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French Women Don't Get Fat: The Secret of Eating for Pleasure

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I understand that the reviewer who listed her web site has her own products and way of losing weight that has been effective for many people. I truly applaud her efforts.

However, that is not to say that this marvelous little book is incorrect in any way, shape or form. While Madame Guiliano is not a nutritionist or doctor, she is the CEO of Clicquot Inc., a U.S. subsidiary of Champagne Veuve Clicquot. Believe me, she knows a thing or two about eating and drinking for pleasure and maintaining your ideal weight.

Let me tell you my own experience eating the French way. I went to France a few years ago for about three weeks. I stayed in Paris, and then in Chartres. I could only afford to eat in little cafes and bistros, but I vowed to eat only my favorite foods and go back only to restuarants that were to die for. I ate my favorites - chocolate made fresh every day, chocolate mousse, home made ice cream, omelettes, pizza with goat cheese and cream sauce, quiche of every kind - you name it I ate it. I also had a glass of wine with dinner every night. We snacked almost all day in between meals on fresh fruit. All of the food was fresh - no chemical additives and nothing packed in pastic bags. We also walked every morning before breakfast and every day after lunch.

When I got home and got on the scale I was shocked to see I had lost 25 pounds, and two dress sizes. I had to laugh because we complained the first few days about how long it took us to get served, and how long each meal took. After the second day we were so into really tasting the food we shared, we shut up and stopped hurrying through each meal.

It took less than a week for me to get back into my harried life - eating on the run, shoving food in my mouth while I talked on a conference call and simultaneously completed and emailed reports. I was back to the fast lane and fast food take out.

When I got this book it took me back to France, and back to why the French have less than an 11% obesity rate (and ours is 30% and climbing.) The French simply eat the freshest food in season, they enjoy what they eat and they walk every where!

We cannot avoid food. We need it to survive. But we can choose fresh foods in season that we love, make meals with a few favorite ingredients and savor every bite.

Once we slow down and let our taste buds enjoy great food again, we will give our stomachs the twenty or so minutes it needs to signal - hey that was delicious but I am done now. You can stop. Save the rest for another time.

Granted, we should not use food as a deterrent for issues we are not dealing with in life. We need to ask - what exactly is eating me right now? And deal with it. Get help from books like Eating in the Light of the Moon or from professional therapists.

In the meantime, we can learn the pleasure principle of food, and lose a few pounds along the way.

I also recommend her other books:

French Women for All Seasons
Women, Work & the Art of Savoir Faire: Business Sense & Sensibility

About 6 months ago, I read a Marie Claire article about how the French and American editors switched lives and diets for one month. The French editor lived on Snackwells (an abomination, she thought) Lean Cuisines, and ate in her car, in front of the T.V., and on the go. The American editor dined on fresh, warm breads, rich cheeses, succulent meats and divine wine, and actually sat down, undistracted, to do so. At the end of 30 days, the French editor, despite eating so-called "diet" meals, gained about 10 pounds; the American editor lost 10-15. Bizzare occurence? Alert the 'Weekly World News'? Hardly. Instead, pick up a copy of Mirelle (pronounced Meer-Ray) Guiliano's new book "French Women Don't Get Fat".

Mirelle confirms what we already know- that French people in general are more active (let's face it- it's more tempting to walk to work when you have the gorgeous Parisian landscape to indulge in) and consume less junk. So basically, she's not telling us anything we haven't heard before. The difference is, the French approach isn't a quick fix drop 10 pounds in 2 days juice diet. Mirelle accounts her own experience as a foreign exchange student in America- at 18, she was bigger than she'd ever been, thanks to a new love for chocolate chip cookies, potato chips, and everything else Americans love to nosh on. When she went back home, she turned to her family doctor, Dr. Miracle (no joke), who was eager to help. And now, she's given us Dr. Miracle's instructions to help us.

