• Good Food Good Mood• COMENIUS Multilateral school partnerships• 2012-1-GB1-COM06-18592-9

• From Italian Unification to From Italian Unification to Mediterranean dietMediterranean diet

• By Mocean

National Gastronomy and food consumptions at the end of 19°

century• Although Italy reached its Although Italy reached its

national unity in 1861,it still national unity in 1861,it still remained divided on multiple remained divided on multiple fronts: the many dialects, fronts: the many dialects, traditions of each province, but traditions of each province, but especially Italy was divided in the especially Italy was divided in the kitchen. Accompanied in the kitchen. Accompanied in the bright atmosphere of patriotism, bright atmosphere of patriotism, after the unification of Italy ,it after the unification of Italy ,it was attempted several times to was attempted several times to make an inventory of regional make an inventory of regional recipes to build an Italian cuisine recipes to build an Italian cuisine identity.identity.

Pellegrino Artusi • The most important work in The most important work in

this field was "Science in the this field was "Science in the Kitchen and the Art of Eating Kitchen and the Art of Eating Well", written by Artusi Well", written by Artusi Pellegrino in 1891. It Pellegrino in 1891. It was a was a practical manual for families practical manual for families containing 790 recipes and containing 790 recipes and even a manual for the "weak even a manual for the "weak stomachs" but all the recipes stomachs" but all the recipes belong to noble/ rich classes belong to noble/ rich classes and do not represent the and do not represent the total reality of the period. total reality of the period. The manual was a great The manual was a great success and a scholar success and a scholar asserted that he did more asserted that he did more than Alessandro Manzoni than Alessandro Manzoni was able to do. It still was able to do. It still remains a “must” in Italian remains a “must” in Italian CookingCooking

Italian consumes of working classes at the end of the 19th century

• After national unity (1861)Italy lived in a situation of poverty and nutrition of low classes was absolutely insufficient

• There was a significant difference in the amounts of food in the three regions

• Cereals and vegetables prevail, meat and fish have a marginal weight.

• One thing that seems to be a unifying the nation is the

Italian wine.

Kilos/Litres per week (From an investigation of the

Government)

North Centre South

bread 4,59 5,32 7,20

pasta 0,41 1,29 2,03

rice 1,38 0.32 0,12

Fresh meat 0.78 0.75 0.53

Salted meat 0,17 0.16 0,12

cheese 0,21 0,35 0,32

Milk (litres) 0,78 0,20 1,25

vegetables 1,59 1,28 2,50

Wine (litres) 3,07 5,24 5,70

Effects of a poor diet

• In the North people ate approximately 200/250 grams of polenta ( corn flour cooked with water ) which corresponds to 1000 grams of cooked product.

• This situation produced what was called the 3 “d” disease : dementia, diarrhea, dermatitis.

• In addition poor people had a diet low in meat, but rich in grains and vegetables and were often affected by pellagra, vitamin deficiency anemia, rickets, scurvy : the situation was not romantic!

• An old saying described the situation: “ “ for the holidays all the wrinkles are removed for the holidays all the wrinkles are removed

from the stomach”from the stomach”( of course because they could eat more!)

«Il mangiatore di fagioli» di Annibale Carracci (1583-1584).

From 1861 to 2007

Vegetal proteins ; animal proteins; vegetal fats; animal fats; carbohydrates; alcohol .

It increased fats and animal proteins and decreased vegetal proteins and carbohydrates

The poor start of the Mediterranean diet

• However, eating in this However, eating in this way people did not way people did not realize that they were realize that they were starting what are today starting what are today considered the basic considered the basic principles of the principles of the Mediterranean diet even Mediterranean diet even if their poor and low if their poor and low quality food was not quality food was not certainly healthy as the certainly healthy as the Mediterranean diet is Mediterranean diet is today considered.today considered.

The Mediterranean Diet

The primary energy of life is the food!

If the food is energy then we have to acknowledge that the

current power system is bankrupt

Now for the food we have lost the perception of the difference between value and price. We are all very careful about how much it costs, not to its value, that is all that we can have back. We need to pay more attention to what we eat and how we treat ourselves.

We can do it by eating with the "Mediterranean Diet“ principles.

The Mediterranean Diet is a nutritional model recognized by UNESCO, inspired by the traditional dietary patterns of the four countries of the Mediterranean: Italy, Greece, Spain, Morocco.Thanks to it, we live better, eat healthy and reduce the incidence of vascular disease.

It represents a set of skills, knowledge, It represents a set of skills, knowledge, practices and traditions ranging from practices and traditions ranging from farm to table, including the crops, farm to table, including the crops, fishing, conservation, food processing, fishing, conservation, food processing, preparation and consumption of food .preparation and consumption of food .

It is characterized by a nutritional It is characterized by a nutritional model constant in time which consists model constant in time which consists of: olive oil, cereals, fresh or dried fruit, of: olive oil, cereals, fresh or dried fruit, vegetables, fish in moderation, dairy vegetables, fish in moderation, dairy products and meat mostly white products and meat mostly white (chicken, turkey, rabbit), condiments, (chicken, turkey, rabbit), condiments, spices, accompanied by wine or spices, accompanied by wine or infusions respecting the traditions of infusions respecting the traditions of each community.each community.

For many people , the Mediterranean For many people , the Mediterranean diet has become a life style ( Just to diet has become a life style ( Just to remember Michelle Obama's significant remember Michelle Obama's significant commitment with which in recent years commitment with which in recent years has promoted in U.S.A and, in has promoted in U.S.A and, in particular, among children and their particular, among children and their families, a healthy lifestyle based on families, a healthy lifestyle based on the fundamental principles of the the fundamental principles of the Mediterranean Diet) .Mediterranean Diet) .

It promotes social It promotes social interaction: food in interaction: food in common is the basis of common is the basis of social customs or holidays, social customs or holidays, shared by a community.shared by a community.

•The Mediterranean Diet The Mediterranean Diet ensures the preservation ensures the preservation and development of and development of traditional activities and traditional activities and crafts linked to fishing and crafts linked to fishing and farming communities of the farming communities of the Mediterranean, respecting Mediterranean, respecting the environment.the environment.

•It also respects It also respects biodiversity , uses and biodiversity , uses and defends local products and defends local products and ensures sustainability. ensures sustainability.

Mediterranean diet and sustainability

• If we compare the Mediterranean food pyramid and the environmental If we compare the Mediterranean food pyramid and the environmental pyramid we can see that the environmental impact of the most consumed pyramid we can see that the environmental impact of the most consumed products is very low. On the contrary the highest impact is represented by products is very low. On the contrary the highest impact is represented by the products that should be consumed in small quantities.the products that should be consumed in small quantities.

Thank you!