For Americans, the typical Italian meal looks like pizzas piled high with toppings, pasta with thick alfredo sauce and hearty meatballs and never-ending garlic breadsticks.
The reality, though, is that the Italian stereotype is all-American.
When U of M student Faith Roane left the U.S. for a semester abroad in Florence, Italy, she knew that her diet would change dramatically, but said it's primarily been a positive experience.
“I am always full after eating a decent meal in Italy, but I am never full of regret,” Roane said. “It’s a healthy full, and most of the foods aren’t so heavy that they’ll make you sick."
Although Italian foods like pasta and pizza are high in carbohydrates, almost all the vegetables and fruits are fresh. At restaurants, menu items that have been frozen are marked.
"Processed foods are few and far between in Italy," Roane said.