Hi guys!
Jenna from Eat Live Run here. I was very excited to guest post for Kath when she went on vacation because we have been friends for almost two years now and she’s as sweet and Southern off the blog as she is on. We’ve always had a blast together!
Today I wanted to write to you all about something I get a lot of questions about on my blog—the French lifestyle and how French women seemingly eat whatever they want yet still stay thin!
As some of you may know, I finished up my last semester of college in Paris at The Paris American Academy. There, I studied creative writing officially, but mainly studied pastries since I made it my job to visit every single pastry shop on the Left Bank during my stay—I had a ball! When I was in Paris I lived over in the Latin Quarter only a few blocks from the Notre Dam Cathedral…..quite the location, I know.
Now I’m going to cut to the chase because I know you all are very interested in what French women really eat. Is it just croissants and tarte tatin washed down by thick, creamy cappuccinos? Well, no, not exactly. But sort of close 😉
I still remember my first morning waking up in Paris. Obviously, my first thought is what do I eat since I always wake up starving. We walked down to a small bakery and just the smells of fresh bread and breakfast pastries were enough to pull me in alone. However, my Americanized mind was still set on must-have-skim-milk-with-high-fiber-cereal-and-half-a-banana for breakfast. Nothing else. Well, I was in for a wake-up call! My choices were limited, it was the pain au chocolate, croissant or almond croissant. I watched as other thin, happy French women walked in and out of the bakery, clutching their still warm croissants to their chests and chatting with their friends. Well if they can do it, so can I! I pushed America far out of my mind I went for the almond croissant. Oh, goodness, this was almost two years ago and I can still tell you exactly how it tasted. Warm, rich and buttery with flecks of crunchy golden almonds and a sweet, sweet crust. Amazing. I washed it down with a cafe au latte And I was full till noon!
I would be lying to you though if I told you I ate like that EVERY DAY. I certainly did not and I don’t think the average French woman does either. Most days I had the “typical” French breakfast of muesli with yogurt and chopped fruit. I could make it quick and easy in my tiny apartment and it gave me energy all day long. I still love that breakfast!
Now I really did not snack in between breakfast and lunch. I didn’t need to. Either the croissant or the muesli/yogurt/fruit combo kept me full all morning long because it contained more fat than just a piece of toast and a banana. Lunch was usually a very large salad or a sandwich from a street vendor after class. Most French women eat very light during the day and save their heaviest meal for at night, when they can dine in style. The bistros and cafes were full at 1:00 in the afternoon with slender French women noshing on salad with a glass of white wine along side. I could never get into the drinking during the day because it would make me fall asleep, so I usually drank a Perrier or Orangina with my meal. My favorite salad was the combination of greens with goat cheese and country ham, topped with a hunk of baguette and dressed in a simple vinaigrette dressing.
Now, after lunch and throughout the afternoon I WOULD usually need a snack to get me through until dinner because the French do eat much later than we do here in America! Restaurants usually aren’t even open until 8 pm and most people dine around 10:00. That was much different than my usual 6:30 dinner in the states so I did what I saw a lot of French women do in the afternoon—snack on a modest amount of dried fruit and nuts OR stop in a cafe and get a “sweet”.
This picture was actually my favorite little afternoon “pick-me-up”. It would be a plate of mini almond macaroons (in a variety of flavors) with an espresso. No, I never counted calories….no, I never even worried about it! And I’m going to tell you that NO ONE over there does! Counting calories is such an Americanized thing where we have been obsessed as a culture in tracking every tiny morsel that enters our lips. Guys, there is just so much more to life! My other favorite “sweet” that I enjoyed one mid-afternoon around 3:00 was a sundae from Berhillion , a very famous Parisian ice cream spot, made with raspberry-rose sorbet and topped with meringue. Sinful. I regret not taking a picture but this was in pre-blog era!
Now dinner was sometimes huge and sometimes not. Many nights I would make a 2 egg omelet in my apartment and enjoy it with a chunk of baguette and a glass of red wine, or I would have a bowl of soup and a salad with greens from the farmer’s market. It was in France that I learned how to make a TRUE omelet using a pat of butter in the skillet. Trust me, a little goes a long way and I still make it that way today. The butter adds an enormous amount of flavor! As for dinners out, they were on the more extravagant side and usually consisted of multiple courses (and glasses of wine!). I enjoyed rich dishes such as pasta but usually stuck to seafood options when at restaurants since fish is my favorite. I always ate one slice of bread and usually had two glasses of wine. Followed by dessert and espresso. Of course!
Now you are probably asking the obvious question of did I gain weight during my stay. The answer> is NO. I lost three pounds! How could that possibly be, you ask! Well here are some contributing factors that every French women obviously knows:
* French women walk A LOT. Probably 3-5 miles a day on average. Rarely anyone drives in the city.
* The portion sizes of meals are significantly smaller than here in the states. For instance, a croissant at Starbucks is double the size of a croissant at a typical Parisian bakery
* French women drink a lot of water
* French women do a lot of yoga—Bikram is HUGE there!
