What does a typical day of eating in France look like? Mediterranean Diet!

[@twofarg0ne763]

I'm an American who retired in France 6 years ago. I completely agree with Mary. The food here is wholesome, simple and delicious. I live in the south where we eat a lot of veal, seafood and soups. There are also wonderful salads with a simple olive oil, balsamic vinegar, and Dijon mustard dressing. (By the way since I moved here I've lost 50 pounds and it has stayed off.)

[@Mediterraneanliving]

Thanks for the comment and congratulations on the weight loss!

[@MsAggie78]

I have a feeling you can move to ANYWHERE that isn't America and lose 50 lbs, lol. I'm happy for you!

[@katgreer6113]

yeah, America isn't the best country to lose weight and eat healthy and unfortunately the obseity epidemic here is STILL getting worse.

[@AILDdrums]

@@katgreer6113 And there are so many reasons for that as well, If you walk up to a typical American and ask them what they think is healthy you would probably be shocked by the responses. The onus is on the parents to teach proper diet here, so unless you have a very health conscious family you're on your own. Proper diet and nutrition is not taught in schools, and the food that our public schools do provide is absolutely atrocious. On top of all this you have the prevalence of cheap and fast sugar laden foods everywhere you look, kids growing up eating Mcdonalds and drinking soda, munching on teeth rotting candy. It's a systemic problem that would require a national change, it's unfortunately built into our culture at this point. I'm probably the most health conscious person in my family and I still have a hard time not buying snacks and candy.

[@uperiju]

I'm from Europe and when I went to USA for the first time in high school for a 2 months I gained 15 pounds:/ It seemed like I was swallen:/ next time thankfully I knew more about all thsi addictieves that are added to normal food and buying organic, unprocessed etc. but this first time was a shock

[@Livinglife595]

I enjoyed watching this I am English but have lived in France for 44 years now and it is exactly how Mary says. The thing is that we cook a lot from scratch. No mixes etc because they just don’t exist. Of course we have fast food which is just for fun days. And microwave dishes but as I said most people cook from scratch

[@ElegantVintageDesign]

Thank you for sharing, the Quiche looks so good! Definitely going to try your recipe soon!

[@peremeesz]

The French paradox: Do everything they advise against in the U.S. Do not think breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Consider it just "a little something", maybe with some jam. Or just milky coffee will do. Do not think you should avoid eating late and do not think it is fattening or unhealthy. It is what you eat and drink that counts. So what is that? Well, at least it should contain butter and cream, very often chocolate. Your drink should be alcoholic, because wine is alcoholic, and of course you can have an aperitif before the meal and a digestive after it in addition to your wine. Avoid American oh-so-FREE fat-free, low-fat, processed diet garbage washed down with soda at any cost. And do not eat the American way -- the same way you fill the washing machine, just stuffing stuff in not even noticing how much and what goes down your throat.

[@Mediterraneanliving]

Most importantly, the French diet is still very high in plant foods, vegetables, fruits, beans and extra virgin olive oil. The paradox is true, but its not just eating high fat dairy and meat.

[@pamelaolson5614]

That is not true about the American diet. There are some people that eat nothing but junk but not the majority.

[@CollinCountyMagazine]

Not just the French that agree with you

[@KPlyf]

Samonen. I differ from your take on this. To me it means portion control. Also french wine isn't made the way it is in America. Even bread recipe differs. Add to it ingredients, pace with which they eat, etc etc.

[@karlabritfeld7104]

And don't eat in your car, walking down the street or at your desk at work.

[@TheTripstraps]

love your interior in the backround!!

[@sistersuetube]

Nice simple explanation. Very healthy! Greetings from California we put avocado🥑🥑🥑 on our toast😊

[@IlovethesIlovethes]

That food looks so delicious

[@vusa3150]

Bread, butter and jam is the perfection 😻😻😻😻

[@innerbliss108]

That quiche looks magical!

[@sharonlatour6230]

Ma'rie', I loved this so much. Thank you!

[@Mediterraneanliving]

You're so welcome!

[@bekit7131]

Thanks for making the video. The food looks fantastic!! I love the bread 🥖 & jam.

[@marinapevzner5204]

🍎You are very lovely young lady! I enjoyed your video. Thank you very much.

[@gracebeliever9749]

Sounds wonderful Mary! Love your Beautiful accent! you are a very beautiful woman! Thanks for sharing!!!

