Why France Has Better Food Than The USA

[@LucileHR]

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[@HA-gu1qk]

Sorry as a frequent visitor to Spain I have to protest against the video title.

[@FlyingCarsComedy]

Bonjour, Lucile (See? I paid attention to your previous videos!): Faites-vous une vidéo de la restorátion de la Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris, s'il vous plaît? Aussi, pour quois je ne remarque pas beaucoup des fleur de lys quand je regarde la media de Paris ces derniers jours? Merci pour ta considération! -Les Voitures de Ciel (Flying Cars)

[@bellathereader1328]

I am speaking as an American. There are too many chemicals used in food and on food in the U.S. Some produce is grown in depleted soil. People in the U.S. are addicted to processed, junk food. It's about a quick fix eaten in a rush. I appreciate the French orientation on cooking fresh food and enjoying a meal!

[@LucileHR]

It's definitely easier/cheaper to find fresh food around here for sure! Thanks for watching :)

[@toshitanaka1550]

To add that the Industrial Revolution started that trend for production over quality of food. So over 200 years Americans have been exposed to that and some foods are heavily salted. Part of that was food storage and the other is Americans are addicted to salt and high sugar because they have lots of land. Just another perspective from America’s history and to its geography.

[@mrsrr]

I'm speaking as a European and this video is made from the perspective of someone well off financially and does not reflect the daily life of most people. Most living in a suburban setting, aka the masses, shop for their food in large retail chains. Just like the rest of the Western world. Most common fruits and veggies are available year round and having them sourced from far away is the norm. Yes, the Carrefours of this world also carry local specialties, as do American stores btw, but it's a sliver of what they sell.

[@almamater9566]

More than 1500 chemicals, dyes, artificial aromas and so on are banned in the EU but not in the US. A soda in the US contains around 35% more sugar than the same one in the EU Obesity rate in the US is around 46%. It's 9.2 in France. Let's not even talk about diabetes or heart diseases. Life expectancy in France is more than 6 years longer than in the US. Our ''bad'' food is still way healthier than average food in the US

[@tai5295]

FDA in the U.S. isn't doing their job

[@heatherfeather1293]

I noticed this when I went to London. SO many items here in the US contain chemicals banned overseas. But the US is about profit at all costs, and making people sick means more money for our corrupt insurance and medical industry. I'm honestly fed up with so many things here that I want to move.

[@arthurmiller9103]

yes indeed, gmo's are very dangerous

[@gregor393]

You might enjoy New Zealand or Australia

[@7Write4This9Heart7]

Mooooooood!

[@LuxPurselove]

We recently went to London and Paris and the food in Europe is so different than the USA. And by different I mean way better! The color of the egg yolks was so much darker and everything tasted so good. Our food is high with GMO products and it has so much added chemicals. Sometimes these chemicals are even labeled as heart healthy. You are so lucky to have such amazing food! I garden now and grow all my own veggies. So much better.

[@LucileHR]

Yum your home-grown veggies must be so delicious!

[@heatherwhite2788]

It’s less luck and more they won’t accept the crap most Americans do. Even at my gourmet grocery store, I once heard someone say, oh I don’t need organic!! In the same tone I would say, oh I don’t need a Rolls Royce! A lot of people don’t understand what food they should be buying.

[@jenafter40]

Watching this as we finish our first 2 week trip to Paris. We’ll be moving here in a few months and have been so enamored with the people, the beauty, and the FOOD here! We’ve been all over Europe and Asia and left little pieces of our hearts in each place. But nothing has compared to this first impression of France. Your videos have been so helpful in my research, and you’re always so diplomatic in presenting the good and less-than-good of any topic you’re discussing. Thank you for the work you put into your content, it’s much appreciated!

[@LucileHR]

Thank you so much for your thoughtful comment, I appreciate it!!

[@mamabearnath1609]

We also just finished out two week trip to France and knew about the difference before we left but actually experiencing it was a whole other thing! We’re planning on moving too. Not just because of the food but also how they go about the quality of life.

[@LenaFranco-s9g]

I hate to sound so negative but as an immigrant to the USA, coming from Scandinavia - Sweden I couldn’t agree with you more. But with that being said, of course you can find eggs with deep dark yellow yolks and organic foods but you have to pay dearly for it and living in California it’s the second most expensive city in the US (I live in Los Angeles) so people here unfortunately have to sometimes sacrifice their health for less quality foods as groceries are extremely expensive.

