How French Women Stay Slim by Terry Ryan
How do French Women stay thinner than American women?
What you see on TV is a typical example of a French woman that primarily lives in Paris. Paris is the largest city in France and is the capital. It is a mere 40 square miles with a population around 2.5 million. What do French women do better than American women?
French women are taught at an early age good eating habits
French have better eating habits and are taught at an early age.They say that good eating habits that are taught between age 0-7 will stay with you for the rest of your life.Think of that the next time you serve your daughter a bowlful of sugary cereal In my house growing up, we never had a big bag of chips to munch on between meals, or soda in the refrigerator. Therefore, I never crave chips and soda.
They eat many more servings of fruits and vegetables per day
French women go grocery shopping every 2 to 3 days. Their vegetables and fruit are always fresh. Women shoot for 8 – 10 servings per day of FRESH veggies and fruit and never out of can. Local beef and poultry are at almost every meal but in small amounts.
They never eat processed foods
Everything is made from scratch at home. Most homes do not even have a microwave because there is no need to own one. They like to carefully and consciously prepare their meals.
When did gluttony become the norm?
Conscious eating
French people believe in taking in all the nuances of their food as they eat. They are careful about the quality of the food, the way it is presented, and make sure they have multiple colors on the plate. Time is taken to appreciate the essence, the aromas, and they concentrate on what they are tasting.
French women eat slowly
Each forkful is eating slowly and deliberately. What are they tasting? Is that a touch of nutmeg? French women eat slower than Americans. They believe that helps with digestion, and they fill up faster.
They never overeat
How many times do you eat until you can’t take another bite? French women stop eating before they feel stuffed! Since when did gluttony become popular? I know a lot of people who do not stop eating until—-they hate themselves. Leave a little on your plate.
French women do not snack
So snacking has become a sport in America. The snack food aisle is filled with unhealthy snacks. The whole notion of snacking between meals is not done in France. They eat 3 meals, lunch is the largest. They take time to eat at lunch, and usually will devote an hour to the meal. If a French woman is at work, she will go to a quiet space and eat the healthy meal she brought. They seldom eat out, preferring to eat the food they prepare themselves.
They do NOT drink wine everyday
Sorry to burst that bubble. They only drink wine on occasion no matter what the wine industry tries to tell you. Their preferred drink is water. They do start the day off with a cup of black coffee.
They avoid GMO’s
Anything that has GMO they will not touch. Monsanto is not doing well in France. Here in America we think to ourselves…hey, if the government says it’s okay, it must be, right? Nooooo. It’s all about $$$$$$. GMO’s are bad! Stick to pure, unadulterated foods. Go to your local organic farmer’s market.
They are however stressed out
Surprise! If you think that they are taking siestas in the afternoon, working 4 hour work days, and that is why they can linger on meals take the time to prepare. That is not true. They work 10 hour work days and have long commutes, Jobs are scarce and competitions for jobs intense. So, they are very stressed out. However, they value their health enough to take the time to eat quality food.
They walk everywhere
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While with the long work days, they do not have enough time to go to a gym, but they walk everywhere. They use stairs, (no escalators) and run to catch trains and subways. A French woman seldom takes a taxis as they are too expensive. Bikes are not used because the streets are so tight that there is no room to ride.
I can relate. As a suburbanite, I drive everywhere. However, the 2 years I lived on Michigan Ave in Chicago, I walked everywhere. It was easier to walk and cheaper than taking a taxi. We had a car that was parked in the basement in the building, and you had to plan ahead to request your car to be brought up to ground level by elevator, I kid you not. Plus, tipping the garage people was important. The less you tipped the longer it took to get your car. Yes, walking was easier.
Kitchens are not the center of the house
How many people in America watch TV within eyesight of the refrigerator? Many, right. With the open concept and family rooms actually a part of the kitchen, food is always front and center. In France, the kitchens are located away from the living rooms. . In America it is so easy to look over and open the pantry to see what snacks are in there. French women don’t have junk food in the kitchen to tempt them. Maybe if architects start designing homes where the kitchen is not the main event, there would less temptation to eat.
They DON’T eat a lot of sweets
I know, I know. Every time you see a tourism commercial for Paris there is a delicious looking bakery with loads of pastries. Or candy counters with OMG yummy handmade chocolates. Be still my heart. Yet another bubble to burst here. French women do not eat a lot of sweets. No, they are smarter than that. I know, you thought they had a free-pass on sweets just because they are French. Sorry, that is not how it is. Those pastries must only be for the tourists.
They eat on a table
How many times of you come home from a hard day of work…an exhausting day of work…when you nuke a frozen food in the microwave and sit down in on the couch to watch the TV. No…NO! Take some time to unwind,and turn off the TV; grill a little chicken, salad on the side, and sit down at a table where you slowly savor your delicious meal. French women will not give up their peaceful and slowly eaten meals. It’s a must. Put yourself and your family first. As I was writing this blog, my hubby was discussing a stressful subject with me, and I stopped him as my stomach started to knot up. I said. “Can we discuss this later?”
If you and your family are too busy with a hectic schedule, you are too busy. Take off some items on the schedule. Place food shopping, preparing, and dining a priority. Have your children participate in this. They need to learn the basics of choosing healthy foods, how to prepare a meal, and proper dining conversation. Turn off the TV and phones.
They eat small portions
French women and men eat small portions. You will not see large plates overloaded with food as if it was Thanksgiving Day. It is all about quality and not quantity.
They love their homemade vegetable soup
That’s a fact. They like to eat homemade vegetable soup. They will eat it everyday. With lunch being the largest meal, dinner is a bowl of vegetable soup with some homemade bread. Yes, they eat bread but it is not like American bread. Less chemicals and GMO in France.
Summary
- Don’t eat processed foods
- Savor what you are eating
- Eat at a table
- Stay out of the kitchen
- Don’t eat until you are stuffed
- Smell, look, taste
- Stay away from GMOs
- Limit alcohol and sweets
- Teach your children healthy eating habits
- Small portions
Remember, you deserve the best!
Thank you for reading,
Terry Ryan
Terry Ryan
Researcher, blogger, pickleball addict, owned by 2 chihuahuas, hero in my husband’s eyes.
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