Euro Mysteries

I sleepily walked down to the kitchen at eleven thirty in the morning, awoken by the lovely aromas of simmering vegetables and grilling meat. A hint of sweetness also filled the air, reminded me of plum pudding. My host family was whirling around the kitchen, preparing platters of beautiful food: mashed potatoes, fresh salad, grilled chicken, oven-fresh bread, steamed corn, platters of tomato and mozzarella, and some wonderful-looking (and smelling) pudding. Soon the entire family, grandparents included, were clustered around the dining room table, eagerly anticipating what was to come. And of course as usual, there was no disappointment. The food and the company were both wonderful, cheerful, and uplifting. After a delicious savory dinner, my host mom served up a hot plum pudding complete with freshly whipped cream. “Mittagessen” is what they called this fantastic couple hours in the middle of the day. A time for family, conversation, and of course excellent cuisine.

After a month of this kind of treatment, it was hard to get used to eating cold sandwiches and yogurt for lunch back home. I was lucky enough to have spent a month living in Germany this summer. Not only did I see gorgeous places and meet amazing people, but I also got a first-hand taste of Germany at its finest. My host community was teeming with exquisite bakers, chefs, gardeners, and brewmasters.

With this much abundant delicious food, it seems that obesity would also be abundant. However, while in Europe for a month this summer, I noticed quite the opposite. What I saw were fit, healthy-looking, relaxed, happy people. Never once did I see advertisements for dieting or even spot someone caring to check the nutrition facts. All that seemed to matter was the enjoyment of the food; something I think we are beginning to lose out on here in the United States.  

According to Raj Patel’s Stuffed and Starved, over one-sixth of the population is overweight (1), with the United States leading the world with the most per capita obese people. Is it because of what we eat or the way we eat? Are we too afraid of what food might do to us that it just does exactly what we’re afraid of? What if we started eating our largest meals at noon instead of during the evening in order to give our bodies more active time to metabolize (aka Euro-style)? All I can say is that somehow those Europeans have it figured out. For the most part at least.