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Rethinking the post Covid-19: The Italian Trotter journey – Italian Cuisine

Rethinking the post Covid-19: The Italian Trotter journey


Two young graduates rethought the way of traveling and tourism in the days of Covid-19. For an Italy to rediscover

Covid-19 has profoundly changed many habits, the way we relate to people, the way we conceive going out with friends, how to rethink holidays and travel.
We have not stopped dreaming or even imagining the well-deserved summer holidays, but, perhaps, for the next few months the management of travel will be more local, with destinations more affordable for everyone, often a few kilometers from home. Because you can also travel very close to your residence: it is not said that travel should be understood only over long distances.

The Italian Trotter

Here is the story of two young, very enterprising young people, Elena Pasero and Valerio Dogliotti, both graduated from the University of Gastronomic Sciences in Pollenzo. In recent years they have visited and lived in various countries around the world, worked in hospitality and catering. Now they have decided to return to Italy and create a project to promote the Italian and Piedmontese territory: to provide guests with a tailor-made experience, sustainable travel solutions, bringing them to know the local indigenous realities.

With a few clicks food and wine tourism and sustainability enter into symbiosis, giving life to the dream trip. A holiday linked to the culture of good food and agri-food products, the flavors of local cuisine, wines and local delicacies. Stays in breathtaking structures and exclusive castles, direct contact with sought after local producers, author chefs and rediscovery of regional identity traditions. Taste experiences in starred restaurants, family restaurants and gourmet picnics; educational workshops and farmers markets, village festivals and gastronomic fairs.

The Italian Trotter – your foodie dream tour it is all this, and not only. A trip organized with The Italian Trotter is not seen only more as a holiday, but as a memorable event, which allows you to learn new skills having fun and giving value to the territory visited.
The itineraries are aimed at the foreign market, especially the US market, but this year, due to the pandemic, they had to look for a way to reinvent themselves and rethink their business.
It was not easy, they rolled up their sleeves and created several ad hoc travel packages aimed at Italian tourists to rediscover all the beauties that Piedmont has to offer. The promotion of exclusive itineraries in the Langa and Monferrato, territories often unknown even by the Piedmontese themselves.

The packages can be viewed on the Italian Trotter website.

Return to post lockdown work: here's how to deal with it – Italian Cuisine


In this period many people feel weak, agitated and in a bad mood. Here are some useful remedies that facilitate the recovery of old rhythms and help to find the sprint to face daily routine with greater impetus

After the end of the lockdown the vast majority of Italians returned to work. The transition from more relaxed home rhythms to those of the new routine could favor the appearance of small aches and discomforts such as tiredness, bad mood, agitation, lack of concentration. "Returning to work after a long stop and resuming the old rhythms of everyday life can cause little inconvenience especially during the first few weeks," confirms the nutritionist Nicoletta Bocchino. «The fault lies with the so-called" return stress ". It is a disorder very similar to that which can appear after the summer holidays and which makes the resumption of daily activities more tiring. The lockdown period, in many cases, has in fact offset the rhythms of sleep and wakefulness. As a consequence, adapting to times and habits other than those that have followed for almost two months can be difficult . To limit the hassles it is useful to devote yourself to relaxing activities in your free time. «A walk in the sun immersed in nature, for example, promotes the release of endorphins which help to release tensions. In addition, it is an excellent way to stimulate the production of serotonin, the good mood hormone and melatonin, the sleep hormone that allows you to have a regular and quality rest ". To counteract the inconvenience, it is also useful to pay attention to what you choose to bring to the table. "Very thoughtful and seasoned foods risk overworking the body which is already particularly burdened by the sedentary lifestyle and often excessively unbalanced diet of the quarantine," says the expert, who explains how to deal with the stress of returning to work by choosing the right foods .

To combat moodiness in the morning

In order to face the working routine with more impetus, it is important to ensure the necessary energies since waking up. Yes, then to a breakfast rich in nutrients that give energy and vitality. «To support the tone you can choose foods such as yogurt or milk. They bring tryptophan, the precursor of serotonin, the hormone of good mood. The ideal is to combine them with whole grains such as barley, rye, oats which ensure complex carbohydrates and fibers that give energy and satiety for a longer period. Green light also to nuts such as walnuts, almonds and fresh seasonal fruit. Strawberries and cherries, for example, ensure minerals against fatigue and anti-stress. Among these, magnesium stands out, which acts on muscles and nerves, put to the test by excess cortisol ", explains nutritionist Nicoletta Bocchino.

To regain concentration during the morning

If returning to work makes you feel dazed and with dead batteries, during the morning to recharge your energy, focus on a snack based on foods that encourage motivation. «Banana for example is rich in tyrosine, an amino acid that stimulates the production of dopamine, a hormone that helps you feel more satisfied and concentrated. In addition, this fruit ensures tryptophan and B vitamins, which are precious for the mood ", advises nutritionist Nicoletta Bocchino. To feel more snappy, alternatively a square of dark chocolate at least 70% is also good combined with a sugar-free coffee. "Cocoa theobromine and caffeine have a super activating effect for the mind."

