As part of the UConn Mediterranean Diet special program held at ISI Florence this summer, students met expert Elena Pizzighelli. She administers the City of Florence lunch program for 24,000 primary school students.

What did we learn?

All Florentine children eat the same lunch. Their lunchtime lasts one full hour. Teachers dine with the students to teach them how to eat. Food from home is not allowed. No vending machines. Fresh fruit is served every day. A sweet dessert is offered twice a month. Freshly grated Parmigiano Reggiano is served almost daily. Pasta with extra virgin olive oil is the children’s favorite, no question! While green vegetables are not a favorite, the kitchen staff ‘hides’ extra vegetables in the homemade pesto. About 90% of the food is organic or 0 km (local). It is fresh fresh fresh and 100% delicious.

Our students learned a lot also from eating with the Italian kids, while sitting down all together for lunch.

Jane Kerstetter, PhD, RD
UConn Professor Emerita, Department of Allied Health Sciences