French food culture

Dear Friends,

How would you like to eat whatever you wanted, without having to worry about your health or gaining weight? Diet and excess weight have become a major source of preoccupation and health concern for most of us. I believe that it is possible to enjoy food in a way that benefits both your health and your waistline. Just look at the French! This week, I want to compare what we eat and how much we eat to how the French do it. I think we might learn a thing or two!

The French manage to stay trim, even while eating many of the things we are advised to avoid, like butter, eggs, and cheese. Moreover, even though they enjoy rich foods denied to most dieters, they still manage to have lower cholesterol levels and less heart disease than we do. And the number of overweight Frenchmen and women is far below that of Americans. Eleven percent of French adults are said to be obese, while three times as many Americans suffer from that condition.

So what do the French do that makes a difference? First, let's consider what they eat. The typical French diet includes more fresh food, such as bread, fruit and vegetables, than the typical American diet. That means that they consume less processed foods, which tend to contain high carbohydrates and preservatives.

Next, they give priority to mealtimes, making them a social and family experience. This is an important point, because in the end, they eat less, feel satisfied with their meals, and also get to enjoy the rich food and drink that we often tend to feel guilty about. They embrace the joy of eating, rather than wolfing down food on the run, while running from one place to the next. Studies have shown that when we make time for meals and eat at a more relaxed pace, we end up being more satisfied with what we have consumed, even though we actually have eaten less food.

If you want to eat more like the French, you might choose to break up your meals in courses with smaller portions, take smaller bites, and let your taste buds experience all the flavor that each bite has to offer. Choosing foods that are natural rather than processed when you cook will go a long way towards improving your health, your waistline, and your satisfaction level with eating.

So, why not give eating like the French a try?