[@CaptainWillard830]

Why would you live in California? It’s dangerous, overwhelmed with degenerates, work people, and as you said, extremely expensive. The quality of life is aweful. Consider moving to Texas, but not Austin. That city is disgusting like LA, San Francisco +++ human feces and drug addicts everywhere

[@LucileHR]

Yes, absolutely agree with you! That's why I shop at Trader Joes, because it feels like a good price/quality compromise (although the eggs are still not as good as our eggs back in Europe!)

[@perrob]

Billig potatis?

[@johnmguzman7491]

Hej Lena. Jag är glad att läsa dina kommentarer. I also live in California-between L.A. and Palm Springs. Would be interested in hearing more of your experiences for an upcoming article on health. Kan vi koppla ihop Lena?

[@karenminehart3192]

I lived in a small Texas town without a grocery store. It was a 35 mile round trip for groceries. A big problem is the addition of sugar to so many things! You’re right about the bagels. And they are huge. I bought tortillas from a big name brand- they were sweet because of brown sugar. Why? Now I live here in Paris. The grocery store is a block and a half away. Lots of fresh food. Little processed foods. I’m learning how to cook at age 63! I also have at least 5 kinds of cheese in my fridge. Mmmmmmmmmm.

[@RNS_Aurelius]

My understanding of the amount of sugar in bread in the US is it acts a preservative. Because shopping is generally done much less frequently because everything is more spread out, long shelf life and processed foods are prioritised. Just another way automobile lobbying has negatively affected the US.

[@DrRichardMarques]

Your channel is absolutely brilliant! Really enjoy the content! 🌟

[@LucileHR]

Thank you so much, this means a lot!! 😊

[@aroundtheworldin80coffees79]

I live on the west coast of Canada. Sadly, buying at the weekly farmer's market in my neighbourhood costs twice as much as a supermarket. They have everything; cheese, baked goods, vegetables, seafood, bottled sauces and spreads, honey, pasta, chocolate, but I usually only buy one thing and give up. I'd like to commit to local food, but it's hard.

[@LucileHR]

That's such a shame! I didn't go too deep into this topic in the video, but I feel affordable and local farmer markets are part of the "solution" in France.

[@hazelnutbix5261]

@@LucileHR I disagree. I have worked near Bayonne, Sarlat, Concarneau. Since retirement, we go to Bretagne for a month every summer. Farmer's markets are super expensive and the times that sellers display nice fruit at the front, they turn around and fill your bag with sad rubbish. Probably because they hear me talk English to my husband, so they think we don't live in the area, even though I also speak French to them. I would rather go to the supermarket so we can't get ripped off. Or we occasionally go to the Biocoop shops if we want certain things organic.

[@pzhivulin]

Every time I’m in Paris I’m enjoying French food, even going to Monoprix is a journey

[@LucileHR]

I love bringing my friends to Monoprix when they visit :) Thanks for watching!

[@WillBuschOffical]

I’m going to Paris in February. So I love to watch your videos about Paris. It’s so useful to know more about the culture!

[@LucileHR]

Thank you so much! I hope you have a great trip :)

[@loisavci3382]

I discovered in my 20s that my chronic asthma cleared up when I traveled abroad and, weirdly, it didn't matter where I went. I was eventually diagnosed with corn allergy. American food is full of corn additives. It doesn't matter whether the additive is methylcellulose, citric acid or the coating on your bag of cereal-- it's almost certainly made from corn (or , lately, it could be soy). I wonder how many Americans suffer from undiagnosed low-level chronic allergies to the plethora of ingredients in our food.

[@TheColorofLight]

Hey Lucile, I agreed with most of what you're saying. Here in California and the U.S. in general, the problem is not the access to good food, it is spending time learning to cook and cooking at home. When I started making my own coffee at home, I stopped going to Starbucks. On the rare occasion, I would go to Starbucks and I would immediately be overwhelmed by the amount sugar in the drinks. When you cook your own food, you are in control of what goes in it.

[@LucileHR]

I love your take here! I made a video on eating habits and I agree with you that when you make things from scratch it's much easier to eat healthy!

