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The Italian Diet Weight Factors

Written by Sky Taylor, Diet Bites

Traditional Italian Foods

Italy's Food Sources, the Italian Basic Daily Diet 

The 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 Style

One 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 Schedules

Breakfast 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 Foods

Spaghetti 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
Canned vs Restaurant Style

Nutrition Comparison: Spaghetti & Meatballs

Canned Spaghetti & Meatballs

Restaurant Spaghetti & Meatballs

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

Italian sausage also tends to be popular within this culture.

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.

Nutrition Facts, Calories for Sweet Italian Pork Sausage, Links

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

Nutrition Fact, Calorie Comparison for Lasagna vs Ravioli

Comparison: Lasagna vs Ravioli

Lasagna With Meat Sauce

Ravioli, Cheese Filled With Tomato Sauce

Nutritional Elements

piece side
123 g

piece corner
114 g

piece center
255 g

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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