Getting it Right

Jamie Oliver, one of my favorite cookbook authors and television chefs, says he's noticed, on trips to Italy, that many of the young people live what is considered 'modern-day life' but it's actually equivalent to life in the U.S. and Britain circa the 1970's. They do have cell phones and computers but they are not an essential part of everyday life and not as many people have them as do here. Jamie says, "There is also a massive working-class population and a very small proportion of wealthy people."

He goes on to write:

So I think Italy has managed to retain a lot of its brilliant things because there hasn't been a lot of choice available. I really believe that. And for me it creates quite a profound emotion because sometimes when you have too much choice you can lose sight of the things that really matter - your family, your kids, and your health. With Italians being the third longest-living nation in the world, behind the Japanese and the Icelanders, you can see that they're not doing much wrong even with a lack of choice! Yes, they do eat loads of saturated fat and olive oil, and they also cook on charcoal and wood (which is supposed to be carcinogenic), but they eat in a balanced way - loads of fruit, veg, fish, and meat - and they keep active. ~~ from Jamie's Italy, Jamie Oliver

Apparently Italian children as young as four nestle between mothers and great-grandmothers in daily pasta-making. Children are also thoroughly fluent in which herbs go with which meats and much more.

To teach children hands-on skills and knowledge from the start is the best way I know to instill not only traditional ways but the satisfaction that comes from knowing how to care for oneself and one's family throughout life.

These traditional ways, to me, are priceless.

Mangi!