Body Image: Italy

You know what makes me sad? When someone feels guilty for consuming food. Unless you have stolen food from someone, there is virtually no reason on earth why you should feel bad for eating. I write this for individuals who are underweight and overweight and every single thing in between. Far too often do people use food as a punishment rather than an enjoyment. The public sometimes uses the fashion industry as a scapegoat for this widespread trend and I find this completely unfortunate. After spending some time in the fashion capital of the world (!!!) I have witnessed a trend that has revolutionized the way I feel about food.

"Italians do not eat to live, they live to eat."

This quote perfectly sums up Italy's contagious love of cuisine. From the southernmost tip of Sicily to the very top of Milano, food is an essential part of happiness. No one is obsessing over fad diets or juice cleanses. Kale doesn't take center stage for Italians like it does (for me) in the States. They have so much respect for their food and where it comes from and how it is grown which translates to the highest form of SELF-RESPECT. Italians are a million times more conscious than Americans about what they put in their bodies. No crazy chemicals and no GMOs. Just pure and wholesome ingredients prepared in a way that satisfies the mind, body and soul. Italians are aware that everyone has a unique body type and I firmly believe they do not try to drastically alter what God gave them by restricting their food intake. They don't over-indulge, they simply enjoy. The portions here are normal and one never needs a "to-go" box like in an Olive Garden where portions are so ungodly they could feed a small village. This approach to food has made me realize that instead of concentrating on what I shouldn't eat (OMG carbs), I should concentrate on what I should eat. I hope you will join me in celebrating the joy that food provides when viewed the right way. Stop wasting your life and your happiness by analyzing every inch of your body and trying to force a change that is not meant to happen. If you were born with protruding collarbones and mile-long legs, embrace it. If you are so curvy that it is hard to find pants to fit properly, own it. Being healthy doesn't start by killing yourself on a treadmill. It starts by feeling good about yourself. Thank you, Italy for showing me that food is truly the key to this inner peace.  Food is a celebration and a true work of art for Italians.