There are a few phases you must go through to change your lifestyle: Recasting, which involves keeping a 3 week food journal to identify your "offenders" (i.e. which foods are your personal temptation/downfall) and at what times you're eating the most, and Stabilization, learning to eat and move for life by adding the previous offenders in moderation. Although tedious for some, this is like having a doctor prescribe a personal diet just for you, rather than jam you into a 'one size fits all' diet. Recasting also involves what Mirelle calls "round up the usual suspects"- analyzing your journal to decide was seems excessive in your judgement- and then determining what you can live without (or at least, with less of). Dr. Miracle also 'prescribes' starting your casting off with 2 days of 'leek soup' (sort of like the French version of the cabbage soup diet, but smells less like feet). Another staple in your house should be fresh, in season fruits and vegetables. If you're just buying what's in the supermarket, you may not be getting the best of what's in season, which yields a better flavor that reduces the need for lashings of butter and salt to improve their taste.

Variety is key, she adds. If you condition yourself to eating the same type of foods, your taste buds become immune to the flavor, thus requiring more to satiate your 'craving'. By adding new foods and flavors to your diet, you're more likely to eat less, and certainly will never be bored. Mirelle also gives us a few recipes that can serve as substitutes for sweets (and there's not one that calls for sugar substitute or pretend butter). All in all, "FWDGF" encourages moderation and using your common sense. If you really want dessert after dinner, skip the bread basket and only have two forkfuls of dessert- then, lay your fork down and keep up conversation until the waiter/tress asks to take your plate away. This may seem like an expensive waste, but you've satisfied your craving while not overindulging. As Oscar Wilde once said, "The only way to get rid of temptation is to yield to it". Likewise, a little of a well chosen dessert will keep you from gorging something worse later on. Stock good dark chocolate in the house when you get a jones for something sweet. Dark chocolate can satisfy a craving and has antioxidants that are good for those with high blood pressure (in small doses, of course).

A few reviewers have slammed this book for what they feel is the age old French snootiness about Americans. Not so. Indeed, Mirelle speaks about her love for her adopted country (her husband is American) and merely wants American women to understand that the reason French women stay slim is no secret. That Marie Claire article also mentioned that only 6% of French women are overweight/obese, as opposed to American women (over 50 percent). This is because:

1. French women eat smaller portions of more things (each meal averages 3 courses).
2. French women eat more vegetables.
3. French women love chocolate, especially dark chocolate
4. French women honor mealtime rituals and never eat standing up, on the run, or in front of the T.V.
5. French women eat what's in season for maximum flavor, and know availability does not equal quality.
6. French women don't care for hard liquor.
7. French women walk wherever they can.
8. French women drink water all day long.
9. French women don't eat anything "fat-free", "sugar-free" or anything stripped of natural flavor. They go for the real thing IN MODERATION.
10. French women choose their indulgences and compensations.

There are many other "French Women..." things in this interesting book that you owe it to yourself to at least consider. I've gotten past the leek soup weekend, and even keep a stash on hand in the fridge to eat before my meal (lots of fiber to make me feel full). Recipes and advice abound here; the key is eating for pleasure, but in moderation; recasting your life to be healthy and happy without total deprivation or counting carbs, calories, or fat grams. Eventually, you will get to the point where you can talk and think about food positively, not dread it (French women never talk about diets either). I think this is something I can live with!

Mireille Guliano President and CEO of the champagne company Cliquot Inc. is the author of "French Women Don't Get Fat". Guliano travels 180 days of the year, eating out frequently and indulging in rich dishes and other goodies including bread, champagne and chocolate. Yet she manages to stay very slim and trim the French way.

"French Women Don't Get Fat" is a wonderful opportunity to look inside this chic French woman's mind and understand how she eats such delicious food, rarely visit the gym yet wears a small size.

The 263pg book speaks volumes. It clearly describes how to "think" so you will make the food choices that even if indulgent support a healthy weight. And it describes how to "move" to stay slim and you don't have to go to a gym.

You do not have to be in the Zone or give up carbs or fat in order to lose weight. There is no need to micromanage your nutrients. Instead you must temper your indulgences with restraint. It seems so simple - yet millions of overweight Americans don't know how to accomplish this. And with her commonsense explanation M. Guliano explains exactly how to do this.

