Italians love their food! And can we blame them? With world-renowned pizzas, pasta, bread, and cheese, they take their food very seriously.
For an American visiting Italy or an authentic Italian restaurant in the US, it can oftentimes be a little confusing choosing the right food, especially if you are not familiar with the Italian language.
While we have breakfast, lunch, dinner, appetizers, snacks, desserts, and the works, Italians have words such as spuntini and antipasti on their menus.
Not only are these different types of foods but they also have designated times to enjoy them.
So, what is spuntini? Spuntini refers to “snacks” in Italian and while it can be enjoyed as a starter, it is often taken between meals. It can be either sweet or savory and includes items such as crackers, biscuits, pastries, smoothies, sandwiches, cheese, salads, salumi, fruit, and basically anything.
Read on to find out what spuntini is, what it’s made of, how it tastes, how it’s served, what food genre it belongs to, what country it originated in, and much more!
What Is Spuntini?
Spuntini is a word that originated from the Italian language, and it means “snacks”.
It can either be cooked or uncooked and is usually a small serving of different types of foods that may include cheese, salumi, bread, sandwiches, and salads, among other things.
Although spuntini is a snack, it usually refers to snacks taken between breakfast and lunch.
Since breakfast is usually done at 8 AM and lunch isn’t till 12 pm, Italians need a snack, an “in-betweener” per se, to carry on from breakfast to lunch.
It is usually taken around 10 AM or 11 AM, and is generally something light such as fruit, yogurt, a small sandwich, or even a piece of pizza!
Spuntini is often confused with merenda, which is another type of snack that can be enjoyed after breakfast or lunch around 3 PM to 5 PM.
Also called an afternoon snack, the word merenda is mostly used for a snack taken by small children and teenagers, and is normally something sweet, such as some cookies, pastries, or gelato.
Spuntini Vs Antipasti
As mentioned earlier, spuntini is a snack taken between breakfast and lunch that can include just about anything from sweet to savory delights as well as healthy food options.
Antipasti, on the other hand, refers to starters or appetizers that are taken right before a meal. It comes from the Latin word ante meaning “before” and pastus meaning “meal”.
Therefore, it literally means “before the meal” and is something that is enjoyed before the main course.
While spuntini and antipasti are two different things, since many Italian snacks also appear as appetizers on many menus, they can oftentimes be put under the same category.
The singular form of the word is antipasto, whereas the plural is called antipasti.
Therefore, when referring to a single dish, tray, or bowl of olives, you would use the word antipasto, whereas, in the case of a platter of several food items, antipasti would be the correct terminology.
Similar to spuntini, antipasti can take several forms and may include all kinds of foods, depending on your preference and the region it is being served in.
Since it comes at the start of the main course, antipasti are supposed to whet the appetite, similar to what appetizers and starters do.
Therefore, they are made up of small portions and bites to not fill your tummy and instead have you asking for more.
Consisting of complementary and contrasting flavors and textures, antipasti can be as simple as a bowl of seasoned nuts or as elaborate as a platter of cheeses, bread, and meat.
Made up of regional specialties, and more so what is in season, antipasti, like spuntini, can be served cooked, uncooked, hot, cold, or at room temperature.
Typical ingredients include olives, mushrooms, cheeses, vegetables, and cured meats.
Popular Spuntini Ideas
Spuntini, which is a snack, can be just about anything you wish to eat. It may include all kinds of cooked, uncooked, sweet, savory, and salty food items.
Since it is a snack and not a proper meal, the portion sizes are usually small to not make you feel too full before your proper meal at lunchtime.
Here are a few popular spuntini ideas that you can find on menus:
- Crisp rice balls with mozzarella
- Fried crispy vegetables served with dip
- Fried crispy calamari with marinara sauce
- Roasted potatoes
- Spicy Italian sausage
- Fried pastry with filling
- Fritters
- Italian cheeseboard
- Bruschetta Pomodoro
- Hummus avocado toast
- Soups
- Banana oat biscuits
- Peach tart
Is Spuntini Healthy?
Yes, if made from healthy ingredients such as fresh fruit and vegetables, spuntini can actually help stimulate your appetite and get you ready to eat a proper portion of a healthy lunch.
Boost Brainpower
The time between breakfast and lunch can sometimes be really slow, making it difficult to concentrate on your work and daily chores.
In this case, spuntini made with ingredients that fuel your brain, such as avocado and blueberries, can be very good for you.
