How to Eat for the Rest of Your Life

How to Change a Few Habits

Food writer Nancy Harmon Jenkins, who lives part of the year in Tuscany, tells us how to adopt a little of the healthy Italian lifestyle.

Make meals a social activity.
People in the Mediterranean don't usually eat alone in front of a TV or computer. Turn off the electronics and take time to enjoy every bite and actually talk to your family and friends.

Shrink your plate.
Even our dinnerware is bigger in the United Sates. Plates, cups, and glasses are up to 50 percent smaller in many Mediterranean homes. Research from Cornell University shows that people tend to fill whatever plate or glass they're using. So swapping in smaller plates and glasses is an easy way to eat and drink less without even thinking about it.

Treat your kids like grown-ups.
Children in many Mediterranean countries don't eat any differently from adults. They may be served less, but no one would think of giving them a completely different meal. Shelve the nuggets and buttered pasta and have your whole family experiment with new types of fruits, vegetables, grains, and other foods. Your kids will adjust with some practice.

Take a daily passeggiata.
That's Italian for "little walk," an opportunity to get some exercise before or after dinner. In Italy you see people of all ages arm in arm, just strolling and chatting. It's less about trying to squeeze in a workout and more about getting out for relaxation and fun.

Do what mamma said.
Eat more fruits and vegetables. Go outside and get some fresh air. Even if you can do just a little bit to change your lifestyle, you'll start to see a positive change. This isn't a revolutionary way of thinking or living -- it's just one that makes sense.