[@deltadarling23]

Absolutely! If you eat a majority highly-processed diet ANYWHERE, you’ll feel terrible. And a lot of North Americans are addicted to highly processed, packaged foods. My boyfriend and I try to shop local and organic according to the season.

[@CherylEhret]

As an American I can tell you I stayed at home to raise my children and cooked homemade meals daily. I did the same as my mother and grandmother did. The Genetically modified food had its start after WW2 in the US and is being fed to many, with most of the population being ignorant of this. Research history and how a country can be conquered through food, causing obesity and sickness, then selling prescription drugs to mask the symptoms. Eventually, operations may be required, then more money is to be made on the people until death comes. In order to get good food here in grocery stores, organic has been required. But now they are starting to even mess with organic food. For instance putting toxic substances on apples and other fresh fruit and vegetables called Apeel or SmartFresh to preserve them longer. People are worked to death in this country just trying to survive eating toxic foods, and they don’t know it. However, they are waking up. Our skies are being sprayed with chemtrails, depleting the soil. Many are starting to grow indoors or outside greenhouses. The weather is also manipulated. Research HAARP Weather Control. Research what President Lyndon B. Johnson said in the 1965, “He who controls the weather will control the world.” May God help us!

[@spadaacca]

The one thing that really shocks me about France (incl. Paris), is that all the food, wine, produce is incredible...but the coffee is so average. And I absolutely don't mean Starbucks (that's not coffee!). I mean a rich roast, nuanced aroma, balanced acidity, layered flavor profile, body, finish etc. I've lived in so many places around the world - from Denmark to Australia to Italy (and beyond), and I'm a bit sad not to be able to find an equivalent level here. I love our cafés though. If only we could care as much about making our coffees as we do about our wine!

[@almondmilksoda]

Italians are the ones who've really figured coffee out. 😭

[@spadaacca]

@Even Greece, Turkey, Austria all have great coffee, and rather consistently so.

[@TessDurbeyfield]

@@almondmilksodaAnd Australians.

[@eileenbauer4601]

Enjoying your videos :) I’m an American who lived in Europe (Switzerland) for a long time in the 80’s and 90’s. I concur with everything you said here. One thing I do is grow my own tomatoes, and are they delicious! So, I only eat tomatoes in season…..those pink “tennis balls” you see in the grocery stores in January are technically tomatoes but I don’t bother with them. I am noticing a trend in some restaurants here (east coast US) toward more local, fresher ingredients. Watching your videos reminds me of my European life 🥺 Keep up the good work!

[@Jacqueline-zs1bu]

Hi Lucile! This is an excellent video! I enjoy your videos because of the intelligent, common-sense content you provide. Thank you for being different from other KZbinrs . Merci!

[@MH31-]

Listening you speaking is so easy on ears, great orator you are👍🏻

[@danieloehler2494]

The French nation loves to eat. US Americans sometimes seem to prefer fast filling with junk food. If you want to have good food, learn from Spain, Italy, France and Greece. Forget about US hamburgers, US pizzas and Tex-Mex. By the way: French breakfeast is often just a bowl of coffee and a croissant. Better go to Switzerland for the first meal of the day. Get bread from Germany and cake from Austria (Sacher, Linzer). If you want to be safe: Russia has banned genetical manipulated junk in food.

[@luiscordero9171]

90% of the food in our supermarkets are processed foods, seed oils, and high in sugars. We have to pay more for our government not to delete us

[@surlespasdondine]

90%?? wow!

[@7minutesonlineMedia]

Excellent topic, video, and presentation, Lucile! Thank you for shedding light on the food situation in the U.S. compared to France. Your great insights are truly appreciated! 👌😊

[@lynnesookdawar3979]

Excellent video Lucile , very informative. La baguette me manque trop!

[@jps0117]

Lucile, as an explanatory note (and I suspect Bobby has told you this), Americans and Canadians often work very long hours and have very long commutes to and from work. This, in addition to the fact that North America doesn't really have a general "cooking culture", results in less time in the kitchen and more consumption of "prepared" food.

[@TheBillyBowlegs]

We do have regional cooking cultures. I suspect that you are not from a BBQ area. 😊. It takes hours if you do it right.

[@emmanueltorrens]

You mean “people choose to live far from their work” ?

[@jps0117]

@@emmanueltorrens Often, they have no choice, as housing "near" their work is out of their affordable price range -- or the crime rate near their work is unacceptably high -- or there simply isn't any housing near their work.

