Eating:
Now I could not help but to compare the eating habits of Spaniards and Americans. I did again come to an understanding of why Americans are so fat and don't live as long as Europeans... No it is not because we are genetically different and pre-disposed to being fat. Additionally in Spain, there were some beer bellys but I only saw MAYBE one Pannus and that might have been an American. (shout out to Lindsey Smith) And even though in general Americans don't have the same access to healthcare as Spaniards, and that certainly doesn't help, I don't think it is due to our lack of access to health care(sorry Michael Moore). If you simply look at how we eat and live our lives vs how the Spaniards and probably the rest of the world does you will see it is because us Americans are determined to gorge ourselves for our "big meal."
So the Spaniards "big meal" is generally at around 2pm and rather than the normal sit around shut up and eat till your face is stuffed this time is as much about enjoying the time with the people you are eating with as much as nourishment. Also the meals are more about enjoying the food than being full. So imagine the big meal... You have some basket of bread which u share amongst 4 people that you dip in olive oil. Then 15 minutes or so after that they bring out the first dish, which is generally a vegetable of some sort(it might not be green, i.e a potato of some sort). After that you might enjoy something again light which is shared, like jamon(paper thin sliced ham), or crackers and a cheese spread, or duck liver spread(it actually tastes good, dont knock it till you try it) After that you will be given a main dish, which could be fish, chicken, or steak, with some type of starch. If you still want to eat after that all of your friends could share a dessert. This process takes about an hour to an hour and a half.
Now let's look at the differences and similarity between a Spaniards big meal meal and an Americans big meal:
- Spaniards eat as a family, Americans gorge themselves when they can and solo.
- Spaniards eat their main meal at 2pm, and even though they nap afterwards they still have about 8 hours after that until they go to sleep. American's main meal is at approximately 7pm to 9pm and after this face stuffing event we go to sleep about an hour and a half later.
- Spaniards have small pieces of bread which they dip in olive oil. Americans soak their bread in heart clogging butter.
- Spaniards big meal is probably under 1000 cals if I had to guess, while your average Americans big meal is at least 1500 cals.
- Spaniards eat their food for taste, and not to be full
- Problem is after eating a Spanish meal you will probably still be hungry, (if you are American, or really hungry)
- Spaniards food seems fresh and even the french fries don't have the excess grease feel, and were probably friend in olive oil
- The Spaniards also don't eat a whole lot of different colors, their food is extremely tan and brown which is generally a bad sign, it should be vibrant with a lot of colors