* French women don’t snack heavily (its just something your body gets used to)
* French food does not have the same preservatives as the food in the states. No high fructose corn syrup is used
* French women never eat fast food
* French women don’t count calories and don’t obsess. If they eat a heavy meal for lunch they eat a lighter meal for dinner and that’s that!
* French women eat a lot of fresh produce and a typical snack might a pear at its peak
So there you have it. I really contribute my weight maintenance to the face that I practiced Bikram yoga 3x a week and walked EVERYWHERE. There were some days when I would do nothing but walk, all afternoon. One day I walked all the way from my apartment to the Louve, which was probably six miles away. I walked, walked, walked. I had to buy new shoes while I was there because I walked so much! And in turn, I would eat. When I went over there I told myself beforehand that even if I gained 10 lbs, I would be fine and could just crank up the workouts when I returned home. I wanted to fully enjoy my time in Paris rather than adhering to a strict eating regimen like so many do when they travel. I wanted to fully live my life and enjoy every second!
Since returning home two years ago, I have reverted back to many Americanized ways and foods. I read labels, I watch what I eat and I exercise daily. However, I do try to implement any part of the French lifestyle into my life when I can. I like to shop at farmer’s markets….to buy quality cheese and wine. I don’t use artificial sweeteners (gag!) and instead always use real sugar in my tea. When baking, I always use butter because I know it produces a quality product. Everything is fine in moderation and a little pat of butter once in a while will surely not make you gain a pound. Living in France helped me shed my rather closed mindset about food and living and opened me up to a whole new world of eating for quality.
Salut!
Please stop by and visit my blog for more details—www.EatLiveRun.com . See you there! 🙂
Courtney (The Hungry Yogini) says
Great guest post Jenna! I so badly want to go live in France!! I think I would do juuuuuuuuuust fine eating pastries for breakfast =) It’s so true that they really do have so much more respect and love for food than we do here in the US. For us it’s a means of survival but for them it’s pure pleasure. I think that makes a huge difference in quality of life! Thank you for sharing your experience!
Yasmin says
Ah Paris! I remember my weeks spent there and it was fabulous! I wish I could go back and experience that again. Great guest post!
Sarah (Running to Slow Things Down) says
What a great post, Jenna! 😀 I think an interesting thing is that France, despite eating more rich foods and less processed 100-calorie packs (haha), they have less of the health problems that we do! And, yes, they stay slim too.
All the food looks so delicious too…one of these days I’d love to make it to Paris. Absolutely BEAUTIFUL.
Katy says
What a great blog! It just goes to show that you don’t have to count calories on everything you eat. You know what you can eat a lot of and what you shouldn’t eat a lot of and everyone knows that exercise is essential. Its really put a different perspective on things.
meg says
Awesome guest post Jenna! Love it and all the pics!
Michelle Hisae says
I LOVED this post! It’s so great to get a different perspective once in awhile. I’m reading In Defense of Food right now, and I’m definitely learning more about the “Americanization” of food culture. Nutritionism, as they call it. Thanks for your commentary, Jenna!
Bec says
love the post Jenna, it sounds like you had an amazing experience!
thepinkpeppercorn says
Awesome post!! Thanks for having Jenna guest post Kath!! But it’s super true, REAL food (ie. real butter and sugar) don’t make you gain weight – everything is fine in moderation (and probably good for mental health…then you don’t miss everything so much!) lol.
Gail
Jean@Pretty Starts says
Great Post! Thanks for sharing!!
Christina says
I love this post! Thanks for sharing 🙂
Kathleen says
Wow this post totally inspired me, thanks so much!
Mom says
Jenna,
Your post made me miss Paris. Visited for two weeks in high school on a school organized trip. What a city.
Barbara
Marisa (trim the fat) says
Loved this post, Jenna! My family is Italian and my parents visit every year. Italians eat a similar way and there is no snacking either! My parents always lose weight when they go, despite lovely pasta dishes and loads of wine 🙂
Jennifer says
Loved this guest post! I’ve never been to Paris and now it is at the top of my list to visit. Totally bookmarking your blog …
Angie says
Great post Jenna! I totally agree with the philosophy behind the post. Thanks for sharing with us!
capedaisy says
chocolate croissants = happiness
Kiersten says
Great post Jenna! It’s always so interesting to see how people’s diets in other countries differ so much from ours. I am amazed at how late they eat dinner in France. I’d be snacking all afternoon, no way could I wait that long to eat dinner!
justlucky says
Great post! A real eye-opener!
Mara @ What's For Dinner? says
What a great post! Thanks Jenna!
Susan says
Great post Jenna!! i loved hearing about your experience with eating in France. I went to Germany and gained weight… must’ve been in the wrong country! 😛
Ashbee says
I love Jenna’s & Kath’s blog… Awesome to see them together 🙂 Great post & I would love to live somewhere where walking 4 or 5 miles was standard. (You’d be healthier, save on gas & car insurance…) Can anyone think of negatives? lol
Niki says
Love the post! Thanks for sharing! Makes me want to go to Paris!!
