How the World Eats
By Shanti Sosienski
Special Offer
NILMA RAQUEL SILVA, 38
Writer
São Paulo, Brazil
Percentage of obese Brazilian adults: 11.1
BREAKFAST: Papaya; baguette with cream cheese; black coffee
SNACK: Fruit or yogurt
LUNCH: Grilled chicken with steamed vegetables or a potato and salad — or with just a small amount of rice and beans
SNACK: Cereal bar or crackers with juice; at 5 p.m., coffee with pão de queijo (cheese bread)
DINNER: Pasta with passionflower juice; one or two glasses of wine (once a week)
Average calories per day: 1800
WHY IT WORKS: We don't do frozen food; we like things made fresh every day. Food is a celebration, and we often have people over for long meals. I only feel guilty about eating sometimes when I look in the mirror! But I try to be reasonable on both sides — not overindulging in food and not worrying so much about my weight. For instance, rice and beans, a typical dish, has a lot of calories and carbs, so I try to eat just a little.