[@strawberrygirl8572]

I love this video and the lunch recipe especially. But I dislike the unfair and inaccurate generalizations in the comments regarding Americans. I'm a Californian. I can't and won't speak for all other regions in the US, but here many of us tend to be quite health conscious and enjoy eating healthfully. California is very similar to the Mediterranean in climate, latitude and longitude, and the foods (and wines) that we grow. It is very common to start the day here with avocado on toasted sourdough. We drink water all day. Many Americans do drink soda, but the soda sales have gone down drastically over the last several years. Soda drinkers are turning to unsweetened sparkling water when they want something bubbly these days. We eat lots of fresh vegetables, shop regularly at the many local farmer's markets here and/or grow our own vegetables and fruits and nuts. Californians tend to lead active lives, as well--WHEN they have time. A big problem is being able to afford the time for yourself and there's where socio-economic factors cause poorer citizens to have to work more and take good care of themselves less. Which is a grave injustice. I have family who live all over the US: in Idaho, Oregon, Seattle, South Carolina, Georgia, New York, Florida, Missourri, and Texas. I've spent time with all of them in their homes and hometowns. They all eat differently. My Southern relatives eat the worst; they've traditionally eaten more fried foods, heavier, starchier foods, but they also eat a lot of healthy Cajun foods and seafoods with amazing spices and hot peppers. There is a higher obesity rate in those states, but they're not slobs, they're not stupid or lazy, and they don't stuff their mouths with garbage all day because they're too stupid to know better. My Idaho family are farmers and they eat ONE meal a day and it's a big one: dinner. They eat a big dinner after working all the whole long dang day in the hot sun growing food for the country. It's heavy on potatoes and meat, but also very heavy on fresh vegetables from their garden. My Pacific Northwest family eat tons of fresh seafood and homegrown produce. My father, who lives there, is a small commercial fisherman and fish is the primary meat he and my mom eat, along with a deer or elk harvested every other year from hunting. Everyone in my family in all regions, and many of my friends, all home can foods every season from either their own gardens or from farmer's markets and fruit stands. Many are exceptional cooks and feed their families daily from home cooked, whole foods. I personally have three gardens: a small kitchen garden, a large preserving garden where I grow foods for canning and dehydrating, and a community garden, very large, where the whole neighborhood all comes to garden together and share what we grow. We donate compost, seeds, and time and then share the bounty. We also have chickens at some of our community gardens, so neighbors can share the care of the chickens and the many eggs they give. It is true that many Americans work too much and don't focus on healthy food choices, many college students and people who work double shifts end up relying on fast food for too many of their meals, many poor families end up eating poor quality, cheap, starchy foods, including fast foods, which are abominable, rather than fresh and organic foods. But that's not everyone in the US by a long shot. And a huge injustice done to the American people, which is not done in European countries, is that the government and food manufacturers care far far more about profit than the population or health and they allow a myriad of dangerous cancer and obesity promoting chemicals in the foods. That's corruption and victimization. And that's not the fault of the citizens. Many are waking up to this and refusing to buy the garbage from food manufacturers, but good food is either more expensive or you have to grow it yourself. The food industry has been hijacked by criminals. It's not fair to blame the victims for that. Most Americans work too much all day (by necessity) to be able to take a long 2-hr lunch, so we have to eat a smaller lunch and rely on dinner for our main meal, when we're all home and the days' work is done. Shutting everything down to pause for 2 hrs every afternoon is an enormous luxury most people cannot have. It's tiring to see Americans misrepresented everywhere we look as fat, lazy, and stupid. The many of us who don't fit into that negative generalization seem to have no voice. And then we see the not totally accurate French stereotype as being superior to everyone else, especially those fat, stupid Americans. There are overweight people in France, too. I've been there twice, I've seen them. Paris is upscale and snooty, imo, the more rural people I've met were more real and didn't have the superior attitudes and I appreciated their realness. But many French people are obsessed with themselves and see themselves as better than everyone else on the whole darn planet. It's a bad vibe to be giving out to the world. Americans are typically very self-deprecating and will gladly jump onboard with America bashing generalizations: "yeah, we're all fat and lazy here! We eat nothing but trash!" Even when it's not true, or may be true for themselves and their own families but not for others around them. And Americans typically love everyone from anywhere and will admire other cultures and countries very easily. But we're not all illiterate when it comes to healthy eating and lifestyle. I'd like everyone, here in the US and elsewhere, to remember that, if possible.

[@LindaC616]

Nicely said

[@lapinmalin8626]

In France, even if it is not the best, we have highly regulated food products in our stores, whether fresh, canned or frozen. although it is getting worse and worse

[@womanatthewell9603]

What is the sauce you put on the lunch dish with veggies and meat? Everything looks so delicious. I can't wait to make that quiche!

[@MaryDevinat]

Thanks! I hope you will love the quiche! This is a sauce in which all the ingredients have been cooked (meat, mushrooms, carrots, onion and herbs) with crème fraîche and some water.

