The Italian Diet Weight FactorsWritten by Sky Taylor, Diet Bites Traditional Italian Foods Italy's Food Sources, the Italian Basic Daily DietThe Italian diet is super rich in carbohydrates with delectable breads and creamy pastas creating the base for almost all things good in Italy. Although the Italian diet is filled with tastes of heaven (except maybe for the exception of the exotic meat-faire listed below) the Italian diet is dynamited with fat. Just a few bites of some foods contains the amount of calories that an individual may need for the entire day. The quandary is that Italians carry their weight quite well. Weight Loss & Walking Italian StyleOne of the keys that assist Italians in keeping weight under control is the vast amount of walking performed going to and from work, to and from the markets - amid the hills and valleys. You know - they set the bar where shoe-quality is concerned, probably based on the fact that they are experts in the area of walking. It's almost impossible to beat a good pair of Italian-made shoes. Italians' Meal SchedulesBreakfast might consist of a croissant and cappuccino - or maybe a healthy yogurt. A light pastry might suffice for a pre-lunch snack. Lunch tends to be the heaviest meal of the day as workers shut down to savor the lazy time of day. Dinner comes late in the day, sometimes into the late evening hours and is generally very light. Some of the foods prevalent in the Italian diet include: lasagna, tortellini, mortadella, prosciutto, presto, foccacia bread. Sun dried tomatoes are used in many of the tomato based Italian cuisine. Exotic meat faire includes, donkey steaks, frogs, entrails pudding. Desserts are divine: cannoli, zeppole, marzipan, and tiramisu. Nutritional Values for Popular Italian FoodsSpaghetti and meatballs can be prepared with moderate or significant calories. To keep values in check where fat and energy is concerned, opt for extra lean ground beef for meatballs. The red sauce is based on the healthy tomato and tends to be low in caloric values as most of the sauce is pureed tomatoes. Added sugar increases values. Nutrition Facts, Calories for Spaghetti & Meatballs
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Nutrition Comparison: Spaghetti & Meatballs |
Canned Spaghetti & Meatballs |
Restaurant Spaghetti & Meatballs |
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Nutritional Elements |
100 grams |
1 cup |
1 can, 411 g |
100 grams |
1 cup |
1 serving, 565 g |
Calories kcals |
97 |
239 |
399 |
170 |
228 |
960 |
Protein g |
4.46 |
10.97 |
18.33 |
7.84 |
10.51 |
44.30 |
Carbohydrates g |
10.89 |
26.79 |
44.76 |
15.51 |
20.78 |
87.63 |
Fiber, Dietary g |
2.7 |
6.6 |
11.1 |
1.5 |
2.0 |
8.5 |
Sugars g |
2.65 |
6.52 |
10.89 |
2.03 |
2.72 |
11.47 |
Total Fat g |
4.00 |
9.84 |
16.44 |
8.52 |
11.42 |
48.14 |
Saturated Fat g |
1.439 |
3.540 |
5.914 |
3.104 |
4.159 |
17.538 |
Monounsaturated Fat g |
1.606 |
3.951 |
6.601 |
3.600 |
4.824 |
20.340 |
Polyunsaturated Fat g |
0.486 |
1.196 |
1.997 |
1.213 |
1.625 |
6.853 |
Trans Fat g |
0.137 |
0.337 |
0.563 |
0.217 |
0.291 |
1.226 |
Cholesterol mg |
7 |
17 |
29 |
19 |
25 |
107 |
Traditionally prepared the sausage is extreme in fat, and particularly so in the area of cholesterol which can contribute to clogged arteries thus triggering heart disease and stroke - among other diseases such as cancer.
When purchasing Italian sausage in modern day markets, look for the leanest cuts containing minimal fat. To prepare, try slicing the links into tiny circles and preparing them in a pan on the stove top in which a bit of extra virgin olive oil has been added. Cook thoroughly and serve over whole grain rice.
You can even add one of your favorite sauces to bring out new flavors. Or you can mix the cook sausage rings with vegetables such as carrots, shredded cabbage andbroccoli florets.
Nutritional Elements |
Units |
100 grams |
3 ounces |
Energy, Calories |
kcals |
149 |
125 |
Protein |
g |
16.13 |
13.55 |
Carbohydrates |
g |
2.10 |
1.76 |
Fiber, Dietary |
g |
0.0 |
0.0 |
Sugars |
g |
0.0 |
0.0 |
Total Fat |
g |
8.42 |
7.07 |
Saturated Fat |
g |
3.257 |
2.736 |
Monounsaturated Fat |
g |
3.629 |
3.048 |
Polyunsaturated Fat |
g |
0.493 |
0.414 |
Cholesterol |
mg |
0 |
0 |
Comparison: Lasagna vs Ravioli |
Lasagna With Meat Sauce |
Ravioli, Cheese Filled With Tomato Sauce |
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Nutritional Elements |
piece side |
piece corner |
piece center |
1 Tablespoon |
1 Piece 8 g |
Calories kcals |
166 |
154 |
344 |
16 |
8 |
Protein g |
8.95 |
8.30 |
18.56 |
0.58 |
0.29 |
Carbohydrates g |
18.89 |
17.51 |
39.17 |
2.61 |
1.30 |
Fiber, Dietary g |
2.1 |
1.9 |
4.3 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
Sugars g |
3.83 |
3.55 |
7.93 |
0.09 |
0.05 |
Total Fat g |
6.05 |
5.61 |
12.55 |
0.35 |
0.18 |
Saturated Fat g |
2.888 |
2.677 |
5.987 |
0.154 |
0.077 |
Monounsaturated Fat g |
2.162 |
2.004 |
4.483 |
0.091 |
0.046 |
Polyunsaturated Fat g |
0.533 |
0.494 |
1.104 |
0.077 |
0.038 |
Trans Fat g |
0.241 |
0.223 |
0.500 |
n/a |
n/a |
Cholesterol mg |
21 |
19 |
43 |
1 |
1 |
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