Madame Guiliano is not a doctor or nutritionist. And she has not done scientific studies to test her methods. BUT all she has to do is point to France and the millions of slim Frenchwomen who use her "methode".

Madame Guiliano states she learned the process of weight loss when she gained weight after a visit to the States from her Doctor - Dr. Miracle. The good doctor taught her simple steps to achieve a healthy weight. Guiliano took his lessons to heart slimmed down and is now frequently asked how she stays so slim!

One of the first steps in the program is recasting. Here you look over the food you eat and you decide what you have to have and what you are willing to eat less of or give up entirely. You also work to get the blatant sugars that create havoc with your chemistry out of your system. There is also a simple recipe for leek soup for a weekend of cleansing for those who wish to jumpstart a weight loss program. You will journal and see what areas cause trouble in your life.

Other steps include eating regular meals, increasing fruits and vegetables, drinking water, not stocking offenders at home and enjoying yogurt on a daily basis.

The book is really designed for those who understand the calorie concept and have a basic understanding of healthy and non-healthy foods. Though Guiliano does not get into calorie counting since she asks that you track what is causing your weight problems, it's assumed that you know that "faux" foods like twinkies are an offender whereas an apple is not.

Her book includes numerous recipes including Asparagus Flan, Grilled Spring Lamb Chops, Yogurt, Baguette, Salad of Duck A L'orange and more. The book is,however, light on sample daily menus. More of what to eat on a daily basis would have been good.

The book is a superb read on how the Frenchwoman stays so slim and trim! Freshness, variety, balance, luxury and a trim waistline can be yours if you follow the principles!

Bonne Chance!
Lee Mellott

Woooo ... this book really has rallied a love-it-or-hate-it sensibility here. Well, count me in the love-it group. And why? Because for me it struck a chord ... and it works. 10 weeks ago, I embarked on a new way of eating ... I was 212 pounds (at 6 foot tall with a medium frame that's a bit overweight for a guy) ... and today I was weighed at my Doctor's office - 191 pounds! That's 21 pounds! I.e. I've lost 2 pounds per week on average - what Doctors consider a "safe" amount to lose. My ideal weight is about 180 pounds ... so only 11 more to go! My Doctor was almost as excited as I was and wanted to know how I did it. When I told her about this book, she said she'd heard about it and needed to get a copy for her husband, a cardiologist!

Yes, Madame Guiliano is not a medical professional. Yes, she is the CEO of Veuve Cliquot. Maybe you take offence at her generalizations - I don't. I feel that she talks about her observations with style and humor and yes, perhaps some of them maybe stretching things a bit, but they are her beliefs. Hello? This is not some scientific paper that is going to be vetted by professionals. It's a story, a way of looking at things, a lifestyle change ... an encouragement to using a little willpower in your life.

Some people have criticized certain aspects of the book such as the shopping from markets or walk everywhere, but my take is ... get inspired by the book, make changes in your life and take from it what you can. I never tried the Miracle soup, I still shop at Safeway, I still drive everywhere ... but I'm mindful of what I eat without going overboard ... I cycle a little bit now and then (20 mins or so per week) ... and I eat delicious food. I also never weighed myself over the 10 weeks (I was afraid of getting discouraged) ... I just started noticing that I needed to take my belt in further and that I was looking better in the mirror. Despite the "you're looking better" comments from friends, proof-positive was today at the Doctor's office.

Note that I eat some of the bad stuff too, but in moderation ... as a treat ... not as a way of life (like before). I still have takeout chinese food, I still eat burgers, but now I make the chinese food last for more than one sitting and I eat only half the burger. Salad has become a steady side dish in my life. (Big note here: salad can make you fat too ... don't pile it on at the cafeteria and then slather it with 300 calories of dressing! Hello?) This book has changed the way I look at portions here in America - they're (quite frankly) obscene. What to do? Doggy bag it! Saves time and money too!

If I overindulge once in a while, I do as Madame Guiliano says ... I cut back on my next meal. Maybe just a small (and I mean small!) ham-and-brie toasted sandwich with some fresh basil and tomato instead of a big meal. And no more eating food that I don't like - I was in a restaurant once, had ordered a chicken sandwich, didn't care for it, so I left it! Why eat food that doesn't bring you pleasure? I love food. I love to cook. I still use butter, I still use cream ... but I use them sensibly. I also drink one glass (1/4 bottle) of red wine per night. At weekends I might indulge in a glass or two more or maybe a cocktail.

