Eating Light Italian Foods is Good for You

There's one piece of advice my Italian grandfather always used to say: "You should always leave the table hungry." While I do believe him (after all, he lived to nearly 100!), it's hard to follow that advice. Even harder when the food is delicious!

So what's a good compromise? I found that eating lighter, healthier foods can offset eating "too much". Not to say you can just stuff yourself at dinner (you shouldn't!), but at least you don't have to go around hungry!

In honor of my grandpa, here are a few resources to get you started on light Italian food.

First, a book I love...
1. Cooking Light Italian - I was given this book for a present, and I've used it sometimes twice a week to make something healthy and delicious. I've tried probably only 1/5 of the recipes but I've loved every recipe out of this book.

One more book...
2. Andrea's light: New Orleans Italian cookbook - this is a GREAT book, along with all of Chef Andrea's other books. Get it if you can find it, because I think it's out of print. If you can't find it (and you're in New Orleans), you can always go to his restaurant - Andrea's Italian Restaurant in New Orleans. Chef Andrea makes some of the BEST New Orleans Italian food you will ever find. Anywhere.

3. Mario Batali's recipes. This guy is awesome - and I happen to like to watch cooking shows, so this is why I have to recommend his stuff. The link has a good amount of free recipes - all "light" Italian recipes you'll love!

These three resources are only meant to whet your appetite, but if you love to cook (and eat right!) these should keep you busy for a while!