absolutely ate everything I wanted. Now, I'm back home so I'm back to watching what I eat. <BR> <BR>In my opinion, "free time" like vacation is no time to be worrying about what you eat. And as Marty said above, olive oil is one of the best oils you can eat, so don't worry! <BR> <BR>Have a great trip

History, culture, art, food: these are Italy! <BR>Partake in all in a liberal manner, and worry about the 'fat' the day you go back to work! <BR>

To eat in Italy is to LIVE! I have never gained an ounce there! Remember, the Mediterranean diet is one of the healthiest in the world! NO JUNK FOOD. <BR>I agree with all the preceeding comments...eat, eat, walk, walk, walk, <BR>and enjoy!

Diane, <BR> I alone noticed your email domain, and realize ya ain't headed to Italy yourself, are ya? <BR> Chances are your hotel or hostel price includes breakfast. Breakfast in Italy is typically a painfully strong coffee and (maybe) some bread, marmalade, and butter. If you don't get breakfast in the hotel, do as the locals do and get an espresso from a bar. That's the Italian low-fat power breakfast. <BR> For light meals or lunch, you can buy a vegetable sandwich in a bar. Bars in Italy aren't really what bars are here. You go bar hopping in the AM on the quest for the perfect cappucino, and you eat light meals there. The vegetable sandwiches are much more healthful than a burger would be here. <BR> Another light meal is a square of pizza from a pizza stand. Pizza is sold by weight, so you can ask the guy to cut a small square for you. Only the pizza margherita is more or less what Americans think of as pizza; a lot of the pizzas have no cheese. But typically a pizza crust is very short, so don't think you're going ultra lowfat just because there's no cheese. <BR> Italy has many Mom and Pop grocery stores, latterias (dairy stores) and greengrocers. This is your only hope of latte scremata (skimmed milk) and lowfat ricotta cheese, and whole wheat bread. A bit of bread, some lowfat ricotta, a piece of fruit, a tomato, and you have a light, lowfat meal without cooking. <BR> One thing I miss about Italy is the oranges. They are orange streaked with red and very, very tasty and portable. <BR> Don't eat every day in a restaurant, or else you will overeat for sure. The locals don't eat out every night, nor should you. <BR> Restaurants always plop a bowl of bread on your table. They charge for the bread whether you want it or not, so of course you're going to eat it. Then they bring you the menu after each course. Most Americans settle for a pasta and a salad. Locals leave food on the plate. You could overorder and peck daintily at your food too, but I think Americans would have a hard time with this concept. <BR> Order the insalata mixta and you'll get greens with oil and vinegar to add yourself to the salad. <BR> A good tip is to avoid eating with American men (sorry Marty). With them, restaurant dining is a religion and they will constantly insist you aren't in Italy unless you're eating six times your ordinary caloric intake. Truly, they are enlisted by Satan to instigate the vice of gluttony. <BR> Avoid the tavola calda (cold table, something like a salad bar). I was with American men in a restaurant, and we ordered insalatas mixtas. The waitress assured us the tavola calda was much better. We asked to see it and it did look a wonderful salad bar. We were drooling at the sight of it! She said she'd bring us plates and my, did those American male eyes gleam with excitement. We sat at table plotting a 'plague of locusts' assault on the salad bar as soon as the plates arrived. <BR> Well, she brought the plates all right --laden with food, drenched in olive oil. Huh? We thought tavola calda was serve-yourself, but no. The waitress fixes your plate, much as your Mom did when you were four. You have no opportunity to pick the fat free stuff (or even the stuff you like). No, you eat what 'Mom' says you do, and if that's not how you're treated in a restuarant at home ...well, you didn't fly to Italy to do things the American way, did you? <BR> For the primi, you're on your own. Italy has a much wider variety of pasta toppings than American-Italian does, so it's hard to guess what you're getting. Mostly, they are high fat. Sorry about that, but I did warn you not to eat in restaurants every day. In theory, you could skip the 'primi' and dive into the 'segundo', which would be meat or seafood. But I never have seen anyone <BR>do this. That's why everyone suggests the pasta; they daren't skip the pasta and order the seafood! <BR> In general I liked Italian food, but one thing I didn't like was the low fiber diet and all the refined flour. More than one tourist agreed with me. If this is an issue with you, come prepared. <BR> Finally, I'd like to point out that Italy has *plenty* to experience apart from food. Quite a bit besides food! It doesn't have to play a big part of your trip unless you want it to. <BR>

