American mom living in Italy stunned at how they treat kids’ meals

A mom who moved from the US to Italy has shared the shocking differences between the two countries… including how they treat children’s meals.

Clara Hogan, 36, originally from California, relocated to Bologna in the Emilia-Romagna region of northern Italy with her husband, Brian, and their two daughters Etta, six, and Poppy, three, last summer.

They always dreamed of living abroad and when Brian received a scholarship to pursue an MBA in the European country, it felt like the push they had been waiting for.

‘Life in the Bay Area was wonderful in many ways, but it was also exhausting and incredibly expensive, especially with two young kids and childcare costs,’ explained Hogan during an exclusive chat with the Daily Mail. 

‘On top of that, the political climate in the US had started to feel increasingly tense and overwhelming. We found ourselves craving some distance and a chance to reset.

‘We wanted a slower pace, more balance, and the chance to have a shared adventure instead of just daydreaming about it. When the opportunity came up, it finally felt like the right time to say yes.’

They sold their home, most of their belongings and headed over the pond to Italy in August 2024. 

But adjusting to their new home, especially when they didn’t speak the native language, wasn’t easy. 

‘The language barrier hit us immediately, and even simple things like setting up utilities, enrolling the kids in school or going to the doctor became little adventures,’ recalled Hogan.

‘We were constantly Googling, asking neighbors for help and figuring things out as we went as we tackled learning Italian. 

‘It hasn’t been smooth or effortless by any means – but we’ve grown a lot through it, and the difficult parts have made the good parts feel even more meaningful.’

Immediately, Hogan said she noticed some major differences in the lifestyle in Italy compared to the States.

One huge change, according to Hogan, was that ‘food is treated as an essential part of childhood’ there, ‘not an afterthought’ like it is in the US.

‘School lunches are real meals – multiple courses, cooked on-site, healthy and balanced,’ she revealed.

‘And kids are expected to try everything, which has totally changed how my children eat.

‘I also don’t have to spend so much time worrying about what ingredients are in food that may harm them.’

 Hogan explained that ‘life moves at a completely different pace’ there, adding that in California ‘everything felt fast and scheduled’ while in Italy things are ‘slower and more communal.’ 

‘The rhythm of life here feels calmer and more connected. People linger over meals, shops close in the afternoon and weekends are family time,’ she added.

‘There’s just less pressure to be productive every second of the day. You have to let go of the American expectation that everything should work quickly.’

That means her kids’ days are ‘far less structured,’ eliminating the ‘pressure’ she used to feel while juggling endless afterschool activities or classes; instead, she has embraced spontaneity.

She gushed over being able to walk everything and pointed out that they now have so much ‘beauty and culture’ at their finger tips.

‘Just going for a walk means passing historic buildings, markets and piazzas full of life,’ she said.

In addition, she explained that she feels at ease to ‘give her kids more freedom’ because it’s ‘safer’ there.

‘In Italy, children walk, play and explore much more independently, the environment allows for more space and trust,’ she explained. 

In general, she said she was surprised to find that kids are ‘welcomed everywhere’ there. 

‘Whether it’s a restaurant, a café, the grocery store or the piazza, families aren’t treated like an inconvenience. It makes daily life so much easier and more joyful,’ she dished.

According to Hogan, things are ‘noticeably more affordable’ in Italy, as she explained that they have cut down their monthly grocery bill in half since making the move.

In addition, they pay a much lower mortgage, and they don’t need a car there, which eliminated another $1,100 a month from their bills.

The only downside? Being so far from their family and close friends.

And sometimes, Hogan admitted that they still feel like outsiders due to the ‘language barrier and not fully understanding their social norms.’

‘And of course there are moments we miss the general comforts of American culture,’ Hogan added.

Even so, she insisted that the positives far outweigh the negatives, explaining that she has seen a massive shift in her mental health since making the move.

‘There’s less of the heavy societal anxiety I carried in the US. [I constantly worried about] school shootings, the high cost of childcare and healthcare worries which aren’t part of my everyday mental load here. It frees up a lot of emotional space,’ she concluded.

‘For us, it’s absolutely been worth it. It hasn’t been easy, but we’ve all grown in many ways and the experience has brought us closer as a family.’