[@voicescult9099]

in general, for typical blanquette, you brown the meat, then put a little bit of corn starch and add the broth (the starch will thicken it up a bit). It gives the blanquette that wonderful texture.

[@margita951]

What is the white sauce on the lunch meal? Can I have the recepies

[@Lioninthenight]

A very pretty French girl. Yes, I'm a Francophile. I'm doing the Mediterranean diet now, and it's perfect for my lifestyle! Nice vid!

[@Heresheis0818]

Spinach and goat cheese ❤️

[@Mediterraneanliving]

A great combination!

[@dulciemidwinter5990]

That blanquette de veau looks much better than some I've seen online. Is it possible to have the ingredients and a very quick method?

[@MaryDevinat]

The good thing about this recipe is also taking the time to cook it. I think with an instant pot it can be faster.

[@HappyandHeal]

Is that whole grain bread used for breakfast

[@MaryDevinat]

Yes, it's a whole grain bread. I even think there were nuts in this one, very delicious 😊

[@HappyandHeal]

@@MaryDevinat Thank you for the reply...😍😍

[@MaryDevinat]

@@HappyandHeal Of course! 😊

[@angeladyson7367]

Is it possible to have the veal blanket French recipe please? 😊

[@annerobinson2288]

I am also a Marriages Freres devotee! I live in the USA and MF ships a large order of my favorite blends to me 2 times a year. My favorites are Marco Polo, Paris Breakfast and French breakfast. What a treat! Love your meals except for the veal, as I hate the thought of slaughtering animals, especially babies. My hope is that the world will one day not eat meat at all. But thank you for this inside peek at your eating lifestyle in France.

[@MaryDevinat]

The Marco Polo is the best! I love the green tea version :)

[@ashleighmackenzie8670]

Hello from Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 🥰 Please can you say what was in the sauce for your lunch dish? The blanquette de veau. With the meat and vegetables? It looked so goo and want to make it. But I wasn’t sure what spices you used for the sauce and how you made it creamy? 🥰 thanks so much girl. We love French people here in Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 ☺️

[@MaryDevinat]

It's a mixture of cream, there are no spices in it but herbs.

[@ashleighmackenzie8670]

@@MaryDevinat omg thanks so much for replying. What are the herbs please? If you can remember? I know it was a while ago ☺️ and just cream? No other liquid?

[@mitch1352]

@@ashleighmackenzie8670 I would think bay leaf, thyme and maybe marjoram

[@Livinglife595]

@@ashleighmackenzie8670 normally it would just be simmered in the cream with the herbs

[@LindaC616]

​@ashleighmackenzie8670 probably tarragon, too, common in France

[@margita951]

Can you do 2 more days?

How much time does this all take?This seems very time consuming...

[@kaysa1459]

not so much in fact. the longer on is the veal meal. Those kind of meal are better with a long cooking with light fire. but if you don't have time should be possible to do it with about like 30-45 minutes (veggies prep, time to caramelize the meat and then cook the veggies (you can prepare them at the same time you begin the meat) for at last let the sauce be cooked. I would likely prefer taking at least like an hour or more but this is easier taking time on week end (note that you can freeze it to use it quickly during the week). for the tart, the dough is industrial so no time to do it. the "appareil" (not sure how to translate this in english, the mixture of eggs and sour cream - you can add herbs, salt, pepper and/or spices) is done very quickly (liquid cream little less time compared to not liquid one but not so much, i prefer not liquid cream myself). In this case spinash can be longer. not if young spinash as you can just put them in the wok directly, but if not you would want to boil them to get rid of bitterness. With young spinash or veggies like carrot, zucchini or like i have been able to make this kind of dish in like perhaps 10-15 minutes actively of preparation and pre-cooking and like 15-20 minutes for the hoven. here too you can make this by advance on we. multiple ones are doable at the same time and only a fridge would be enough to keep them half a week without problems (but it's better done just before eating). you could imagine freeze cooked veggies, make dough by advance to only have the hoven time too. note that those numbers are rough approximation and depending how you manage your use of the kitchen it could be more (i tend to like do multiple things in parallel when possible) note 2: from a french perspective taking like more than an hour to cook and eat is not unusual if you can go home but mainly people will prepare in advance some thing at mid-day. other ways is restaurant that can do some kind of similar cooking or taking pre-self-prepared meal. juste eating sandwich exist but the above is not unusual at all. note 3: sorry for my english, i write this quickly and i'm not sure how to say correctly some things here

[@pinkypurple8790]

Thanks for the video very appreciated. I was just wondering how many pieces of quiche did you eat?

[@MaryDevinat]

We make 6 parts with a quiche. And in general, I eat one if it is in the evening and 1.5 at noon.

