Life in Italy vs America Part 2

Cooking fresh foods purchased daily is a way of life for Italians.     This 'life style' is what I enjoy when 'living' in Italy for my 6 or 8 weeks each year.   When I am fortunate to have an apartment for part of each trip, I visit the local markets and try to understand what the Italians cook for their families.

So Leslie's post (see Life in Italy vs American part I) started a conversation on how Americans eat.

Fresh foods have a color that is vibrant

Why we might not be willing (or able) to buy food daily and cook in a healthy way.   When you work 9 or 10 hrs a day and commute another 1 or 2 hours, it is very tempting to buy something pre-cooked or prepared, bagged salad, microwave veggies, etc.      What about the pizza you order when you 'have nothing in the house?  Or the drive through because eating in the car while driving may be the only way you can get a meal.

Well, Leslie had a strong opinion on this and it started to make me think:

Sometimes the fresh veggies come to you!

Even the super mercato has FRESH

Lesley Daoust:   "Work-life balance, live to work, or work to live?     Life is precious and all too brief to live it chasing success and money, happiness can be found in the simple things around us. Follow your dreams and work becomes your 'hobby', cooking becomes a way to express yourself. Cooking a great meal brings people together, new friendships are formed at the table, inviting people over for a quick snack is a great way to make new friends, conversation never fail when talking about food, Everyone appreciates the time and effort it takes to make a cake, or biscuits, or even a quick pasta dish . Never underestimate the power of a woman in the kitchen..."


I am thinking of Lesley's words and meaning as i eat Italian orzo in canned soup....hmmm not there yet.

As a future expat, will Italians even accept an outsider?

I dont think Italian's think Italian Americans are REAL Italians.

What do you think?