For me, this book worked - it was just the encouragement I needed to do something about my weight. I don't care for the "you must eat this, you must eat that and in these portions". I like what I like to eat - I don't want to learn to love what someone else eats (though I did incorporate more fresh veg and fruit in my diet). I also don't care for the "it's not your fault" books. I'm an adult ... I know I goof up sometimes ... and I know that the only person who will look after my weight is me. My responsibility. The buck stops here. All-in-all it was a little tough at first, but after a few weeks, it became second nature. Now, I don't have to think about it - food and watching what/when/how you eat doesn't run my life like I expected a "diet" to. It's not a diet - it's a lifestyle ... and in the words of one fast food chain ... "I'm Lovin' It" (ha!)

Sorry if I've rattled on a bit here. I hope I haven't come off as a snob or something. I just wanted to tell my story and encourage others. Eat well (but sensibly) and enjoy food, life and living!

Madame Guiliano ... I'd like to say a very public "merci" for your style, wit, humor and, of course, the time you took to write this book.

Hey, and your champagne is not too shabby either! À votre santé!

*** Update on 4 Oct 2005:

Well, I reached my target weight of 180 pounds a few months ago, and despite going on vacation, I have managed to maintain my "ideal" weight.

I still have a glass of wine per night and indulge a little more at weekends, and I still adhere to the basic principles in the book, just not as rigorously as before. However, if I pig out one day, I make up for it the next ... everything in balance.

Just read an article on MSN that "Vast majority of Americans likely to become fat" ... yikes. This is a shocking thought. I absolutely do not intend to become another sad statistic in our nation's health epidemic.

I bought a good quality digital scale and I weigh myself every morning when I get up. I fluctuate between 177 and 183 pounds and don't freak out if I'm somewhere in that range. If I start heading upwards of 183, I put the brakes on again.

Losing the weight has been a big inspiration in my life. I realize that if I can lose weight, I have the ability to change many other things in my life ... which is what I am currently doing. I am questioning my job, the time I spend, my reltionships and where I live. It's scary and exciting at the same time.

On a last note, I sincerely would like to encourage anyone that, yes, this can be done. Have fun, be flexible and enjoy life. No one's gonna hand it on a plate to you (well except a waiter <grin>) so get off your b*** and go for it!

Cheers!

So much has already been written by other reviewers, both positive and negative, that I won't bother repeating here. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and will definitely recommend it to others because it says it so much better than I ever have or could. My own personal experience mirrors Ms. Guiliano's weight loss experience almost exactly....briefly I'll explain.

I relocated to Europe at 40 and 40 lbs overweight. I was already very familiar with France and the so called paradox. I thought that one of the positive aspects of my relocation would be weightloss. But alas, it didn't happen. I was here for two years, without a car, walking everywhere, and didn't lose a pound. I repeat....without a car, and didn't lose a pound! The rest of my story is exactly Ms. Guiliano's story: I went to a doctor, who told me to write down everything I ate for two weeks and then we analyzed it. He set me on the SAME path as the author, and I lost all of the weight ...20 kilos.....44 lbs. What I learned was to stop eating in the american way, and adapting the french way that the author superbly outlines. I have since bought a car and have had no weight gain. Even the dreaded weight gain of the holidays and of vacations was not as extreme, and what weight I did gain during those periods came off within two weeks.

Daily I have to wear a picture badge to have access to the various offices at my work. Not a week goes by when someone doesn't notice the "old" me, the weight loss, and asks me about it. I have counciled about 20 people so far. Now I can stop, and refer them to the book. She outlines it all far better than I have or could.