[@angeladyson7367]

Hi Brad, I would like to make the quiche recipe which seems to require half and half. In the UK we don't have this. I realise what it is but I was wondering whether something like Gold Top (a rich Jersey cow full fat [whole] milk) would work as a substitute? Alternatively we have full whole milk and what is called single (thin) cream which I could blend together if that would work?

[@Mediterraneanliving]

I think the full fat would work.

[@angeladyson7367]

​@@MediterraneanlivingThank you. 😊

[@Wolfofthedesert]

My breakfast isn’t more than an espresso 😂.

[@Julia-nl3gq]

It all looks so good, especially the Veal! A healthy diet includes meat; being vegeterain or vegan isn't healthy. But I also agree with you that people eat too much meat. Here (Canada) I think many people eat too much of it. I have it a few times a week or so, and I for my other meals I like dishes based on things like lentils, beans, or grains like bulgar/millet/couscous. The bread/butter/jam reminded me so much of my time in France (this was a long time ago). I think I should start doing that again, even though our bread is not amazing like yours. :-) The plate you're putting the quiche on is beautiful. Also, your English is wonderful. I can get by in French, but I don't sound natural, the way you do in English. Something I'd love to learn about is what special regional dishes there are in different parts of France.

[@MaryDevinat]

Thank you so much! :)

[@bunny_smith]

That’s not true. You’re wrong. Veganism and also often vegetarianism is very healthy. I have been vegan 17 years. I’m 57. I have zero ailments and take zero prescriptions. Before I became vegan i was beginning to start aging with illness. Then I went vegan and it all went away. Speak for yourself.

[@doddsalfa]

There are studies that show eating meat only ones a week can be unhealthy.The longest living people in the world are seventh day Adventist vegans

[@lily5952]

@@bunny_smith I think where most Westerners doing a vegan diet go wrong is not properly planning their diet. Far too many rely on processed faux meats that are certainly not healthful. I think whole foods plant based can be argued for, though.

[@thatswhatisaid8908]

Cheese only on weekends? I am doomed to fatness!

[@stepheninczech]

If I made a video of my typical American meals, it would be ramen with pork cracklin in it three times.

[@matthewjcrockett]

No wine?

[@MaryDevinat]

Some French people drink wine every day but not me, I don't find it healthy, haha. I keep it for the weekends. By the way, French often eat differently on weekends. They have more cheese, wine or croissants for breakfast, etc.

[@NicoLTSW]

En tant que lorrain, je me dois de te corriger : il n'y a pas de fromage dans la *vraie* quiche lorraine x)

[@shanto44422]

😊💖🌸

[@Mediterraneanliving]

Thank you!

[@asifmuniruniverse7732]

Hi

[@cookie_dough_hangover]

No salad, no cheese,no dessert?

[@MaryDevinat]

Not everyday ;)

[@cookie_dough_hangover]

@@MaryDevinat Thank you. It seems like that a lot of French say they eat cheese or some kind of dessert every day and still don't gain weight. To me the exact opposite happens. 😂

[@jzgame1]

@@cookie_dough_hangover Yeah most of us, I mean people that like it obviously, we eat cheese everyday either as a desert or a part of the desert, we also cook a lot with it. Also the person in the video is defenitly on the healthier side of the french population I guess, but eating a lot of veggies is pretty common to everybody.

[@jzgame1]

​@@cookie_dough_hangover We do eat a lot of cheese and desserts and it could be everyday but we always balance it, like we don't eat just that, there's a lot of fruits and veggies in our diet, and portions are smallers. A classic meal for a french person would be something like quarter of the plate meat or fish, quarter of the plate veggies, half of the plate potatoes or pastas or rice. Everytime or almost.

[@leopoldofregoli3817]

beautiful girl

[@l.a.middlesteadt6250]

But what about dessert??

[@nomos6508]

bread, butter (saturated fat) plus jam (pure sugar) is not exactly a mediterranean breakfast. And red meat (veal) too...

[@Mediterraneanliving]

The Mediterranean Diet varies tremendously from place to place. This is one example and is part of the French Paradox.

[@Livinglife595]

@@Mediterraneanliving it’s not a Mediterranean meal. Mediterranean good comes from the south near the Mediterranean sea

[@exoticspeedefy7916]

Make sure to cut the crusts off bread. Acrylimide is formed when bread is baked in the crust

[@lisachandler2010]

What?

[@annecasey346]

Ridiculous.

[@ليان-ق1ش]

@@annecasey346 fr wtf

[@edwardvillate2112]

For today's WOMAN, you're almost and EXTINCT SPECIES, a COOKING 🍳 WOMAN !!! GREAT 👌!!! HIRE in the US, lots of WOMAN , don't find there KITCHEN in there HOUSE , not even with a GPS !!! ....LOL.( by the way as a MAN I cook all my meals)