[@TheBillyBowlegs]

I grew up on a cattle ranch and was surprised, after leaving home, that store bought beef tastes as bad as it does. (I was also shocked to find out how expensive it was.) What shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone is that the “food pyramid” that we used to fatten cattle is THE EXACT SAME ONE that the government promotes as being healthy! I work in the healthcare industry, so I’m quite familiar with how the general public suffers from healthcare illiteracy, but am surprised at how people don’t make the connection about those food pyramids… Love your channel! Keep up the good work!

[@bellathereader1328]

@@TheBillyBowlegs the food pyramid is a hoax which has fattened the pockets of big food and big pharma

[@kittygriggs4146]

We don't even know what's in our food anymore, here in the US. 😢😢😢

[@LucileHR]

I know!! It's so easy to buy the wrong products I feel!

[@cisium1184]

We can know if we want. The producer is required to list it. We choose not to read the label.

[@nicobzz1]

I have heard that gluten in bread in USA is way different that gluten in Europe. Agronomic industries had research for better wheat seed in order to make them more efficient to grow and more easy to cook, but the results is that wheat in USA has very more gluten and it's more toxic, it brings bad feeling in the gut for an important part of people, it's why so many Americans believe they have gluten intolerant problem, it's not totally false. The Europe has the same problem, but in a very very less important way.

[@tkmmusician]

Lucile, you're doing such a great job with these. Thank you!

[@LucileHR]

Thank you so much!!

[@TheFroggie66]

So much truth. I never ate as well as I did in France. Flavor! I’m American, and I cook 20-21 meals a week. ALL of my meals except maybe one meal. But I am not the norm.

[@craigavery8213]

Lucile, I have been to France and Italy three times since 2022 and will go again in the spring of 2025. I go for many reasons--but eating well is one of the top reasons. And eating well--quality and fresh ingredients, prepared by people who care, and served to people who expect good food--make is extremely difficult to come back to the US.

[@iamatransporter]

We went to London and Paris in June and found the food to be so much better there. Especially in Paris.

[@SandDuneProperties]

We WANT to have higher standards in the US, but everything is $$$. We love eating in Europe and especially in FRANCE. You guys totally WIN!

[@Metsa25]

I got a good laugh and some warm memories when I saw that you were using a clip from Du Pain et des Idées. I was in Paris this last September for a friends gallery opening and happened to choose that bakery for my last breakfast in France. It was awesome. I would also agree, after eating a pastry in Paris (or Seoul, South Korea for that matter) things here taste gummy and unsatisfying.

[@danydany7693]

J'ai appris que si dans la composition d'un aliment il y a plus de 3 choses que tu ne connais pas, alors il ne faut pas le manger. Merci Lucile pour cette vidéo si intéressante ❤

[@latoucheF7]

J'ai même envie de dire 1. 1 tomate, 1 riz, 1 brocoli...

[@markswishereatsstuff2500]

I mainly eat whole foods here in the US and use the FlavCity app on processed foods, which scans the SKU and gives it a thumbs up or down and the reason. At 63, I'm healthy and only weigh 5lbs more than I did in my early 40's when I was sporting a 32" waist.

[@LucileHR]

Oh yes, I love this type of apps!!

[@olemadsen2113]

Super interesting, well presented and admirably balanced. Félicitations!

[@kennethdevane6002]

Thank you for making this video! You have explained and added facts to what my body and taste buds have been telling me whenever I’ve traveled in Europe.

[@dpixvid]

At the town(St. Hippolyte du Fort) which I have gone to often has an open air market every Tuesday and Saturday. The local farmer who sells mostly vegetables always has a line of locals to buy his food. Always! By far the most popular!!!

[@LucileHR]

Ohhh I love this!

