While I was in Italy there were times I was looking for a light lunch or a snack that didn’t include chocolate or gelato. This was only because I would eat the gelato or chocolate immediately, and the idea was to have something (like crackers) that would last longer! Here are some examples of things I found in Italy that provided a little break from walking and sightseeing.
Pizza:
Snacks:
From a market:
Something to drink:
Meg Travels 
There are other things to eat besides chocolate and gelato? :-)
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That’s such an important question! I really had to look, but I did find some non-chocolate and gelato items there… :)
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Yummy and colorful. :)
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The displays were very appealing and looked tasty too!
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The sensible part of me says I’ll have the fruit, but the other part says I’d rather have the pizza and coke!!
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I know what you mean. When I was in Italy I often intended to have something nutritious but ended up having pizza or chocolate (or both) instead!
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……I’m HUNGRY!
Why choose? How about pizza followed by chocolate and gelato and then fresh fruit to wash it all down? All in the interest of experiencing the local cuisine, of course! ;)
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That probably comes the closest to what I actually did! And I convinced myself (almost) I was just “sampling” different things in snack sizes as opposed to having a big meal… :)
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Is Crik Crok potato chips? What a great product name.
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I really liked the name too! And they were very tasty chips… :)
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I’d go for the pizza pieces and then a huge peach! It looks so good!
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That’s a great suggestion to have pizza and then fruit for dessert! And since the markets had such beautiful produce it was easy to have a balanced meal… :)
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I wouldn’t be able to resist the Crik Croks! I love all the wooden crates under the fruit and veg stall too, and all the fresh produce on display. Lots of savoury treats to balance your gelato and chocolate consumption.
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There was a great variety of fresh produce at the markets, and it was easy to have fruit for a snack. I just had to remind myself that there were other things to eat besides gelato!
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The pizza slices look good! But wouldn’t feel like you were in Italy without a gelato after :-)
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I think I did have some gelato after the pizza :) I saw many places that sold pizza AND gelato, and I thought that was an excellent idea!
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I’m all for the pizza slices!!! Just love it. Especially in Rome you will find a ‘pizza al taglio’ at every corner….how I miss that ;)
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This was my idea of fast food! The pizza in the picture was from Florence, and I’d really like a slice right about now… :)
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I love the look of the little neighborhood store! We have a local Italian market that’s been a fixture for as long as I remember. Claros…owned by an Italian family. I enjoy going in there from time to time, and I must go again. The photo you’ve shared is really telling me that Claro’s is very authentic. I just might need to do a post on it sometime. Places like it are becoming more and more rare! By the way, the pizza looks so good! Wonderfully tasty post! :-) Debra
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Thank you Debra! It was lots of fun going into little stores to look for crackers and other snacks. And your local store sounds like the real thing, too. I hope you write a post about it sometime soon… :)
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I think I’m a little in love with those incredible fruits and boxes from the market. Are those tomatoes on the lhs in the top box!!! Wow, my teeny tiny tom thumbs have got nothing on those big boys! :)
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I really liked the way the fruit was displayed at the market, and even the boxes were artistically arranged! And those tomatoes are almost too pretty to eat :)
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The Italian markets are just spectacular. Love this!
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The markets I visited were really appealing, and it was nice to buy fresh fruit to balance (sort of) all the chocolate and gelato! Plus the fruit lasted a while and didn’t melt :)
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That market is to die for.
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I like the way they used the space so effectively – they made everything look beautiful!
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Hi Meg!
I have nominated you for a Very Inspiring Blogger Award. If you wish to accept it, please visit my site for details, http://aidaweb101.wordpress.com/2012/08/30/awards/
Congratulations!
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Thank you so much! I really do appreciate the nomination :)
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Everything looks so good. Just eat a little of everything!
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That’s a great suggestion! It’s too hard to choose anyway… :)
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I agree with the others, everything looks so tempting. I especially love the way they have so many fresh food markets like the one in your photo. It makes it so easy to find yummy snacks. I would definitely have had the pizza though.
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It’s nice to have snacks when you want to keep walking – the markets provided plenty of choices. Of course pizza is a good idea too!
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I had to read the 1st sentence 3 TIMES to ensure I was reading correctly! I thought it odd at first but the second sentence clarified everything! Really enjoyed this mini food seeking break with you!
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I see your point – it’s unusual for me to be looking for food other than gelato or chocolate! But I did have a lot of fun going to outdoor markets and other places for snacks. It made a nice change :)
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Thanks for liking my blog! It’s obligatory when in Italy to sample the pizza and the gelato. Some fresh fruit from a street market is a good idea too.
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You’re welcome, and I enjoyed visiting your blog! And I agree that sampling all different kinds of food (especially gelato) are necessary while in Italy :)
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Pizza is for me. When abroad I want to taste pizzas and thus to find the best pizza in the world. :)
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Finding the best pizza in the world is a fantastic idea! And I thought the pizza in Italy was really delicious :)
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Yum! Such great ideas, Meg! Your lovely photos are so tempting and colorful! The grocery stores are also a great place for souvenirs! In Paris I picked up local jams and mustards that were a fraction of the price of those sold in “tourist” areas!
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I definitely had lots of opportunities to find tasty food while I was in Italy! And I also liked going to little grocery stores for soaps and other locally made things to take home as souvenirs… :)
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Love the colorful produce! No chocolate or gelato…what was the point of going, again? ;)
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That’s true – chocolate and gelato are food essentials! I decided I’d try to eat something else while I was in Italy, and I found there were lots of (other) good things to eat :)
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Those pizza square slices look delicious! It’s very hard to find authentic pizza in Korea :(
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Every time I passed a pizza shop I had to decide if it was time for another “light lunch”! But the pizza was so delicious it was worth it… :)
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I was scrolling slowly down your pictures thinking there can be few better countries for a culinary odyssey… and then I reached the coke machine. Great juxtaposition :-)
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The coke machine shifts the focus doesn’t it? And it’s very different from buying a bottle of water at a shop… :)
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Yum, yum, YUM! :D
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I agree – I get hungry just looking at these pictures!
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