We Americans have many stereotypes about the French: they're arrogant, rude and unkind to innocent tourists. Despite all of these negatives, however, I think that we Americans can learn a thing or two from the French. One of the most common opinions that we have of the French is more a reality than just a judgment: they're ALL thin (well, most of them at least).
France is known for its delectable cuisine, especially its breads, cheeses and wines. Even though these notoriously "unhealthy" delicacies are consumed at most meals in France, French people seem to be able to stay so thin and still eat these "taboo" foods on a daily basis. But how?
After living in Paris for nine months and then returning to the United States, I was most struck by the difference in the size of the people. Americans overall are so much bigger than French people! French women are long, lean and stylishly dressed in their silky scarves and pointy-toed high heels. But how is this possible in a place where baguette is a must at meals, a ham and butter sandwich is an acceptable lunch and people dip their meat in mayonnaise?
Before I left for my year abroad in France, I have to admit, as narcissistic as it sounds, that one of my biggest fears was gaining 20 pounds because of French food. After all, I was going to be eating much richer foods prepared by my host mother and surrounded by the temptations of patisseries on practically every block. But I also knew that there HAD to be a way they do it. How do French women stay so skinny despite the "bad-for-you" French food? The Danone Institute reports that only 10% of the French population is obese, in comparison to nearly 30% of the American population. How is this possible?
I found a few answers for myself while living in Paris. The French have a very different attitude toward food than Americans do. Although we both like to eat, and in both cultures, eating and drinking are often a central part of socialization, the French truly take the time to enjoy their food. For the French, meals are grands ?©v?©nements - they are a big deal. The French contemplate and look forward to their meals. They take pleasure in the act of eating and savor their food. Meals are not seen as a "chore," as they often are in the United States.
We often think about meals as just another thing on the list that has to be completed quickly so that we can move on to the next item on our agenda. Even the "food language" that we use in the United States shows our attitude towards food. We say, "I'm going to get food" or "grab a bite to eat." The French "take" their breakfast, lunch and dinner and even have separate verbs to express the act of eating each meal.
While in France, I also found a general difference in the quality of food. The French take pride in their food and are very selective in choosing what they eat. They tend to use fresh ingredients in their cooking, which is reflected in their frequent trips to the market. They do not do their grocery shopping in bulk. Huge wholesale establishments, like Costco, are virtually non-existent in Paris, whereas large farmers' markets occur several times a week in different parts of the city. With this high quality of food come satisfying meals: the key to the French people's ability to stay thin and still enjoy food. Satisfaction with food is directly correlated to the amount of food one eats. Because the French ensure that they are satisfied by their meals, less food is necessary to make them feel full and thus, they eat smaller portions. Often times Americans think that bigger is better, the more food you eat, the more satisfied you would be. In France, however, the quality and taste of food determine satisfaction.
In our country, where diet and weight-loss is an enormous industry, we often equate being thin with being on a diet. A diet is when one restricts his or her intake of certain "bad" foods, and the notion of deprivation as the key to being thin has become generally accepted. In order to be thin, you continually have to deprive yourself of certain foods that our "thin culture" has labeled as "prohibited" (potato chips, chocolate and the like). From my experience in France, however, there is no such thing as a "bad" or "prohibited" food, and there is certainly no such thing as deprivation.
French people do not restrict themselves from having the occasional cr??pe or pastry. This is not to say that the French are ignorant of basic nutrition: they know that sweets are not supposed to be consumed in large amounts. They are aware of the existence calories and fat grams, but the difference is that they do not obsess over them! Because nothing is "forbidden," they are not compelled to binge on these "bad" foods. In the United States, we do have this notion of "forbidden" foods.
In human nature, when something that we want is forbidden, we are compelled to want it even more. From my experiences living in both cultures, this is what causes Americans to overdose on the "bad" foods and eat an entire box of Oreos in one sitting. Since certain foods are not "forbidden" in France, the French allow themselves to indulge in things they like, but not overdo it. They are satisfied with their one tarte au chocolat and then are done.
Finally, as a result of this satisfaction with their meals, the French do no snack in between meals. Snacking is seen as unnecessary and is only done by children between coming home from school and dinnertime. Without mindless snacking, three satisfying meals a day and no feelings of needing to deprive themselves of "bad" food, the French have discovered the secret of living well and staying thin.
Alison Meisel is a senior majoring in French and International Relations.
