2. Let’s define Food Pyramid
1. A graphic representation of the structure of a food
chain, depicted as a pyramid having a broad base
formed by producers and tapering to a point formed
by end consumers. Between successive levels, total
biomass decreases as energy is lost from the system.
2. A diagrammatic representation of recommended
portions of basic food groups. Also called diet
pyramid.
7. The original food pyramid was designed to try and reverse the
growing trend of heart disease and other diseases caused by
bad nutrition and bad diet. In the US this is because the
population has more than tendency to eat junk food and skimp
on the essential vitamins provided by fruits and vegetables.
SO HOW DOES THE ITALIAN FOOD PYRAMID
DIFFER?
Mediterranean - The region surrounding the Mediterranean Sea. Several
important ancient civilizations flourished in the region, which was dominated for
millennia by Phoenicia, Carthage, Greece, Sicily, and Rome.
8. There is much more of an
emphasis on eating foods that
have a plant origin.
There is also much more emphasis
on eating fish and shellfish at least
twice a week.
Not only are fruits and
vegetables eaten a lot more
by the Italians and
Mediterranean’s, but they
also eat many more grains,
legumes, nuts, seeds,
olives, and olive oil.
This is always going to
make for good healthy
food, packed with vitamins
and minerals.
The last few years
healthiness of the
Mediterranean diet has got a
lot to do with the fact that
Italians and Mediterranean
on the whole have far less
chronic diseases which are
associated with the Western
diet such as heart attacks and
strokes etc.
The Italian food pyramid basically concentrates on
more of the foods that make up the Mediterranean diet.
9.
10. I T A L I A N C U I S I N E , A L O N G W I T H A L L
M E D I T E R R A N E A N C U I S I N E S , I N C O R P O R A T E S S O M E
O F T H E B E S T F O O D S T H A T A R E G R O W N I N T H E
R E G I O N .
It is also one of the tastiest food
pyramids to follow.
11. THE ITALIAN CUISINE HAS TRULY GONE
GLOBAL AND PEOPLE EVERYWHERE IN THE
WORLD SEEMS INFATUATED WITH IT.
HOWEVER, THERE IS MORE TO ITALIAN FOOD
THAN JUST PIZZA AND PASTA. WHEN PEOPLE
THINK OF POPULAR ITALIAN FOOD, THEY MOST
LIKELY THINK OF LASAGNA, TORTELLINI, OR
SPAGHETTI. HOWEVER, ITALIAN FOOD IS
ACTUALLY A LITTLE DIFFERENT AND MUCH
MORE DIVERSE.
12. Pizza
Honestly…was there
any doubt about what
would be number
one? One of the
interesting things
about the original
Italian pizza though is
that it does not
contain a great deal
of cheese or tomato
sauce and the crust is
quite thin. In Italy, a
small pizza is often
eaten as a starter
rather than an entrée.
13. Spaghetti
Anywhere in the world
that you go, you can
find spaghetti. While
there are many other
extremely popular
pasta dishes you can
find anywhere in the
world, spaghetti must
be considered the
favorite. It is easy to
make, very cheap and
there are so many
different varieties.
14. Lasagna is truly a
classic Italian dish.
Lasagna is made
of a combination
of sausage,
parmesan and
mozzarella
cheeses, ricotta,
and ground beef.