Eating in Italy: Some Statistics
From
Cosa Bolle in Pentola:
La Repubblica,
one of the major Italian dailies, recently picked up on an article in USA
Today, according to which Americans have become a nation of "ruminants" who
munch snacks throughout the day but rarely sit down to a full meal.
This
may be true and it may not; what I found interesting was a sidebar with
statistics on Italian eating habits. It turns out that 75% of the population
eats a full meal (first course, second with vegetable, and fruit or dessert) at
least once every day; 30% just have one course at lunch, and 8% just grab a
bite to eat at midday. One out of five Italians eats out at least once a day,
and the percentage increases to one out of three between the ages of 35 and 45.
On average, a Milanese will spend 18 minutes at table, whereas a Palermitano
will spend 60; in Torino it's 25 and in Rome it's 35. Those who prepare meals
spend an average of 40 minutes per day doing so on weekdays, and 75 on
weekends. 10 years ago the average was 90 minutes.
Life is more hurried
than it used to be.
A presto,
Kyle
Phillips
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