Return to post-lockdow work stress
Return to post-lockdown work.

To avoid sleepiness after lunch

During the midday meal you should avoid eating too stuffed foods such as sandwiches, pizzas, focaccias. "Excessive consumption of fats and sugars slows down digestion and facilitates post-meal sleepiness," says the expert. To feel snappy and full of energy even in the second part of the day, the advice the nutritionist suggests "is to opt for a nice portion of seasonal vegetables such as a mixed salad topped with a spoonful of extra virgin olive oil to combine with a protein source such as salmon, mackerel, ricotta or lean meat, accompanied by a wholemeal sandwich. Combining the fibers that are able to give satiety to proteins, essential fatty acids and complex carbohydrates allows you to stay away not only from hunger attacks, but also from energy losses that favor sluggishness and sleepiness after a meal .

To relieve fatigue in the afternoon

To counteract the drops in energy in the afternoon, yes to a snack based on nuts or oilseeds. "Pumpkin seeds for example are a concentrate of good fats that promote proper brain function and minerals that counteract fatigue and help you feel more sprint."

To release stress and tension at the end of the day

To relax the nerves and promote night rest, yes to a dinner with seasonal vegetables, cooked or raw, complex carbohydrates such as a portion of whole wheat pasta, combined with vegetable proteins from legumes. "The B vitamins, complex carbohydrates and tryptophan, promote the production of melatonin, the sleep hormone, which facilitates relaxation of the mind and body and ensures quality rest," says nutritionist Nicoletta Bocchino.

In the gallery, discover the foods to be included in the daily menus to combat the stress of returning

Post lockdown insomnia? Here is how you can relax and sleep well – Italian Cuisine

Post lockdown insomnia? Here is how you can relax and sleep well


In this difficult period, many suffer from insomnia. Concern for the future, stress, messy schedules, irregular meals … Here are some remedies

Do you struggle to fall asleep in the evening or do you sleep poorly and badly during the night? Insomnia due to the COVID-19 emergency is a very common disorder. In this period 42% of Italians have anxiety problems and 24% suffer from sleep disturbances. This was revealed by a recent investigation by the Piepoli Institute for the National Council of the Order of Psychologists. The worries and fears of the period together with social isolation worsened the quality and duration of the rest for several reasons. When experiencing particularly stressful situations, the body produces high levels of cortisol, the stress hormone, which promote wakefulness. Being indoors at home has also prompted many to engage in behaviors that negatively affect their ability to fall asleep. The lower exposure to sunlight, source of vitamin D, and the use of electronic devices, such as smartphones, until late at night, for example, promote insomnia because they inhibit the production of melatonin, the sleep hormone. To improve night sleep, it can be useful to adopt a tailored sleeping routine and pay attention to daily nutrition. The exciting substances of some foods can make sleep particularly agitated. Here are 5 strategies to adopt at the table to relax and go back to sleep well, suggested by Annamaria Acquaviva, dietician and nutritionist for the California Prune Board.

Eat regular meals

To promote rest, try to maintain a regular routine even at the table. How? Always eat at the same time and follow a varied and balanced diet. The correct intake of all essential nutrients promotes the proper functioning of the body. The nutrients present in foods in fact affect the circadian rhythm, which regulates the sleep-wake cycle.

Don't miss the tryptophan

Tryptophan is a precursor of serotonin, thegood mood hormone, which is converted into melatonin, fundamental in regulating the sleep-wake cycle. Legumes, meat, fish, dairy products and oil seeds are a good source. For example, to relax in the evening and facilitate rest, drink a cup of warm milk before going to bed. Thanks to the presence of casomorphins, natural opiates, it reconciles sleep.

For dinner, bet on carbohydrates

The complex carbohydrates of whole grains and their derivatives consumed without exaggerating facilitate rest. They promote the production of serotonin, which induces relaxation and promotes the synthesis of melatonin, which regulates the sleep-wake rhythm.

Yes also to the fibers

For dinner go-ahead for vegetables such as lettuce, red radicchio that promote rest. Cabbage, artichokes, spicy spices, on the other hand, can be difficult for sensitive subjects to digest. Fruit is also a good source of fiber. California plums in particular have a high content of potassium, vitamin B6, copper and manganese, precious for the proper functioning of the nervous system.

Avoid overdoing it with online appetizers

Spirits induce poor quality sleep. Even meats and cheeses are by no means allies of rest. In addition to providing an important share of calories and saturated fats, they contain high amounts of sodium, which stimulates thirst and disturbs rest.

In the gallery you will find 10 foods to bring to the table to sleep well

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