Organic Girl aka AshleyH says
fabulous post it makes me want to fly to paris and just settle down right now. That type of life makes so much more sense! how did your IBS do when you were there?
Angelea says
What an inspirational post. A true celebration of life and good food!
bobbi says
Jenna, I love it!!! What a great post 🙂 I so want to go to France!
spicygranola says
great post, love the pictures. I majored in French in college and can’t wait to spend more time there (walking, eating, and SHOPPING)!
Melissa @ For the Love of Health says
Great post! And I love your blog- read it daily 🙂
Amanda says
awesome post! i want to go to France so bad! i agree with you that America has a warped opinion of food. we are too much of an excess culture, and in some cases, also too much of a diet culture! we need to find the balance!
Caronae says
Awesome guest post! I’ve been to France for vacation twice and walked SO MUCH! You don’t even notice you’re walking because it’s so pretty.
Priyanka says
Thanks Jenna, that is a great guest post!
Hil says
Thanks for the post, Jenna. I’m rereading Frech Women Don’t Get Fat at the moment–a book that I can honestly say changed my life. I love the French focus on moderation and pleasure.
Kari (Eating Simply) says
I enjoyed reading your post so much. I will definitely be over to your blog soon.
Oh She Glows says
I lovethis post so much- thank you Jenna!
greenbean says
best guest post ever!
tiffany says
I LOVE those macaroons! Laduree is probably my most craved bakery in the world! Great post Jenna!
Rachel says
I loved this post! Jenna, I have seen you refer to the French way of eating but I’d never seen it laid out so specifically like this, and I LOVE it! Makes me want to go back to Paris NOW.
LisaR says
The picture of you w/ your red headband on and the stripped shirt is my favorite! You look so french! 🙂 Great post!
Elizabeth says
Thanks for your insights – definitely things to think about!
Jenn (j3nn.net) says
What an inspiring and beautifully written post! I love hearing about French and Eurepean culture. My family is Italian and my grandmother’s generation follows these same types of healthy, balanced eating and lifestyle habits. I wish I adopted the same habits, but I went drastically wrong somewhere along the line lol. I’m trying to correct that now. 🙂
Your post reminds me of one of my favorite Julia Child quotes:
“Because of media hype and woefully inadequate information, too many people nowadays are deathly afraid of their food, and what does fear of food do to the digestive system? … I, for one, would much rather swoon over a few thin slices of prime beefsteak, or one small serving of chocolate mousse, or a sliver of foie gras than indulge to the full on such nonentities as fat-free gelatin puddings.”
“The pleasures of the table — that lovely old-fashioned phrase — depict food as an art form, as a delightful part of civilized life. In spite of food fads, fitness programs, and health concerns, we must never lose sight of a beautifully conceived meal.”
From “The Way To Cook,” written by Julia Child and published in 1989.
Jenn
LK- Healthy Delcious says
wonderful post! I like to eat this way a lot too…. I just wish I lived in more of a walking city.
supermom says
I dream of living in Paris! Sounds wonderful. Also, one weight loss factor you didn’t mention would surely be the espresso. Thanks!
Sarah says
I love the French way of living! I have read both of the “French Women…” books and keep telling myself I want to be more like that. I wish we didn’t have to worry about things like HFCS here, maybe someday 😉 Great guest post Jenna!
marie says
I found this post truly entertaining and inspiring. It’s true that we spend so much time worrying about everything so much instead of enjoying the food. I sure would love one of those French pastries for breakfast tomorrow instead of my perfectly portioned piece of bread, egg white, and half banana.
Laura in Pgh says
What a fabulous post!!! It’s so cool reading your perspective on French eating. I lived in Europe for 1.5 months and didn’t gain a pound due to walking everywhere … i just loved it! I now have a new blog to read – thank you!
Ellen says
i think one of the key differences is that the french eat, demand and respect good food. one must read labels and pay close attention to what they eat here in the US because there are so many “food products” that are really not real food. i am spending all of next year in italy and spain, and i can’t wait!
Gloria says
Awesome post! I’m going to Paris this summer and now I’m even more excited!! I wish Americans would appreciate good healthy food and the European lifestyle. I think food… and more importantly – wine 😉 …is an art and should be treated as such. And I absolutely love walking and biking everywhere!
Ashley says
Great guest post!
Becca says
Awesome post! I loved reading about how French women eat and seeing your pictures from your semester there. Thanks for the info!
MaryBe says
Thank you for a great guest post Jenna. I loved it!
Laura Brandon says
Your description of the way French women eat is so fascinating, and makes so much sense! I wish we could be more like them here in the states! Hopefully one day I’ll get to go to Paris and experience it all for myself!
Roberta says
Good Night this web-log is absolute nice!!!! I am pretty sure I`m coming back to see more posts!