If you mention France to someone, one of the first things that will pop into their head will surely be food. Maybe it’s a baguette or croissant or French cheese or just French food in general. France is a country that wholly appreciates mealtime and food, and the longer I live here, the more I see that first hand and appreciate all the good food myself. But what can we learn from eating like the French? A whole lot.
GO!
What we can learn from eating like the French
I’ve told you all about macarons, why you won’t get fat in France, and tips for dining out…. but what about the things we can learn from French mealtime culture? And how do the French eat?
Even if you’re only in France a short time, you’ll take note of the French way of life when it comes to food.
One thing I’ve noticed about the French that ties into food culture is the fact that there are far fewer obese people in France than there are in the US. That’s not to say there are no overweight people because there are a bunch of very unfit, heavy folks walking around. But truly obsese? I can count them on one hand and I’ve lived here over 3 years…
France has the lowest obesity rates in Europe. To give you exact figures, 38.5% of men and 26% of women in France are considered overweight (it’s about double that in the US). And in the US, nearly 35% of adults are obese. Yikes!
Please note: I’d like to point out that not all French people eat the way I describe below. Like Americans, the French are a diverse bunch and everyone his their own habits, dietary needs, preferences and routines. Like me, for example — you’ll never find me chowing down on a hunk of horse or giving up snacking in this lifetime.
That said, many French people fall into the eating habits I’ve outlined below but many don’t. So please keep that in mind as you read. I try not to idealize the French way of life too much because it’s not one-size-fits all across the board and eating like the French isn’t necessarily better for everyone.
So let’s look at the cultural differences when it comes to food.
Here’s what we can learn from eating like the French:
Make it fresh.
The French enjoy preparing fresh food at mealtime. This isn’t to say that the French don’t eat packaged foods because trust me, they do. But buying fresh produce and then swinging by the butcher to pick up some meat is a tradition that lives on.
Many French people buy their meat and fish at the grocery store as well because it’s just more convenient. In general, meals tend to be fresh and not from a can or package. It’s easy to buy fresh when market culture is so strong!
10 Tips for not embarrassing yourself at the French marché >>
Slow down.
In the US, a busy school night dinner would be an afterthought or a meal quickly thrown together that we had to scarf down before heading out somewhere. Not so in France. The French view mealtime as an event to be enjoyed and a reason to slow down. It’s a social occasion to be with family and friends and the focus is on the meal itself.
That’s not to say that the French never eat in front of the TV or grab something on the go, but generally mealtime is taken seriously. This is my favorite French mealtime habit.
Don’t forget the bread and wine.
Every meal needs bread and wine or it’s not complete (half serious). Keep in mind that not every meal is an extravagant feast but a simple baguette and glass of wine are par for the course when eating in France. Baguettes aren’t just a stereotype — the French really do buy a fresh baguette daily!
Use your baguette to sop up sauce from your meal or save it to eat with some cheese. It’s never slathered with butter, though. But hey, if you like butter on your bread, go for it!
Baguette etiquette: What to do (and not do) with your bread >>
Don’t forget dessert either.
Dessert is the perfect way to end a meal — every time. The portions tend to be small and delicate and even if something decadent isn’t on the menu, a simple yogurt or fresh fruit will do. But a meal isn’t complete until dessert (and a coffee in most cases) is served.
The French don’t feel guilty when they eat dessert. It’s a normal part of the meal, but do keep in mind that portion sizes are probably smaller than what we’re used to in America and a rich dessert isn’t a daily occurrence. Sometimes a piece of fruit is all that’s needed. Strangely enough, French desserts are satisfying and I never find myself wanting more.
Be adventurous.
The French seem to switch it up when it comes to their main dishes at dinner. I’ve had varieties of fish and meat I’ve never had at home and while I don’t like everything, I can at least say I tried it. Pigeon, I’m looking at you.
Buy in season.
Trying to find strawberries for your chocolate-covered strawberries in the winter is nearly impossible in France. Most grocery stores don’t import off-season vegetables and just make do with what’s in season. The French are masters at taking advantage of the produce in season.
Recipes with cherries are popular in June, not in December, and clementines aren’t usually found in the summer. You begin to look forward to buying seasonal produce and working with what’s available. It’s for the best.
Two French eating habits I don’t follow:
No snacking.
I love snacking. I’m not saying I chow down on Snickers bars and chips when my stomach starts rumbling at 4 p.m., but a healthy snack here and there is part of my daily routine. This isn’t the case for most people in France (aside from le goûter, usually a sugary treat for kids) and the French are even told NOT to snack.
