Ask an American to think of Italian food, and visions of fettuccini drowning in heavy cream will dance in their head. But ask a Roman the same question, and the answer will not only differ, but it will vary with the seasons. Depending on the time of year, they’ll picture fat, imperfect tomatoes; jagged-leaf Romanesco artichokes; or purple-skinned, fresh bulbs of garlic.

Though both cultures share a love of food and a common flavor palate, the difference in those answers underscores a serious disparity: Italy is considered a very healthy country (it’s not all pasta and heavy sauce, as stereotypes would have us believe), and according to the World Health Organization, it has the sixth-highest life expectancy in the world. The United States, on the other hand, takes the 31st spot. In short, Italy is doing something very right.