Diane, I hope we aren't making it sound as though you should just forget your interest in healthful eating for the duration of your visit (although that's one fun approach). It's just that it's really pretty easy to eat well (in both senses) there. Vegetables are a la carte, so you can order as many as you want of whatever variety you want, as opposed to the typical U.S. "Fries or coleslaw with that?" The most common dessert is fruit. <BR>About the only unhealthful part of the Italian diet is the preponderance of white flour.

I believe it was the University of Minnesota medical school that did a study on the Mediterranean diet, and determined that it is far healthier than the American diet. It's a famous study. Hate to tell someone at Mayo to look at U of M's research, but there it is. <BR> <BR>I also concur with previous posters. I ate anything and everything I wanted in Italy last week and came back 5 lbs leaner due to the walking and healthy food.

Been there: <BR>You're not as smart as you think! I noticed Diane's domain (but I did not think she was not headed to Italy herself; why did you think that and then give her a ton of advice?), and Marty is not an American man; it's short for Martha Ann. Diane: If you are like my friends who live the low-fat life, after about a day your trained instincts will kick in and you will be able to decipher what is good for you to eat. I hope your diet doesn't prohibit you from sampling the wines and the gelato.

Hey marty, <BR> Bit touchy, aren't we? I figured Diane wants to know so she can counsel travelers. I'm not ready to call myself dumb yet just to gratify you. <BR> <BR>

The Italian diet is actually a very healthy one. Little fat in most Italian cuisine. Not that much olive oil is used, and it's one of the very healthiest in any event. <BR> <BR>Overindulgence is the problem for visitors to Italy, not the fat. <BR> <BR>Some ideas on typical and enjoyable meals and course as well as a few recommended restaurants at http://twenj.com/romefood.htm <BR> <BR>Ed

<BR>In a corny movie filmed in Italy (won't mention the title), a handsome Italian man muses to his American dinner partner something about "you Americans eat to live. In Italy, we live to eat." Just enjoy the whole experience and wash it down with a little regional vino rosso!

Traveling is the best diet I ever went on! Last summer I traveled for 25 days and ate all the ice cream and cake and fried foods I wanted and still lost 5 pounds!!! I have to admit that occasional carrying of a 25 pound backpack and walking 10 hours a day in 95 degree weather contributed quite a bit to this phenomena. But I always lose weight on long touring trips because of all the walking. The only time I didn't lose was on a lazy trip with almost no walking in Greece. Don't worry about low fat on your vacation. Like the others said, the walking will make up for all those calories. And to miss the gelato would be to miss Italy!

It's not going to be difficult, Diane. While in Rome in March, I left all my weight watchers' guidelines at home, ate what I wanted, and still lost half a pound. It helps that I truly like vegetables and fruit, I guess. They are wonderful in Italy. I ate lots and lots of bread, but without butter or oil, as Italians eat it. Vegetables were served with oil on the side, and there are many pasta dishes without heavy sauces. And the broiled fish! You get the idea--not a problem.

Hello, I do not want to be rude but <BR>when in Italy you will see that we are the fat ones not the Italians.... <BR> <BR>Healthy food? Italian food is so healthy and wonderful.....for one is fresh, ripe, the food follows the seasons.... <BR>Just follow the advises of those who answered before me, and you will fine. <BR> <BR>Open your mind, and your heart and your eating habits: this is traveling.... <BR>Buona fortuna.