When we think of Italian foods, the foods that often come to mind are pasta and pizza. A moderate portion of pasta, by itself, is low in fat and relatively low in calories. Additions such as sauce, cheese, meats, and oil determine if a meal remains low fat.
Olive oil is one of the most common staples in Italian cooking.
It is often considered a healthy fat because it contains no cholesterol and is high in monounsaturated fats. Keep in mind that, like other oils, it still has 120 calories per tablespoon. To eat lean, avoid excessive amounts of meat, cheese, fried foods or those foods that have liberal amounts of oil added. Stay away from fried appetizers such as fried eggplant and fried cheese. Inquire as to what comes with appetizers of Carpaccio or Prosciutto ham.