[Gastronomy and nutrition in Catalonia]

Objectives: the culture and the eating habits of a territory give shape its gastronomy and determine the nutritional and health status of its population. We set the goal of reviewing food, culture, gastronomy and the nutritional and health status of the Catalan population. Methods: bibliographic and documentation search. Results: the origin of Catalan gastronomy dates back to the classical era. From Greek and Roman times, when olive oil and wine were incorporated into our cuisine, until today, multiple civilizations have influenced it, being the Arab contribution and the discovery of America fundamental events in the increase of Spanish wealth and its gastronomic variety. At Catalan level, the geographical, cultural and social characteristics of Catalonia, with a marked Mediterranean influence, were incorporated and creating Catalan cuisine and gastronomy, which currently have international recognition and prestige. The food consumption of the Catalan population has been studied since 1983. Nowadays, it shows a food consumption and an energy and nutrients intake similar to the national average, similarly to the prevalence of morbidity and lifestyles. Conclusion: in order to that the union of gastronomy and food consumption favors also the health of population, we must encourage the recovery of the healthiest and easiest to prepare dishes from their gastronomy and boost modifications that improve technically the more complex and/or less healthy dishes.