Making comparisons between cultures is always a walk on quicksand. The author was not as callous as some have implied. Some messages are hard to hear. Do yourselves a favor, if you have weight issues, read this book. I spent 13 years overweight before adapting these eating/lifestyle habits, and lost most of the weight in four months

After spending three weeks in Paris and Provence I can tell you exactly why French women don't get fat. It's because they walk everywhere, they shop daily in small fresh food markets, and they use the stairs instead of elevators. Also, many of them smoke but that should be avoided of course.

Walking: their entire society revolves around walking. We hop in the car and drive for even the smallest distances. Why? Because that is the way most of our cities and towns are set up. My town has very few sidewalks and walking through urban sprawl, along busy highways and streets is only for hookers or street people. America revolves around cars. In France it is quite easy, safe, and pleasant to walk to most destinations. Gas is quite high, traffic and parking are a nightmare, walking just makes sense. They will walk for many many blocks and think nothing of it. Sadly, in America, the only way to travel that same distance safely is to usually hop in the car.

Utilities: Utility costs are quite high in Europe. Also many of the apartments and townhouses are quite old, even historic. Therefore they aren't fitted with big modern kitchens like we have in America. They also don't use big energy hogging appliances. Consequently, they don't have big wharehouse supermarkets where you can buy in bulk. They'd have no place to store bulk. Heck, because they walk everywhere, they'd have no way of getting all that bulk home. They buy what they can carry in a shopping bag on wheels (see the cover illustration for the book). They shop on a regular basis, every day or two, purchasing fresh ingredients and cooking them right away. No need for large amounts of cold storage, frozen foods, bulk items etc. It's sort of a shop as you eat system. Because of this they eat a LOT more fruits and veggies. And guess what, they are WALKING to and from the market several times a week.

Stairs: I'm not saying France has no elevators, I just never used one the entire time I was there. My friend complained vigoursly about how many freakin stairs there were in Paris until I reminded her most of the buildings were built well before elevators were invented. It's true. No matter where you go or where you visit, you will be walking up and down many many stairs. Even getting to and from the Metro system, you walk down underground by going down many many stairs, only to walk back up many many stairs to re-emerge at your destination.

Between the walking and the endless stair climbing it is no wonder that I ate whatever I wanted and still lost 7lbs in three weeks. And yes, there were no fat women in Paris. I never spotted a single one.

Can this lifestyle be duplicated at home in America? Only with some real effort and difficulty I think. Walking will have to be deliberate with time set aside for it, rather than it just being an integral part of you day. The same goes for the stair climbing. Eating more fresh foods is do-able, but we stressed out and time poor Americans tend to buy ahead. Perishable items are pricey and tend to go bad before we get around to cooking them. Hence our reliance on processed, canned, and frozen foods. We eat chemically laden "preserved" foods rather than fresh because it fits our lifestyle better. It's hard to adopt another country's lifestyle when everything about your own country works against you.

Buy the book and judge for yourself.

This book is not a diatribe against American culture! It basically outlines what we know to be common sense but often choose to ignore--drink a lot of water, eat more fruits and vegetables, eat less and move around more. What makes this book a joy is that it presents an age old philosophy in such a charming and attractive way that it impels you to change your habits.

My next door neighbor is French and she is neither fat nor very slim, just an average healthy size. She eats three meals (plus sweets) a day and enjoys every one. I noticed that she never has seconds and seems satisfied after every meal. She enjoys cooking and doesn't belong to a gym. What I've noticed is she doesn't look at food and eating as I've been conditioned to, that is, she doesn't look at every meal as a challenge to overcome, and food is not her enemy. I think we can learn something from this.

(Postscript: since I've written this review a few weeks back, I've lost five pounds making simple adjustments suggested by Guiliano--and leek soup is actually tasty!)

I am surprised at some of the responses to this book, but I think the reason people have so many problems with it is because they don't realize that it is a philosophy book. This is meant to change the way you think about food - she has real, wholesome, unprocessed, delicious food; she enjoys it without guilt; and because of that, she eats less of it!

Her methods of eating are actually what researchers are finding every day!

* First of all, a steady weightloss program is more likely to succeed that a crazy, rapid one;
* Eating foods with healthy fats helps satiate the appetite, so that people eat less;
* Eating breakfast is a strong predictor of weightloss; and
* Chocolate and wine are extremely healthy foods high in antioxidants.

