Is it an ethnic cuisine – or ethnoid?

                What would life be like in America without ethnic foods – Italian, Chinese, Japanese, Greek, Vietnamese, etc.? I only wish that more cultures were represented – Russian, for example, or German or Chilean. I’m sure that you can find these lesser-known venues in our larger cities, but they are uncommon elsewhere.

                On the other hand, many of our favorite restaurants serve what I call ethnoid, not ethnic foods. (-oid from the Greek, meaning similar) Catering to American tastes, they are usually  sweeter, saltier, more meat-laden and huge.

                This week I’ll discuss Italian food – specifically, the true Mediterranean diet. You won’t find it at your local pizza parlor. Outside of the tourist hotspots in the home country, Italian pizza is quite simple: a thin crust, a layer of tomato sauce and a smidgin of cheese. The amount of cheese that we find on a single slice of American pizza would suffice for about two days for a family of four in rural Italy. It is a garnish, not a major part of the entrée. Only occasionally does it come with pepperoni or sausage. 

The True Mediterranean diet consists mostly of vegetables. There is no significant beef industry in the 21 countries that touch upon the shores of the Mediterranean Sea, largely because it is so expensive both in terms of money and in environmental resources. Goats and young sheep are much less costly for both. Until a few decades ago they had no refrigeration either, which is why cheese, not milk, is the major dairy product. Fish and other products of the sea are major suppliers of protein.

Consider a favorite menu at the Olive Garden – A Tour of Italy: 1500-1800 calories,93 grams of saturated fat and 3,210 milligrams of sodium. And that doesn’t count the breadsticks, the wine or the dessert. The Olive Garden does have a number of very healthy items and if you like it – and I do – be sure to read the fine print on the menu.

The True Mediterranean Diet is a favorite of healthcare advocates. Scores of scientific articles attest to its cardiovascular and anticancer benefits. And of course, it includes a glass of red wine.