USA and Italy vs food

[Foxy]

This thread means to explain (or make you think) why two well being countries differ so much in terms of obesity.
What I show here is the result of studies, documentaries, lessons about nutririon (offered in Italian public school) and what I personally saw in Australia (ok Australia is not America, but they still share very similar habits and problems: Australia is the second most obese country in the world).

Food advertisement, USA
American/Australian advertisement focuses on big portions at cheap costs. It means that they stress how much you can eat with few money. Their motto is "bigger is better" and it is parts of the mythe of gigantism lanced by the USA since the 50s.
Here examples of popular American foods and their advertisements.





Food advertisement, Italy
Italian publicity focuses instead on quality. TV encourages people to spend a bit more buying biological food. Higher costs are justified because agricultures actually produce less quantity using less pesticides, their products are uglier but they are healthier. Also Italian TV advertisement often depict a whole family that eats slowly around a table. They stress the importance of healthy, natural and home-made products.

(Where is Barilla is your home)


(Eat healthy, return to nature)


(Only fresh sauces have a fresh taste. They are so fresh that you find them only in the fridge)


What they serve in schools, USA


What they serve in schools, Italy


Food topping, USA


Food topping, Italy



What people drink during meals, USA


What people drink during meals, Italy



What they mean by sandwich, USA



What they mean by sandwich, Italy

[Smaug]

In Brazil is the same as Italy.

[Foxy]

In Brazil is the same as Italy.

It is visible

[Linebacker]

Both have shit unhealthy food.

[Foxy]

Other causes that lead Americans to obesity:

Huger portions
Many Americans seem to ignore that your stomach can't be bigger than your fist, hence most of the food you eat is not necessary.



Large consumption of processed food
Processed food is less nourishing, it often contains extra fats. Low fat foods contains less fat but more sugar, so they are even less nourishing. It means that you will return hungry faster.

Sugar addiction
Sugar gives dipendence. When they are not accompanied by the right dose of fibers they go directly to the liver. Liver is unable to digest all this sugar so it transforms soon sugar in body fat.

Sugar is omnipresent in American diet: it exists in cereals (Kellog's, Cheerios...), sauces, fizzy drinks, beer and alcool in general. You may eat little but gain extra mass easier.

What Americans serve as side dish



What Italians serve as side dish
The right role of the side dish is to fill a part of your stomach with vegetables, so that you will eat less other foods.



What Americans eat for breakfast


What Italians eat for breakfast

OR


What Americans call snack


What Italians call snack

[Foxy]

Both have shit unhealthy food.

Italian food is condiered one of the healthiest and most balanced in the world.

[Casandrinos]

I prefer the barbarized Murican pizza than the original

[Longbowman]

As if Italians don't also eat junk food.

But it's rarer that they do, and often their sweets are Italian delicacies, pastries and such, and not supermarket variety things. Their dietary culture is much healthier, both physically and I believe psychologically.

[Foxy]

I prefer the barbarized Murican pizza than the original

Then this for you


This for me


This for you


This for me