Italian Food Nutritional Information

Italian food is not usually associated with healthy eating and rightly so, unfortunately. How unhealthy is it? Is it possible to enjoy Italian food without risking heart disease or obesity? Knowing the health benefits and liabilities of different authentic dishes can help to make a person more capable of making the right decisions when it comes to Italian food.

The Most Unhealthy Italian Foods

Pizza crust is usually made with white flour which is unhealthy in a variety of different ways. Pile some cheese and a few toppings on top of that, it is possible to wind up with 300 calories in just one slice. Those people who eat more than just one slice should note that about a third of that comes from carbohydrates. Depending on the toppings, a couple of slices can carry a large load of cholesterol as well.

Spaghetti carbonara is one of those Italian dishes that if done in the authentic fashion will carry a massive calorie-load. In some cases, it is possible for one (realistic) serving of spaghetti carbonara to have all the calories an adult should consume in a whole day, despite the fact that it only has a few ingredients relative to other authentic Italian foods. One serving of authentic carbonara can also have between 150 and 180mg of cholesterol.

Spaghetti Bolognese is not as bad as the previous two dishes, but it also quite unhealthy. A single portion of Bolognese can have between 600 and 800 calories. It also may have  nearly a quarter of an adult’s daily fat intake.

Healthy Italian Options
As with most things, moderation is the best bet for the diner looking to enjoy a good meal without risking their long-term health, but some Italian menu options are better than others. One serving of minestrone, for instance will have less than a 100 calories, almost no cholesterol, and while it may have a little fat, the levels are not really alarming compared to most other foods. Choosing whole grain pasta is another way to improve the health benefits of an Italian meal.