They tend to stick to mealtimes and you’ll even see a little line of text on TV ads or on packages that tells people to avoid snacking. But if it’s healthy and works for you, why not?
Sugary breakfast.
The French tend to eat something sweet for breakfast like a pain au chocolat or Nutella on bread or something similar and it’s usually small. A black coffee is quite normal too. I wrote a post all about what the French eat for breakfast.
Now of course many Americans do the same thing and eat a donut or a bowl of sugary cereal. But the difference is that in the US, many opt for a healthy breakfast or a savory meal like eggs. In France, scrambled egg whites and turkey bacon in the morning would be very strange.
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Do you enjoy eating like the French?
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This is so on point. Thank you!
You’re very welcome!
Hey,
I found your article when Googling “strange noises French people make” (loved that article by the way!)
I love this one too, you hit every nail on the head. One thing I personally have adopted since living in France is eating cheese after the main course at dinner. It may sound excessive to an American but I think it’s actually one of the ways the French manage to stay thinner because you have your main course and think “man that was good! I’d like to have seconds… hm, actually, I’ll just have a bit of baguette and camembert.” A bit of bread and a wedge of cheese is likely less caloric than having a whole second plate of food, and since its high in fat and carbs, you feel fulfilled (but not so fulfilled as to skip out on dessert!) I haven’t served myself seconds in the past year and I eat cheese basically every night. And I’m happy to say I’ve definitely lost a bit of weight and I never feel hungry!
Looking forward to following your blog 🙂
Monica
Hi Monica, thanks so much for taking the time to comment. So happy you enjoy the posts. The point about eating cheese is a good one. It is something to look forward to after the meal and can squash any hunger pangs. My favorite is a soft goat cheese (without the rind).
What part of France do you live in and how long have you been here? Have a great weekend!
i’m enjoying your blog…discovered it the same way as Monica did. I’ve been here 3 years (Charente) and have found it true that the French are very different eaters than we Americans. There is a lot to admire in their attitudes toward mealtimes and as I am trying to lose weight I should really follow their example more closely! 🙂
Hi Katherine, thanks for taking a minute to comment — happy to have you here. What originally brought you to Charente?
I do think the French do mealtime right (sometimes it’s a tad overboard though w/the long dinners) and Americans can take note. But about healthy living in general, the French tend to move more. Walking or cycling places, walking up stairs and all that adds up!
Sounds like the French know what they are doing more or less, I like my food and I am short fat middle aged woman, would I like to be slimmer of course I would but getting rid of the fat is not as easy and getting it
Yes, funny how that works isn’t it, Jo-Anne? So easy to put the weight on but takes way more determination to get it off! Thank you for checking out the post!
So true, I love the way the French eat. I have definitely adopted the “French way” at meal times – wonderful quality of life and much better that a sandwich at your desk.
Yes the French do seem to take normal length lunches even during the workday. With wine! 😉
My diet is all over the place in France because I have to eat dinner before AND after I play volleyball. My teammates think I’m crazy, and I’m like, “Does my size 6 look crazy to you?” 🙂 I burn calories like a maniac, so the French diet, plus my multiple dinners, works well for me!
Yup, it’s all about what works best for our needs. Thanks for checking out the post!
I’ve been in France so long now that all this just seems normal, but what I like when reading your posts Diane is the insights into American culture! Being British-Australian I don’t know so much about America except for what we see in the movies/TV so I love seeing how you compare things. You’re spot on about the French and their eating habits. I particularly like the seasonal produce and find I completely weird to eat strawberries in December. Like you though, I’ll never give up snacking!
Thanks Phoebe…. happy i can provide that insight for you. Most of the time movies and shows depict American life pretty well but the country is so big and diverse that what you see on TV isn’t a reality for everyone. I’m sure many French people eat more like stereotypical Americans and I’m sure many Americans just naturally eat dinner late, buy fresh produce and don’t snack. Just depends. 😉 Glad you’re enjoying your snacks too!
It is true that even my French friends living in Australia maintain these habits from childhood, a visit to a french market is a real healthy eating treat, fresh food, no snacking and a little cheese and wine oh yes and pudding! Ok you’ve convinced me to try the French diet!
Wren x
Hi Diane, yes, in general I agree the French have a really lovely heathy way of eating. Alas, I think things are changing – the world over, more fast food and ‘individual’ eating rather than the whole family together. What I have noticed too on the Cote d’Azur is that it is often only the English! who are drinking wine at Lunchtimes!! And, don’t forget that most delicious of French ways – the Café Gourmand. 5 puddings instead of one, what’s not to like about that!!