My Thoughts Exactly  (7)

FATMAN OF EUROPE

Came across this chart (on-line) and was shocked! Not surprised that we came so close to USA in the obesity charts, but shocked at how much better other European countries fared.

 Italy: home of pasta; pizza; and many rich sauces, yet only beaten by Norway, Japan and Korea!  And France also rated at 9% which is not so surprising.

Having worked with many European students, I have gained an insight into their food habits:

 French students en masse have a deep abhorrence for processed food of any kind. This has obviously been drilled into them from a very early age and they had no desire to follow the ‘junk-food’ route even whilst on holiday.

Italians have a passion for food and reject any notion of ‘fast-food’. In fact it was once joked that if ‘Ready, steady, cook’ was transferred to Italian TV it would last three hours!

     Last year I was lucky enough to be invited to an Italian wedding. After the ceremony, in a beautiful old church with amazing tiled floors, we made our way to the hotel where the reception was held. We were greeted there with brightly coloured cocktails and trays of tiny pastries of many different kinds.

      We had barely finished attacking these when we were invited into the dining room and sat down to a menu of no fewer than nine courses! I was horrified – how on earth would we cope with that and not offend the host. But amazingly the whole meal was unhurried, informal, no speeches, lovely background music and glasses of wine discreetly filled by observant waiters. I had no idea how much wine I had had as I never got to the bottom of my glass!

        But between each course everyone left the table, walked outside to admire the view (over the Bay of Naples); youngsters danced; bride and groom stopped to chat to guests and we all gradually filtered back ready for the next course. It lasted all afternoon and well into the evening. The food was out-of-this world, beautifully arranged on each plate; and it was perfectly cooked.

 And that is the point. The life-style here does not allow for an unhurried meal-time ever! Working people have little time for breakfast; even less time for lunch and arrive home very hungry and exhausted and wanting something quick and easy. And who can blame them?

In Italy and France work begins early and lunch breaks last at least two hours. Here we expect people to work all day on very little food intake and it is natural that they make–up with a large meal in the evening, one that is quickly thrown together!

When I was young the main meal of the day was at midday. Even school dinners were pretty substantial and included a ‘proper pudding’. (This allowed us to indulge in teatimes, too!)

Of course men on ‘shifts’ were catered for differently, but Sunday dinner was the centre point of the day off and was usually followed by a family stroll or outing. And we children played outside in all weathers and everyday!

Germany also manages a BMI index that is 10% lower than that of the UK as does Ireland. Again I have an insight into the reasoning behind this. Years ago, a German couple I knew had to make a long car journey that would take several hours. When they stopped for a break did they head for the nearest ‘Little Chef’ or similar? No! They made a stop in a suitable lay-by, unpacked badminton racquets and shuttlecocks and spent an hour in a hectic game of ‘federball’!  Then feeling totally refreshed they continued their journey!

The Irish have got to be the most ‘unhurried’ people in the world, especially in the rural areas. But there again, there is a reason that life styles have worsened. Life in all cities, even in Italy, is changing and contrasts starkly with that of countryside villages. Mothers work, there is less time for meal-preparation and short-cuts have to be taken.

Fast food is here to stay, so the alternative has to be more exercise. If you can find any green space left in the UK for your children to enjoy that is!

But that is another story!