I come from an Italian family and pasta has been a staple in our lives. Despite the doomsayers, there is little in the way of obesity or diabetes. People live a very long time.

Pasta is like anything else, if you load up your plate, you will likely gain weight. That’s as true for a porterhouse as it is for spaghetti.

I think accessibility is a big problem for many of us. We’re supposed to eat fresh and eat local, but it’s not easy to get fresh and local if you live in the Northeast and the farmer’s markets are only open from May to November (if you’re lucky - some don’t open till July and close in October). It’s hard to find good quality produce in the winter or in supermarkets that aren’t in wealthy areas. Not everyone can afford organic tomatoes flown in from South America at Whole Foods. I can’t grow anything myself (other than a few herbs) because I live in an apartment.

Eating well is very easy if you’re wealthy and live in a warm climate. I wish more people would understand the class issues behind good eating.