In fact, wine is moderation (1 glass a day for women, 2 for men) is beneficial for the heart, for cognitive ability, for weightloss, for immunity, against ovarian cancer, against osteoporosis, and against diabetes!

It is sad, as she mentions, that some French people are abandoning the French way and getting fat. She explains how the French traditionally do something (such as go to an open-air market) and then suggests, for each of these things, how you can do the same. For example:

* French walk a lot : You should walk 30 mins a day
* French have access to great bread and yogurt : you can make your own
* French have markets : find markets in your area, and grow your own herbs
* French have healthy dark chocolate : get your own online

Many reviews have discussed that they "know the real reason" why French people are thin - then they proceed to say the exact same things she has said. The chemicals in our food are an example, but she also mentioned this, in addition to mentioning the importance of fresh, healthy, real food.

Think about it - would you rather have a huge, frozen, 300 calorie "diet" dinner, or a delicious, nutritious, 300 calorie portion of a fresh French meal? The only valid argument I have seen has been the amount that French women smoke - but that isn't universal, and it certainly isn't the only reason!

I realize, also from my studies in nutrition, that people do make excuses - whether it be the universal excuse of time, or that of ability. There is hardly a place in America - city, country, or otherwise - where one cannot walk. In dangerous areas, you can walk with a friend during the day, or drive to a park or safe area for a little change of scenery. In the country, the possibilities are endless! Walk through the forests, walk through your neighbor's fields, walk along the road if you must, but don't make excuses! If people in your area have dogs, there is somewhere that you can walk.

You can own your life if you don't make excuses. Remember that there are people out there who go to college full time and work a few jobs! Realize the power you have to change. It only takes 21 days to make an action into a habit - where will you be 21 days from today? I hope you realize the wisdom of ending the cycle of hatred with food and learn to come to a healthy balance with your food and your life.

As author Mireille Guiliano, executive of the company Champagne Veuve Clicquot (for those who don't know, one of the better Champagnes in the world), states, it is of course true that there are some French women who do get overweight. However, there are some common sense ideas that she learned as a child, and observed in seeing the general differences between her time in America and her time in France.

Guiliano works through her ideas on menu, diet, nutrition, exercise and lifestyle with anecdotal and personal experience rather than scientific studies; thus, some may disagree with her conclusions. Guiliano does not put out this book in any way to insult the American lifestyle -- on the contrary, Guiliano has had a love affair with the English language (French being her first language) and American culture since her school days.

One of the first stories Guiliano recounts is her school year spent in America, during what in this country would be known as high school. A prestigious award, she was excited to learn all about American culture; what she also learned about was chocolate chip cookies and brownies, and ended up returning home after a year abroad by at least 15 pounds heavier.

Guiliano reiterates some of the common aspects of French living that Americans have already recognised -- the benefits of red wine on cholesterol, for example, but haven't adapted their general eating habits to reflect good health. Indeed, some have used the use of red wine as an invitation to eat more!

Guiliano's recommendations are in many ways common sense. It makes sense to eat a variety of different kinds of food, and always (as French people who shop in small, street-side farmer's market kinds of shops will know) always pick the fruits and vegetables that are in season. Eating a variety of foods does not mean to 'pig out' -- one should eat a lot of different things, but eat in moderation. This means that one should eat with care and deliberation; one should savour food, which, if the food is well prepared and fresh, should be a real delight. Eating more slowly (something that our 'fast food' culture has almost linguistically removed as a possibility) generally means eating less, as the body will feel more full before large amounts of food are consumed.

Guiliano has a four-phase plan: the wake up call; the recasting phase; the stabilisation phase; and finally, 'the rest of your life'. This is not a dietary 'boot camp', but rather is a gentle, general shift in patterns that allow one to increase some indulgences (in moderation, of course), along with some changes in overall ideas about food.

Guiliano includes recipes, discussions of seasonings that will enhance the culinary experience, ideas for drinking (it should be no surprise that most of us do not drink enough water, and too much by way of soft-drinks), bread and chocolate, and more. The recipes included under the chocolate heading (Chocolate Rice Pudding; Chocolate-Espresso Faux Souffles; Mousse au Chocolat; and Tartine au Cacao) are truly wonderful (I've made two, and am thus guessing on the other two), and show that chocolate is certainly not off limits!

