I was reading an article today about a T-shirt offered by clothing store with "Eat Less" written on it and how people are all up in arms about it. Or at least some are, some think there's no problem with such a message because America is so fat. One commenter starts talking about how people in other countries are thin because they eat less, and uses France as an example.
Well, based on actual experience, I can tell you that people in France do not, in general, "eat less" than in America (at least in general, there are always exceptions). Their meals are usually several courses. Appetizers, entrees, cheese and desert, all with bread and wine. Believe me, they eat at least as much as Americans, at least at meals.
But the French do eat differently. People are thinner in France for several reasons.
1. They work less hours a day and have more time to buy/cook fresh food. Part of this is also because they generally don't eat dinner until at least 7pm, sometimes as late as 8pm. Their meals then last a couple of hours. Kids don't spend time after dinner watching TV. They eat dinner, then go to bed. Homework? Well, that's another topic, but suffice it to say that French kids go to school until 5pm four days a week (half day one day a week) and overall have less homework because they are doing more work in school. So less time is needed for 'homework.'
2. They have more vacation time and are therefore less stressed and thus eat less to relieve said stress. Stress causes a lot of overeating. French workers are treated better and have a lot less work induced stress.
3. They're food is not made with HFCS. In fact, they have significantly less processed food. I know some people say that HFCS is no worse than sugar, and maybe that's true. But the French buy much less pre-made food so they have control over whether sugar is even going into the recipe. They don't need HFCS in their bread for preservatives, they buy fresh bread daily so only the sugar needed for the yeast reaction is sufficient. Look at ingredients, you'd be amazed at how difficult it is to buy almost anything without HFCS.
4. They eat out a lot less because restaurants are more expensive, because they include 20% tip in the price of the food in order give the wait staff a living wage (and when they do eat out, the portions are significantly smaller). My in-laws love eating out in America because its so cheap (yeah, this is why the French are famous for cheap tipping) and they can order one meal to split between them because the portions are so big. They don't have "doggie bags" in France.
5. They walk/bike more because their roads are smaller and not conducive to driving everywhere. At least if one is living in a city, one doesn't need a car at all in France. Its like living in NYC (and maybe a few other metropolitans)
6. They do not multi-task while eating (such as reading or watching TV). They enjoy the company of people they are eating with and spend the time talking. Thus, their meals last a lot longer (2 hour lunch is quite common) and people enjoy the food more. They don't "wolf down" their food. Similarly, they never eat while walking, driving, etc. They eat sitting down, at a table, almost always with another person.
7. They snack significantly less, probably because their meals last longer. No need for that 10pm 'snack' when you just finished dinner 30 minutes ago.
8. They eat a much lighter breakfast. Sometimes I think the American idea of a "big breakfast" is a contributing factor to obesity. It was fine for when one lived on a farm and needed to burn a lot of calories early in the day. But a normal person who is just going to sit in an office doesn't need a breakfast of pancakes, eggs, bacon, etc. You know that they call "Continental breakfast"? The roll, coffee, juice? Well, that's why its called that, because that's what you eat in 'continental Europe' for breakfast. Kids are really the only people in France that eat more (and only a little bit more at that) than a roll or croissant for breakfast.
9. More French still smoke. This is probably the only negative. However, even those that don't smoke are significantly thinner overall.
We're trying to incorporate at least some of these habits at our home. Its hard for me to break my habit of reading while eating. It will be easier as the kids get older and we use dinner time to talk more. As it is, we force the kids to turn off the TV during dinner time. Even if they are not watching it, if they can hear it, its distracting, and they eat faster.
I'm trying to buy and cook fresh food, buy foods with no HFCS. Its hard because I work much longer than most French. Again, when the kids are older and can help more, I hope it will be easier. In the meantime, I go to the farmers market once a week for fruits and veggies, they last longer and taste better than those in the grocery store (and the price difference is negligible, some are cheaper, some are not, it works out about the same).
We eat out less than before, although that's mostly an economic factor. When we do eat out, I almost always try to order something to take half home for a lunch. If we have to put up with such large portions, I'm going to at least try and split it up for two meals.
We try to go out walking/biking every day, at least when its not too hot or cold. This is also primarily when its still light out after work. Once Elise is old enough to bike too, we can even do some longer trips.
I love our vacations in France. I never gain weight there, even with some of the heavy food. In fact, I usually drop a few pounds and never feel hungry. So its not at all about 'eating less,' its how you eat that matters.
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