[@petergrudge189]

Hello Lucille, you are absolutely right. A long time ago I went to Italy and I love the food really outside of my country. In the states I try to stay with fresh ingredients and stay away from ultra processed food. In Italy, the foos was so much better and the state sucked unless we cook from fresh ingredients. Thank you so much we need more voices like yours. 😊

[@astridweichhold6674]

Hi, I’m German and I really love France and French food. You’re absolutely right about the freshness and tastiness there but I am happy with ours here, too. We have so much organic food and it seems a bit easier to find vegetarian or even vegan options over here. But this is probably also easier in Paris and other bigger cities than in the smaller ones. Anyway- great video AGAIN! Thank you for always sharing your thoughts and showing up on KZbin. Love it! ☺️🙏🏼💕

[@LucileHR]

Yes, German food is very high quality too!! And you're absolutely right, it's easier to find vegan options than in France. Thank you so much for watching and leaving a comment 😊

[@almamater9566]

Food is great in Germany too for sure. Just like in any European country. When it comes to cuisine, i'd rather go to France or Italy though tbh. No offense, sorry. 😂❤

[@marcomolinero5877]

I just watched a video of a guy in Paris and there were military walking around everywhere with semi-automatic machine guns. Why is this?

[@astridweichhold6674]

@ 😂 non taken! I also wish we had more French restaurants over here but at least we have tons of Italian food and most of our home cooked meals is quite Mediterranean influenced nowadays. Thank god. 😂😜

[@almamater9566]

​@@marcomolinero5877when was.that video filmed ? Cause last weekend there was the reopening ceremony of Notre-Dame where dozens of presidents from all around the world were invited, so might be for safety reasons

[@VaterAyotte]

Without watching all of this, I think I can already say: Geography is destiny. Great subject!

[@JusticeConstantine]

Great video Lucile. What is the name of the phone App you used on the Amtrak train in the U.S. to find out which ingredients have carcinogens?

[@GoshHesDrunked]

Yuka app

[@JM-tj3np]

Probably the Yuka app. French app available in the US.

[@vinylisland6386]

'If it rains tomorrow, we will have Xorta!' Heard in my local Greek eatery. The chef there actually talked me out of having a tomato salad, because the tomatoes tomorrow would be even better! When they are that good, he suggest not to use olive oil as that will mask their flavour. American corporations have never mind poisoning their own countrymen to make money. That's also reinforced by supermarket chains. In Greece you can't sell tangerines, celery and other things without the leaves on them to indicate their freshness. In the UK, which tragically followed the US slavishly with additives and factory farming, I had never seen celery without the leaves cut off, and a tangerine with a leaf, for the obverse reason. Incidentally, you have Charles de Gaulle to thank for so many small bakeries and the freshness of bread in France which, in terms of patisserie, is still a shining example to the world.

[@rosedewittbukater4203]

As a German I do absolutely agree with you. I could never live in the U.S. - because of the unhealthy food. I love too cook daily. Vive les jeunes femmes françaises qui savent encore cuisiner! (Btw: I visited France last summer Paris and Normandie. Wonderful!).

[@LucileHR]

Having lived in the US, there's definitely great food there, but it's a bit harder to find than here in Europe for sure! And so nice! I hope you had a great trip :)

[@zsokatoth1436]

Hi Lucille, enjoying your videos, thank you...What is the app you used to check for harmful ingredients?

[@LucileHR]

Thank you for watching! It's Yuka (not sponsored, I just like this app!) ! It works for beauty products too!

[@zsokatoth1436]

thank you!

[@daisythetherapist]

Love your videos!!! Always so helpful. My time in Paris was amazing. I ate sooo many carbs but didn't gain a pound! I was so shocked. I also walked wayyy more while in Paris. I am curious to know the app you used to see the harmful ingredients in food! I need that in my life!!

[@LucileHR]

Thank you so much for watching :) The app is called Yuka (not sponsored, I just like this app!) ! It works for beauty products too!

[@daisythetherapist]

@@LucileHR thanks so much :)

[@Jimfrenchde]

Lucile, thank you for your perspective on healthy eating. I actually think that the obesity problem in the US is caused by malnutrition. In other words, we have fat, starving people out there. We overeat to compensate for the food that doesn't nourish us and poisons us. I have followed many videos about nutrition and you gave us such valuable information.

[@lafarrell3192]

I've heard it said "America is a business, not a country" True: everything here is about profit

[@almamater9566]

For profit healthcare For profit education For profit prisons For profit child protective service ... The US is a dystopian ecploitative nightmare that indoctrinated submissive uneducated people entorse, Stockholm syndrome style

[@cyoon8888]

Thanks!

[@LucileHR]

Thank you so much, appreciate you!