Guiliano's style is fun and witty, and her advice accessible and achievable. It is a diet not just for women, and is a lifestyle that many could easily and happily adapt to.

Bon appetit!

At age 55, people often tell me that they envy the way I can apparently eat anything I wish and stay slim. That isn't true, of course, any more than it is for anyone else.
But when I was 19, I went to Paris and worked as an au pair for a year, and after the initial culture shock (no eggs and bacon for breakfast?! supper late and small? Lunch big and SLOW?), I learned that I felt healthier and stronger when I ate in the classic French manner: exactly the diet and routine outlined in this book. For the past 35 years, whenever I feel a little sluggish or put on a few pounds, I return to eating in the French manner to the extent that this is possible in the United States.
That is the real crunch, as mentioned by a number of other reviewers. What is easy in France is difficult here. I live in an urban community where a nice grocery with fresh produce is a short walk away, and I can easily walk to the post office, library, movie theater, etc. I rarely go to a restaurant that is not within a 5 minute walk from my house, and I have a large variety to choose from. A small minority of Americans live in this context.
But I did not always live here. When I have lived in more suburban areas, I thought about ways to simulate a similar life. Some things are easy: park at a small distance from your destination and walk the rest of the way. Get in the habit of stopping on the way home from work to purchase those few fresh fruits or vegetables that will make dinner special. Eat a smaller and later dinner, and do change plates between courses, even if only once. Those four extra plates per family of four are irrelevant, and the difference in eating habits is worth the little effort.
Some things are hard: portion size in restaurants in the US is huge. Good produce can be hard to find and expensive. A smaller and later supper is not appropriate for a child or teen who had to wolf down a quick school lunch in the allotted 25 minutes. Ready-prepared food (usually caloric and bland, and often pumped with preservatives and unpronounceable ingredients) is prominently displayed in the grocery store and very tempting! In suburban areas without sidewalks, any walking at all is risky to one's life and limb. And most of us work more hours than the French and see the preparation of meals after a long day at work as a burden and not a creative process. That is even more true when we take into account that the average family dinner takes less than 15 minutes to devour, and that allows for little sense of pride in the meal that was prepared.
Still, I have found over the years that it is worth the effort to emulate the traditional French lifestyle to the extent possible, even if that is sometimes limited to the weekends. When I get too far away from it for too long, I definitely can tell the difference; I have less energy, I feel bloated, and even my skin and hair look dull. A week of consciously living more like the French will revive me.
Several reviewers have pointed out that the French themselves are getting away from these traditions and putting on weight as their lives become more like ours. This is true. It is also true that the French government and health care community see this as a cultural and health crisis, and serious efforts are taken to guide the French back to their traditional lifestyle. Alas, we Americans are held up as a bad example, and (also alas) this is entirely appropriate. Exporting our lifestyle has also exported the health and diet issues that are inescapable and unfortunate by-products.
A final anecdote: two years ago, I was helping the children of an expat French family to make the transition to the English language in an American school system. I met with the daughter to discuss her studies, see what she needed help with, what she did not understand. Her immediate concern was the food pyramid. She simply did not understand the concept. We discussed it at length (in French), and suddenly a light bulb went on: "Oh! Is it to teach Americans how to eat? But why would a person need to learn how to eat? It is so easy! I learn from my family by seeing what is served every day, and I will do the same for my children, of course." Later that week, she was very distressed. The children had been told to keep a food diary, and then to compare it to US dietary guidelines, and to write a short paper on how they could improve their daily diets. Charlotte was nonplussed...there was nothing to change. She asked me if she should eat badly for a day or two so that she would have something to write. This experience really put the whole issue into focus for me. A ten year old French girl knows how to eat well. A ten year old American snacks on junk food and often eats dinner out of a bag. We CAN stop the madness, but our society makes it very difficult. This book can be just the inspiration needed, if approached with an open mind.