Taffiny, you’ve hit on something that I touched on a bit above–it’s not *just* about the pasta and what kind it is, IMHO, it’s about all those other things eaten in addition to the pasta. For instance, most Italians would never think of eating bread at the same time as pasta–and with butter? Aah! No! Right there, look how many calories and fat grams they’ve saved.

Then there’s the sauce that you love Most Italians don’t use a lot of sauce on their pasta whereas in an American Italian restaurant, sometimes it’s hard to find the pasta in the mountain of sauce (one of many reasons I never went to many Italian restaurants in America even before I lived here).

Honestly? I think processed food is the one to blame–regular pasta and bread, in moderation, isn’t inherently unhealthy.

Too funny about reminding your son that you’re a person! Anyway, there’s no reason you wouldn’t be able to eat just sauce for dinner once in a while, although I’d recommend going heavy on the eggplant Yum!

About AV’s point, yes, again with hospitals there’s a similar issue. Insurance and drug companies? Hmm….

As for the reminder, I’ll be sure to mention the strike again on/around the 13th

Dave- yes, the sauce. My son is horrified again and again, to see me eating pasta sauce (minus the pasta) for dinner. My fav comes from Italy and has eggplant in it. ( He keeps telling me “people don’t do that”. I keep reminding him “I am a person”)

African V, I find mystery here too. Where does the money go? Reminds me of hospitals, everything costs a fortune there (just say no to cotton balls and q-tips, or you will have to sell your car to cover the cost), and yet hospitals always say they are going bankrupt.

I am now hungry for pasta, and am mentally planning tomorrows dinner. (you will have to remind me on the 12/13th, if you want us to join you. I am sure I can commit myself to a one day pastaless protest.)

For you, your “diet” will likely allow you to keep off the pounds b/c you’ve essentially made a lifestyle change–and that’s what most people *really* need to do in order to lose weight.

Easier said than done, I know, but IMHO, so worth it to feel healthier and better about oneself

For my house, I’m going to push for a lot of vegetables (and probably either fresh rabbit or chicken) on the 13th; I don’t see homemade pasta in the near future, although it is on tap for the winter if we can find ourselves a machine. Neither P nor I are huge fans of risotto, so I doubt that’ll be happening.

You’re very right about the coffee. When you compare a Starbucks grande to a teaspoon, perhaps the prices are actually pretty much the same by volume. And cities are definitely way more expensive, surprise surprise.

So, what will it be for you, Sognatrice? Pasta fresca or risotto on the 13th? If there is flour and eggs, there is pasta. Poor Ivano thinks he hasn’t eaten if there is no pasta! (I have duck fat if you want potatoes!)

All these prices that sound cheap to other nationalities are cheap because Italians get paid nothing. Un caffé here is 80 centesimi. It’s a tablespoon if coffee, folks! I paid that in Tuscany yesterday and all the time here in Umbria– but not in city centers like Siena and Florence.