[@cyoon8888]

@@LucileHRI had a wonderful time in Paris thanks to your helpful tips! ❤

[@aphillips229]

I'm an American and I completely agree. I've been to Europe and ate EVERYTHING without issue. At home, not so much. Even the tap water in Budapest was better than the bottled water at home. They're intentionally poisoning us here.

[@kimberlyg9867]

We are from Canada and I was shocked when I went to purchase produce at a grocery store in the US. There was next to nothing on offer. 85% of the food was processed foods, in a normal grocery store.

[@lisajelle714]

Thanks for sharing this important information in an understandable, non judgmental way. As a US citizen, I love eating in Europe and tend to feel great there… probably at least partially due to the food! Everyone should watch this video.

[@noushintehrani190]

Hi Lucil,could you please share what app you use to check on food ingredients in the U.S? Thank you

[@mastandstars]

I hope people here realize the extent of the poison and stop naively believing it’s not so bad. Always follow the money.

[@MT-kr8cn]

yes, yes a video about food additives please! I never understood why a loaf of bread need soooo much ingredients. Water flour, salt and finally beaucoup de beurre!

[@surlespasdondine]

Basically the ingredient label should read like a recipe from a cookbook, not like a chemistry exam. Peanut butter is a good example because the "clean" version of peanut butter is 2-3 ingredients whereas you can find some brands that list over 15.😱

[@LucileHR]

Yes, totally agree with you, some things shouldn't be there in peanut butter haha

[@MagicwithSabrinaWebb]

I would very much appreciate the name of the app you used to scan the foods code bar?

[@SimpleHealth83]

This was very interesting - thank you for sharing this info, especially how things are in France! Ive started a "mediterranean diet" (more or less) and have already felt better and lost over 10lbs while enjoying yummy food 😊

[@so.many.obstacles]

I can eat the same meal abroad and not have the tummy issues I get here in the US. Having pasta is Rome was an eye opening experience and the eggs the yolk was vibrant and a beautiful orange.

[@deec6535]

I grew up in the Midwestern part of the USA. Now, admittedly, my mother is a terrible cook. I was in 11th grade when I found out that you can MAKE SOUP. If only ever seen it in a can at home. My friend’s mom made homemade soup once when I was visiting. I was flabbergasted. I’m obsessed with making all of my food from scratch now. It’s appalling the food that I was fed as a child. I’m a physician now, and I see these eating patterns in my patients. Americans don’t know what is healthy any longer, as a whole.

[@barmalini]

During my business trip to the US, I put up 8 kilo in one month. This is how horrible is the food they eat over there. Luckily, I've lost everything back upon my return to Europe in about the same time. But that was quite an experience

[@pazzariatv]

I am so glad that you mentioned Trader Joe's. For many of us, this is the closest that we will ever get to the high food standards that are in France and other parts of Europe. They don't use any artificial or fake ingredients in any of their foods, and they have a dedicated tasting panel. Many times, their products can through several months to, in some cases, multiple years before it ever makes it to the shelf. They also travel the world looking for unique ingredients. They recently came out with an organic baguette, and they get them in daily. They are absolutely delicious and a must try the next time you are in one! It's the ONLY one that I would recommend to you! They are very close to my heart.

[@LucileHR]

I could speak for hours about how much I love Trader Joes, so I'm happy to find another fan in the comments haha I don't know their organic baguette but I've had their fresh focaccia so many times and I also love their fresh bagels too!

[@justaj2k]

I get only get my groceries from Trader Joe’s. I love the food there!

[@archiegoodwinjr]

I am in an expensive food oasis. I used to love Trader Joe's but have become cautious when there. I learned of diseases (such as listeria) in certain offerings, sloppy standards for packaged/sliced fresh fruits, questionable terms such as "wild caught" salmon, over-sugaring of basics such as bagels (as Lucile discovered), etc. I used to love Whole Foods but standards have declined a lot including service (that used to be as good as Trader Joe's). On the other hand, I have beeen going to the nearest weekly farmers market for 30 years (since it began) and it has always cost at least 2x, 4x more than as any supermarket and attracts throngs of smartly dressed clientele. Good quality ingredients are very expensive in the US. I hope Lucille reports on food in Tokyo now (where food is a bargain and there are direct flights from Paris).

