Between salubridade and saudade. Food habits of Brazilians living in Italy

ABSTRACT

This article deals with the eating habits of Brazilians living in Italy, and their views on the healthiness of the Mediterranean and Brazilian diet. After presenting the theoretical framework of the research, based on the notion of “dietary acculturation,” the results of a list of questions submitted to 58 Brazilians residing in Italy are discussed. The answers highlight the strong attachment of respondents to Brazilian food traditions, but also the systematic consumption of typical Italian dishes and drinks, to which they reserve very positive opinions. We hypothesize that the coincidence between the connotations of the Mediterranean/Italian diet and the indications contained in the “Food Guide for the Brazilian population” of the Brazilian Ministry of Health (2014), which respondents appear to know well, is supporting a process of dietary acculturation of Brazilians in Italy.

KEYWORDS:

• Food habits
• dietary acculturation
• dietary change
• brazilian migrants
• Italy

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No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Tiziana Banini

Prof. Tiziana Banini is an Associate Professor in the Faculty of Arts and Humanities, at Sapienza University of Rome. Coordinator of the National Research Group A.Ge.I. (Association of Italian Geographers) “Territorial Identity” (2008–2021), Member of the Board of Directors of the Italian Geographic Society, her main research interests are in territorial identities, cultural heritage, and sustainability.

Katia Cilene Tabai

Prof. Katia Cilene Tabai is a Full Professor in the Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro. Leader of the Food and Nutrition Security Research Group CNPq (National Council for Scientific and Technological Developmental). Areas of interest: public policies on food and nutritional security, food identity, and sustainable food systems.