Diet in Latin language speaking countries of Europe
Please read the link below. Notice how southern France is almost always grouped in with the other Romance cultures of Italy, Spain, and Portugal, while the rest of France, is not always considered to be in the same group. It partly relates to languages, but it is mainly an interesting fact about diet.
And Fab, notice how the people in the picture look.
http://www.faqs.org/nutrition/Smi-Z/Southern-Europeans-Diet-of.html
Yeah, does anybody know much about northern European food? I used to have to some good Dutch friends when I lived in L.A., and the food was usually very heavy, and featured a lot of bread and potatoes, a lot of butter and well cooked vegetables, and lots of thick sauces and rich meats. A lot of sausage and other red meat. This also includes the German food that I've had before.
I know that southern Europeans live longer, despite having less sleep, and a higher rate of tobacco use, and a higher rate of caffeine intake. Many health experts attribute this to the low-stress lifestyle of the Mediterranean, along with their diet, and consumption of red wine, which has been known to reduce stress and its harmful effects on your body.
« I used to have to some good Dutch friends when I lived in L.A., and the food was usually very heavy, and featured a lot of bread and potatoes, a lot of butter and well cooked vegetables, and lots of thick sauces and rich meats. A lot of sausage and other red meat. »
That sounds very similar to the so-called traditional British food, which tends to be pieces of roast meat (beef is now less popular than it once was since the BSE scare) or sausage with Yorkshire pudding (made from something like pastry or batter), potatoes (roast, boiled or mashed), cabbage and boiled vegetables.
However, you'll probably find that very few British people under 65 eat primarily that sort of thing. The most popular food in Britain is curry, whilst pasta, pizza, paella and Mediterranean vegetables are completely normal and accepted. Upmarket cuisine in Britain is essentially French. For me, eating so-call traditional British food is a novelty which might happen about once a month or less.
"For me, eating so-call traditional British food is a novelty which might happen about once a month or less."
Hey Ben, I don't blame you. lol
Yeah, Central European food (UK-Benelux-Germany-Czechia) is not the most developed in the world. Steaks, Wienerschnitzel, fried potatoes, cabbage etc., it's quite astonishing how boring and unhealthy it can be.
As a Scandinavian I was quite shocked when I came to Germany, food-wise. In Scandinavia we are used to a lot of fresh nature products, preparing things as little as possible, so they retain their natural flavour and of course we eat a lot of fish. In Germany they just fry or overcook everything.
Well, it seems like the Scandanavian culinary philosophy is much like the Japanese one, which places an emphasis on not disrupting the simplicity of nature. They also eat a lot of fish. I'm interested in trying Scandanvian cuisine.
But yeah, Dutch and German food is not so good in my opinon. I'm more of a mediterranean food lover. Not to mention good Mexican food.
Is food somehow related to language? Like the Inuit who are said to have 15 words for snow. I've also heard that Latin has several words for kiss (which is something sexual, naïve, but sexual, just like ancient Romans).
How many words may Americans have for French fries? How many words may Italians have for noodles? And Japanese for sushi?
What I know about Norwegian cooking is basically that too much pinnekjøtt will help to put on quite a few kilograms :(
" And Fab, notice how the people in the picture look. "
They have brown hair, and then ? What it is supposed to mean ?
" However, you'll probably find that very few British people under 65 eat primarily that sort of thing "
When I was teenager (about 10 years ago), when I went to English families for linguistic exchanges in Bath, Chester or Stratford, the people were young (25-35 year old) but were always making this traditional english food.
But I guess that among teenagers this should be not very popular.
Yeah, in America, most French restaurants serve northern French cuisine. The food is very rich, with a lot of thick sauces. I would imagine southern French food is more mediterranean, which suits my fancy.
"They have brown hair, and then ? What it is supposed to mean ? "
No, they have dark brown hair, or as many would say in English, black hair. You should get a couple of books on places like Andalusia and Sicily. Every European person I meet can tell my ancestry is southern European. And I have medium brown hair, and tanned white skin. How is that Fab? Could it have to do with the color of my eyes, and my facial features perhaps?
« When I was teenager (about 10 years ago), when I went to English families for linguistic exchanges in Bath, Chester or Stratford, the people were young (25-35 year old) but were always making this traditional english food. »
That must've been distressing for you.