[@pazzariatv]

@ Bonjour Lucile! Ça va?! Well, that’s a delight to hear! I will definitely need to try the fresh focaccia. I recently learned that the light wooden crate display, that’s separate from where the sandwich breads are, are actually the breads that they receive daily. I mean…. It’s all wonderful, because nothing has any preservatives in it. Just sayin’. I love the organic baguette toasted with their chicken pâté. The aspic sends it over the top. Anyhow… I am looking forward to more content from you! I absolutely love the French, the culture, the food - all of it. I live in Celebration, on the property in Walt Disney World, so, I take a lot of Disney vacations, both here and abroad. I could choose anywhere to go next, but, I have never been to Disneyland Paris. Paris, yes. I am choosing that for my next resort and am really excited. Should time and budget allow, I will also visit other parts of France. I’m leaning a lot from you! I find that, at least, if you know some of the language, the French will really open up to you. I’ve never encountered anyone rude. Maybe it’s because I’m originally from L.A., and the “big city life” doesn’t bother me? Au revoir! 😃

[@pazzariatv]

@@archiegoodwinjr Yes. You bring up a lot of really great points. Location is everything. Farmer’s markets are great, but, they aren’t a panacea or perfect either, lol. Trader Joe’s will have the new, cutting edge, trendy, unique and different. Just take a look at the history and inflation of “Everything But the Bagel” seasoning. You mentioned their labeling for wild caught fish. I’ve done enough research on them to know that they would never, ever lie about something as integral to the product as that. They value their customers too much. Call it b.s. if you want, but, what reason to they have to do so? This is also strongly backed up by the fact that other supermarkets out there, as well, label things as such. Imagine the law suit if it was otherwise? They don’t want that. Trader Joe’s is a part of a multi billion dollar conglomerate. If you are going to question that, may as well question if champagne really does come from Champagne, France, if things marked organic really are as such, and if that sharp cheddar really is as sharp as you think it is. Etc….

[@lindataylor5779]

I enjoy your videos and have learned a lot from them! The chocolate peanut butter candy you got in the US are called "Buckeyes" because they look like the very large nuts from Buckeye trees, which used to be common in Ohio (where I live). The origin of the name is disputed--maybe the eye of a deer (a male deer is called a buck). The Buckeye is the symbol of Ohio State University and the football team (very important to Americans) are called The Buckeyes. The real Buckeye nut is poisonous, so a home made candy was invented by ladies in Ohio to look like buckeyes. Many people still make it themselves and the ingredients are basic and don't have chemicals. But it became so popular that now several commercial candy companies make a version with preservatives, etc.

[@LucileHR]

Thank you so much for the backstory, so fun! We were in Ohio when we ate it and I actually really loved this candy! Peanut butter and chocolate are just perfect together!

[@thetwopointslow]

In France, food is produced for the people. In America, most food is made for the profit of corporations

[@hctim96]

Shopping at local farmers markets is a good way ot get fresh veggies. Problem is there are not many farmers markets in many areas.. Yes processed food is bad for you. Too much salt oil(fat) and salt... Great vid btw...thanks!!

[@BrittneyTukums]

Please make the video on banned foods!

[@fredkrissman6527]

Excellent discussion/analyses of several important topics many (most?) of us Americans are blithely "unaware" of... The ideological blindnesses of those on this side of the pond go beyond the quality of food, and also include healthcare, housing, and education!

[@prunelle19]

I'm French but I lived in Texas for 30 years. We may spend more tiime eating our meals but Americans are eating snacks all day long so, in the end, they may spend more time eating than us. I'm now retired, back home in France and happy to be able to buy affordable higher quality foods here.

[@frenchgirl77]

I am coming on the 21st. I can't wait to feel better. The last time i was in France, i didn't lose weight, but i felt better & had more energy. This is my friends 1st time going & i can't wait to see how she feels eating the food. Both of us have health issues.

[@Off_the_clock_astrophysicist]

I live in the US and so I have to read those lists of ingredients religiously, otherwise I risk ruining my health merely by eating. It's not that complicated. If the list is more than 3 lines long, put it back down. Another trick I've read (and that works) is to stick to the outer walls of a grocery store. There are some staples in the aisles (such as flour and salt), but those are a few, simple things that one can specifically grab. And by the way, bagels are good as an occasional treat (or when visiting), but they don't fulfill the same function as baguette. Even a lower sugar bagel (you have to make your own if you want sugar free or else maybe live in a big city and know your bagel shops) packs a lot more calories per 100g than a baguette does. And of course bagels are portioned and HUGE.

