fat-free latte (and other food) in Italy?

Congratulations on losing the weight!

Like the other posters, I don't remember seeing skim/fat-free milk in cafes. However, like the others, I think you will be active enough to counteract the effects of one cappucino. An alternative is to order espresso (no milk) or a macchiatto (only a little milk). I prefer my espressos 'lungo'. The extra water smooths out the intensity of the espresso.

I try to eat low-carb, but in Italy, it doesn't work very well. However, I always manage to come home the same weight or less, thanks to all the walking we do. Wear a pedometer and see how you do. We had a rule that said if we walked more than 5 miles, we could have a second round of gelato (which we often beat but lacked the time/appetite to then claim our reward.) One day, we actually walked over 10 miles!

I've never even seen skim sold sold in stores in Europe (don't know about Italy though, I've never been there). I've heard Europeans (my wife included!) boast about how much better their milk tastes, unaware that much of our milk over here has a reduced fat content. In many parts of Europe, milk = whole milk.

http://www.italtrade.com/focus/6455.htm

Italy isn't a third world country. Quite civilized in fact. Rick's guide book is very informative about what to expect when ordering coffee. I hope you've purchased it as it will be a wonderful and practical resource to have while in Italy for a month.

Italian coffee is strong and from my POV, the best on the planet.

Here are some blogs about coffee in Italy.
http://hipparis.com/2009/04/12/coffee-in-italy-yumm/
http://www.blogfromitaly.com/santeustachio-cafe-legendary-italian-coffee/

As far as saying fat free in Italian there are many websites that will translate English to Italian and the Italian phrase book that RS offers is VERY useful.

Italy is a wonderful country. Have fun and enjoy it.

I would suggest Starbuck’s as an American-style, corporate latte option, because they’re all over Europe. Thankfully, however, Italy is still a Starbuck’s free zone (unless something has changed very recently). Try senza grasso for without fat.

This is our third trip to Italy, and each trip has been/will be for one month each. I'm well-aquinted with the pleasures of drinking coffee in Italy. And, of course, we are well-read on Rick's Italy and Rome 2009 guidebooks. But, nothing I've read or found addresses asking for fat-free latte. My question is about how usual and 'normal' is it to request it as such? Are many Italians drinking their cappucino fat-free???

Darlene: That’s a good question, and I think the answer is no. I understand that whole milk is used most typically, and it’s the whole milk that helps to make Italian coffee taste so great. If you ask for skim or fat-free, they may or may not be able to accommodate you. They’ll most likely assume you to be a tourist, which might not matter. You can give it a shot and see what happens, but I don’t believe most Italians drink skim or fat-free milk with their coffee. I’m definitely not an expert on this, and I do drink skim in my own fair-trade coffee every day. When travelling in Italy, however, I just go local. It’s not a lot of extra fat or calories for just a cup or two. Good luck, and enjoy the coffee however it is served! Have a good trip.

Darlene
It does not sound goofy you are watching what you eat. My husband lost 95 lbs by exercising and eating right.

In the event you cannot find skim milk, just realize that you'll burn off the 110-130 (for an 8 oz serving) calories by walking.

Unlike the US, where the portions are supersized, you'll notice the beverages are usually 8-10 ounces, without refills. Plus, In Italy, it is very rare to find a place which will let you take your coffee to go.

Even if you can't go "fat free" I will bet that you will not gain any weight this trip because you'll burn the calories with walking and climbing stairs.

PS: Fat-Free Milk is the same as Skim Milk

To be honest, even with eating much more than what I do here plus a good amount of Gelato; I still always lose weight on trips. Your Activity level will more than compensate for calories. Of course, that is assuming you are talking a Latte instead of four and allow a few pastry shops to pass. At meals, order one antipasti, one Primi, and one Secondi to split, then order one or two Contorni (usually very fresh vegatables) to fill you up. You will be stuffed for fewer calories than a McDonalds burger and Fries.

Why not just order coffee without milk?

I've never seen a Starbucks in Italy.

When you order a latte in Italy, make sure to ask for a caffe latte. If you just order latte, you will get milk (done that once and only once).

I think you will get whole milk in your caffe latte in Italy. However, keep in mind that a cappucino or caffe latte in Italy is not giant-sized like the ones here in the States. It will be a normal cup.

In the grocery store, you might see reduced-fat milk. The Italian words are:
skim (scremato)
part skim (parzialmente scremato)
whole (intero)

You can buy lowfat milk in many European grocery stores (at least you can in Scandinavia and the UK). I've never checked in Italy.

I suspect that you will find lowfat yogurt available in the grocery store.

And thank god Starbucks hasn't been allowed in Italy!!!! I nearly puke each time I see a Burger King or Mickey D's in Europe. In my humble opinion the Americanization of other countries isn't a plus. Takes away their uniqueness and for me always disappoints. I travel to see a country's uniqueness not a carbon copy of every truck stop in America.

It's not that Starbuck's is somehow banned from entering the Italian market...they've made a strategic decision not to do so. It would be hard for them to beat the established cafe/coffee culture so entrenched in Italian society. The expectations are very high, and the experience is totally different. Having said this, I'm glad they're not there. At home and when traveling, I prefer local to corporate-owned anytime. I like the idea of dollars flowing back into the local economy versus being sent to a far-flung world headquarters somewhere for shareholders and executives. I agree with the comments about the fast food culture whether it's in the U.S. or in Europe. Bottom line - enjoy the local coffee!

Hi, Darlene, I've been to Italy 3 times and never even noticed people drinking "lattes." (I realize maybe I just never noticed, but anyway...) When I see people drink coffee with milk it's a cappuccino, which has so little milk compared to the US style, it shouldn't contain much fat. Of course there are dairy free coffee drinks as well.

Senza is correct since it means without or free. Also what I said means
Grasso (fat) libero (liberated)
Please say it the way Tamara says it. Senza. It makes more sense. She lives in Italy! I speak Italian with my family when I'm there, but if I lived in Italy and speak it all the time, I would speak it better yet! So Senza it is.
Thanks Tamara!

I have a big family in Italy.
Fat Free in Italian is "grasso libero."
Have fun! Divertirsi!

Wait, why wouldn't it be "Senza grasso"?
"Grasso libero" makes it sound like the fat is out burning bras or something :D

Christy-

Sure you have. It is milk. My nephew, from Seattle, where apparently they "invented" coffee, travelled to Italy a few years back and got annoyed with the "ignorant" locals, who kept giving him a glass of milk every time he ordered a "latte".

Oh, and if you want to lose weight, run past your neighborhood Starbucks. I hear the caloric coffee drinks they serve can't stick to you if you are moving quickly past these abhorants.