La Realtà di Italia

Eating like a Real Italian

I am a proud Italian American.

I fall under many of the stereotypes: I come from a big, loud, loving family. We can be obnoxious, sure—but we’re loyal, we feed everyone, and we tell the same stories over and over again. We’re not particularly tall, but we’ve got a good sense of humor about it.

I grew up eating pasta at least twice a week, avoiding overly processed American snacks, and knowing the difference between Parmigiano Reggiano and Parmesan. So naturally, when I moved to Italy, I thought, This will be easy.

I thought I was already eating like an Italian—but in realtà, I had a lot to learn.

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My American Diet: A Look Back

Breakfast:
The classic American start: eggs, bacon, and iced coffee. If I was home in New Jersey, I’d grab a Taylor Ham, Egg, and Cheese—a bagel delicacy I still make time for whenever I’m back. Salty and Savory.

“This still makes my mouth water.”

Lunch:
Honestly? I skipped it. I’d snack—maybe an apple or some crackers. I wasn’t a sandwich person, and I loathed peanut butter and jelly. What I really wanted was a hot meal, but American life doesn’t leave room for that.

Dinner:
We ate together as a family every night—always a main meal with a starch and a protein. My favorite? Pasta with clams (no shells!). We had pasta once or twice a week, and my mom always made a salad to go with it. Compared to most Americans, we ate pretty well.

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My Italian Diet: Learning to Eat Differently

Colazione:
Italy flipped breakfast upside-down for me. I remember my first cappuccino and chocolate croissant at a local bar—so sweet I almost couldn’t handle it. And yes, I added sugar to the cappuccino out of habit.

I shudder at the thought now.

These days, breakfast is still sweet, but calmer: granola, Greek yogurt, and a Moka coffee with a splash of milk.
(Note to self: Find a good recipe for homemade granola.)

Pranzo:
Pasta al sugo.
Lunch is my favorite meal now. Guido makes it once a week—sometimes when we’re both working from home, sometimes on Sunday when we want something simple and satisfying.

We eat pasta at lunch, not dinner, because it’s carb-heavy and gives you energy to burn during the day (not while you sleep).

The biggest change? Portion size. In the U.S., I’d eat half a pound of pasta—about 230 grams. Now I eat around 130. Eating smaller portions isn’t necessarily Italian—it’s just not American.

Cena:
Protein and vegetables—no carbs. Not a hard rule, but it’s surprisingly common.
Unfortunately (to my eternal disappointment), Italians don’t eat pizza and pasta every day. You can, of course—but you’ll gain a few kilos.

What I’ve learned is this: vegetables aren’t a side dish here. They’re the foundation of the dinner plate.

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Final Thoughts:

What I thought was “eating like an Italian” was really just eating Italian American. The soul was there—the pasta, the family meals, the love of good food—but the structure, the rhythm, and the portions? That took time to understand. And honestly, I'm still learning. But I wouldn't trade my lunchtime pasta al sugo with my fiance for anything.

Eat Well,

Ella