Not only do they help keep you alert but also are a good source of nutrients that boost your energy levels.
Lower Risk Of Certain Diseases
Having a healthy choice of spuntini during the day may help keep your blood sugar levels in check, lower your cholesterol levels, and lower your risk of having a heart attack and diabetes.
Spuntini made with fruit and vegetables can also help build up your immunity. When you have a strong immune system, you automatically become immune to many diseases.
Replenish Lost Energy
If you have a habit of exercising in the morning, a healthy snack can help regain your lost energy and also speed up muscle recovery.
Spuntini made with ingredients rich in carbohydrates and protein are perfect for this purpose. For instance, you may opt for snacks made with apples and cheese as a good post-workout snack.
Other good options include spuntini made with bananas, peanut butter, and yogurt.
You can blend the ingredients and enjoy them in smoothie form as well. For best results, have your healthy spuntini 15-30 minutes after your workout session.
Can You Eat Spuntini Every Day?
Yes, you can enjoy spuntini every day; however, you must keep a check on the ingredients used to make it to ensure it is beneficial for you and your health.
Since spuntini can be absolutely anything, ranging from a piece of fresh fruit to deep-fried cheese sticks, you need to choose your snacks very carefully since some might be less healthy than others.
In addition to the ingredients, another thing that you need to take into consideration is the portion size of the spuntini. Taking too much of it can not only be harmful to your health but may also ruin your appetite for lunch.
Tips For Choosing The Best Spuntini
Who doesn’t love snacks? They can be delicious and appetizing and may lure you into eating more per serving. While that may feel like a good idea for the time being, it is not a very healthy choice in the long run.
Therefore, to reap the full benefits of this mid-day snack, you need to choose the best spuntini that not only fulfills your hunger cravings but is also healthy. Here are some tips to follow:
- Always keep the portion size under control. A small serving or a single bite is enough to make sure you don’t overeat.
- Avoid spuntini made with highly processed and sugary ingredients that result in unhealthy weight gain. Instead, opt for spuntini made with nourishing whole foods.
- If you are looking to lose weight, choose spuntini made with ingredients that are high in protein and fiber so that you stay fuller for longer and don’t feel hungry sooner than expected.
Related Questions
Now that you know all about spuntini, what kinds of food it includes, and how to choose the best options to stay fit and healthy, here are a few additional questions we thought you might have!
What is the difference between spuntini and antipasti?
Spuntini is one of the words in the Italian language used to describe snacks taken in between meals, whereas antipasti refer to the starters or appetizers taken right before the main course.
They can, at times, overlap with each other in the sense that some antipasti can also be used as spuntini, and vice versa. Some common antipasti and spuntini ideas include pieces of pizza, mozzarella sticks, cheese platters, and a fruit bowl.
What is the difference between antipasto and charcuterie?
Charcuterie (pronounced shar-coo-ta-ree) is a word of French origin that refers to a platter of both cooked and dry-cured meats with several garnishes such as bread, olives, nuts, pickled vegetables, dried fruit, crackers, jelly, and jam.
Antipasto (pronounced an-tee-paa-stow) is a word of Italian origin that refers to a platter of meats, cheeses, olives, bread, and both raw and cooked vegetables.
The antipasto platter is very similar to the charcuterie platter since both involve dry-cured meats and garnishes.
The main difference between the two, aside from the fact that one is French and the other is Italian, is that a charcuterie board doesn’t normally include cheese, although it may be added for variety.
What is primion an Italian menu?
Primo (singular) and primi (plural) refer to the first proper meal at a restaurant that is heavier than antipasto but lighter than the second course.
They include a variety of dishes like pasta, risotto, seafood, soup, broth, gnocchi, casseroles, and lasagna.
As with everything else, the nature of these dishes will depend on which region you are in, since different areas in Italy have different food preferences.
What is secondi on an Italian menu?
Secondi refers to the main course on the menu and includes items such as meats and different types of fish that include steak, stew, beef, turkey, lamb, roast, salmon, lobster, and much more.
Depending on the area and the situation, this may be considered the most important, and most expensive, item on the menu.
What are some famous Italian snacks?
Italian cuisine is known for its pizzas, pasta, bread, and cheeses. But that’s not all. There are a variety of different food items that you can enjoy if you wish to explore Italian cuisine.
Some famous Italian snacks include pastiera, panini, tramezzino, bruschetta, cannoli, panzerotti, and of course, pizza!
You can enjoy these delicious food items both as spuntini as well as appetizers before the main course.
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