How do Italians eat pasta every day and not gain weight?

Why do they have the lowest obesity rate in Western Europe?

Why they don’t gain weight as easily as Americans do? 

In October, I was really fortunate to spend two weeks in northern Italy. I visited  Venice, Verona, Florence, and Tuscany, specifically the medieval walled hill towns of San Gimignano, Siena and Volterra. They were each wonderful in their own way. I had a fantastic time, and really loved it there. 

While I was there, I talked to a few American expats. One American woman in Florence told me, “I’ve been living here for a year and have lost 10 pounds without doing anything. I eat pasta every day. Plus I can eat dairy and gluten here with no digestive problems. Back in the States, I couldn’t tolerate those foods.”

I can’t tell you how many people have told me stories like this.  Americans who visited Italy told me that they drank wine with one or two meals a day, ate pasta, desserts, not to mention those breakfast croissants, and did not get the indigestion they normally got back home, and did not gain weight.

The Italians are known for their fantastic cuisine. Italy was the EAT in Elizabeth Gilbert’s Eat Pray Love.  And for good reason. 

Have you ever wondered why Italian cuisine is so delicious? And how do they eat that carb-heavy diet filled with pasta, bread, croissants (see typical Italian breakfast to the right) and other delicious things, and not have the obesity problem that much of the rest of the world is experiencing? 

Italy has approximately half the obesity rate as the United States. 

Tune in below (or wherever you get your podcasts) and learn how you too can eat like an Italian.

If you’re ready to learn to eat in a sustainable way that is in tune with your body’s hunger and fullness signals, to end emotional and drop down to your healthy weight, sign up for my online Weight Loss for Foodies program.

In it, you’ll go beyond what I talk about in the podcast, and can download worksheets to practice what you’re learning and guided audio practices. The cost is less than half of the price of the coaching program. 

Learn more and sign up HERE.