Email a Friend
Print Article
How the French Stay Slim
Size Matters
Order a ham sandwich in France, and you may be surprised to get one thin slice of ham and a few tomatoes with mustard on a baguette. It has nowhere near the calories found in an American-style overstuffed deli sandwich, or a cheeseburger and French fries.
And there lies another secret to the French secret of slimness: Portion control.
I attended a child's birthday party where the adults enjoyed espresso and mini pastries while the children played. After having one tiny pastry, my instinct was to go for another until I realized that none of the adults had more than one paper wrapper next to their coffee cups.
I asked the parents at the party to share their insights into French dietary habits and here is what they said: Breakfast is typically coffee with some kind of bread, yogurt, or cereal. Croissants are a treat, and served mostly to visitors. Snacks are enjoyed primarily by children after school; adults usually stick to three meals a day. Dessert is de riguer, but the portions are small -- just like the tiny pastries.
A Trip to the Market
Yogurt is a dietary staple that helps French women manage their hunger. Guiliano says most French women eat one or two yogurts a day, often at breakfast -- and especially after an evening of overindulgence to help balance out the calories.
"Yogurt is the perfect food because it is high in calcium, has carbohydrates, protein, and fat - everything you need in every meal," she says.
In most French markets, yogurts take up an entire aisle, while snack foods like chips, sodas, and cookies have very little shelf space.
It's hard to figure out the nutritional value of many of the foods in the French markets. Nutrient labeling is optional.
Judging from the foods I saw, the average French consumer appears to be more interested in added vitamins and minerals than reduced fat or calories. I found some foods whose labels boasted 0% fat, but not nearly the number of reduced-calorie and fat-free products that line American grocery shelves.
Walking a Way of Life
"French women don't work out; they walk," Guiliano has told WebMD.
This daily physical activity is one of the reasons they tend to be thinner. Having a car in any European city is a challenge. As a result, city folks do plenty of walking, and in the country, they walk or ride bicycles. And when French people walk or drive, they usually are not eating, drinking coffee in cardboard cups, or talking on cell phones.
Another thing I noticed is that it's virtually impossible to find a non-smoking zone, in the city or the country. Smoking is a way of life, much like sitting in the cafes.
Perhaps all that coffee and cigarettes helps dull the appetite and helps explain why the French are slim. Of course, we all know that smoking is unhealthy and certainly not a good way to get weight under control.
Viva la difference. My unscientific mission inspired me to slow down, savor the flavor, taste and aroma of my meals, eat whatever I like in small portions, and keep on walking.
del.icio.us
Health Check: Weight Loss Surgery
When Are Extra Pounds a Danger?
Jonathan Sackner Bernstein, MD, talks about when being overweight becomes a health problem.
