Spanish Mystery

So as we all know we Americans have weight issues. Everyone presumes that this is due to poor lifestyle choices. After spending a semester here I am not so sure.

The Spanish diet is not healthier than ours. Really. They eat lots of fish which is excellent. But that's about the only healthy thing they eat. They fry everything. EVERYTHING. Fish, chicken, vegetables. Everything. Have you ever had fried cauliflower? It's absolutely scrumptious but is it necessary? No. Fried food is fun every once and awhile but everyday? Really?

They salt everything. Everything has a ridiculous amount of salt. And the Spanish girls I live with put even more salt on everything we eat.

CARBS. They eat bread like it's their business. So much bread. At every meal. I think we go through 2 loaves a day for seven people. They usually eat it with olive oil which is very healthy and a practice I will adopt in the U.S. But still. I feel like it can't be great to eat nearly a whole loaf of bread within 24 hours everyday.

The Spanish girls hardly ever eat meat without Mayonnaise. They need it for everything. Fish, pork, sausage, chicken.

They don't eat much fruit or vegetables. They refuse. Simply refuse to touch it like 4 year olds. I constantly hear about how much they hate fruit and vegetables.

At first I thought maybe they don't snack. No that is not true. My roommates snack constantly. Maria's favorite is chocolate cereal with chocolate milk and sugar. I have honestly found her mindlessly snacking while she lounges watching TV more times than I can count.

Maybe they lead more active lifestyles? No. My American roommates and I are criticized for exercising. The Spanish girls can't understand it. They ask incredulously why we would do such a thing. Explanations like "I don't want to gain weight" or "I want to be healthy" or even "it's good for my heart" mean nothing to them. They just don't get it. They really think it's bizarre that we remain so committed to fitness.

They also smoke like chimneys. Well most of them. This whole country smells like tobacco.

So here is the mystery: How do they not have the same obesity rate as America? How do they live longer than us? How are they not dropping like flies? I DON'T UNDERSTAND.