Valladolid, ES

Posted by Slow Plates
        I studied abroad for a month in Valladolid, which is in northern Spain, and lived with a wonderful host mámá, Chón, who was an excellent cook. Spain is known for its excellent seafood— I particularly loved Chón's sardinas fritas.  I was able to experience the heart-healthy "Mediterranean Diet," with its emphasis on olive oil, fish, fruits and vegetables, beans, and nuts.  It's also supposed to emphasize whole grains, which is one food product I didn't see much of in Spain.

        People thought I would gain weight (I didn't!) because Chón fried so many things.  However, it's important to look at the overall Spanish diet and how food was consumed.
  • Chón only used olive oil or sunflower oil, never butter, and the combination of healthy fats and protein kept us full, eliminating the need for snacks.
  • The only added sugar in our diet came from flavored yogurt, our nightly dessert, which we enjoyed with fresh fruit.
  • I ate moderate amounts of the fried proteins, small servings of bread (non-whole wheat), and larger servings of fruits and vegetables.
  • We ate 3 times a day and sometimes I'd have almonds for el almuerzo (the snack eaten between 11 and 12). In my house, I had breakfast around 8, lunch around 2:30, and dinner around 9:30. 
  • I walked EVERYWHERE. Walking to school was a 30 min. round trip which I did every morning for my Spanish classes and on Tuesday and Thursday evenings for my Cal Poly class.  In addition to walking to school, I liked to walk around the city or along the river close to our apartment.  Around 7 pm was prime river-walking time;  a walk to the very end of the river was about 20-25 minutes. Spaniards also walk several times a week to get their groceries— I saw at least one Spaniard per day carrying a barra (wide baguette).
      Overall, I think having a little extra (healthy) fat is a much better exchange than extra amounts of non-nutritive sugar or packaged food, which are 2 infamous elements of the American diet.  I also ate much more seafood in Spain, which is rich in heart-healthy and brain-boosting omega 3 fatty acids.  The FDA recommends eating at least 8 oz a week or 26 pounds of seafood a year.  In 2011, the average Spaniard ate about 80 pounds of seafood per year while the average American ate only 15 pounds!
En Valladolid
Note: Fish was part of the meal 20 out of the 28 days.

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