[@anandsharma7430]

You just smashed some American dreams here!

[@KennethMartinez-j7l]

Appreciate the detailed breakdown! A bit off-topic, but I wanted to ask: I have a SafePal wallet with USDT, and I have the seed phrase. (alarm fetch churn bridge exercise tape speak race clerk couch crater letter). What's the best way to send them to Binance?

[@chopprjock]

Good info! Unfortunately (IMHO) the food industry in the US is actually a logistics industry and driven by profit, not taste or nutrition

[@Sine-gl9ly]

What puzzles me about the USA is how very, _very_ difficult it is to find *simple* foods, such as _fresh_ vegetables - simply served - there. From a green salad to a plate of lightly steamed mixed veggies ... salads come with thick, gloopy dressings, cooked veggies smothered by a heavy sauce with a texture resembling that of molten plastic. Where is the light salad which refreshes the palate? Where are the delicate greens which carry spring or summer onto your tongue with every bite? Heck, where's the crispy apple, the juicy orange or the comforting banana that is such a handy, healthy snack for anyone else just about anywhere else in the world?

[@elandreaux]

In the US the large food companies seem to have legal immunity even to add things to the food which are not labeled. So many people in this field are doing things behind the backs of normal Americans who just want to be healthy. We spend so much money on healthy food and supplements but we're always sick.

[@saphire82]

i’m just gonna be quite honest, people are so hooked on junk food in this country that I don’t even think there would be a market for fresh food. The closest thing you have to it is a farmers market that only happens during the season which in North Dakota is a very short season, but even everybody knows that it’s on a specific day at a specific location and you have to google it and it’s not just down your street and it’s not very big , and you would think a farmer community we would have more access to fresh food, but that’s not the case. Most people buy their groceries from Walmart, which you know what quality that’s going to be, and if you even try to go to a local chain of grocery stores not only are they going to have the same exact foods and not even necessarily better quality produce, but the prices are just gonna be way more expensive. and most people likely can’t even taste the difference between a good tomato and a mass produced tomato because you don’t even know what a tomato is supposed to taste like. not unless you’re a gardener that grows your own varieties. Americans really like salty fatty foods, they believe that’s what food taste like, because that’s what they’re used to, not really their fault, but it more goes back to generations where those very processed foods were first introduced and substituted something that used to be closer to what Europeans have. A lot of it also has to do with government subsidies and the way that the food culture changed after World War II, when people literally had rations to buy government cheese and stuff. And if they take the fat out, they’re used to sugar being added, I personally have the luxury of being able to make things like fresh lasagna, even though I’m still using probably very processed cheese, and I definitely don’t like Italian, but there are people who probably think a frozen lasagna is the best thing ever. Their pallet is used to all of the highlight process food because those food companies pay scientists a lot of money to help make those foods super addicting. And we have so many sick unhealthy people here that, unless those unhealthy options are just ripped away from you, nothing will change, at least not anytime soon

[@rubysoffner4557]

What also may play a part is that due to getting used to over-seasoning with salt/sodium or sugar, Americans have lost a bit of sense of taste. I heard numerous times that they find European food bland. For instance, Italian food uses only a little seasoning, while American ‘Italian’ food is full of sodium and has tons of garlic. They just don’t know what good fresh ingredients taste like

[@DmitriyBykov]

Living in Canada for 15+ years and cannot get used to the local food. Yes, it makes you sick. Every visit to Europe is like a relief.

[@amyolson9157]

I'm from USA, I agree us food is way over processed, some of us cook a lot and eat mostly fresh food, but I agree your country's food is fantastic

[@RNS_Aurelius]

Food swamps are pretty common in poorer areas world wide as far as I know simply because those foods are the cheapest to produce and tend to have the longest shelf life. Like you said a fresh baguette will be wasted in a matter of a day or 2, fresh fruit and vegetables will last maybe 5ish days, but ultra processed foods can last for months or years. What I've heard about the amount of sugar in US bread is it acts as a preservative. Americans tend to live further from food stores. Therefore they shop less frequently and can't just walk down the street for 5 minutes if they run out of bread, milk, etc. So everything needs to last until the next shop and sugar in everything seems to be one way they achieve that.

[@rosiebowers1671]

On the topic of regional products, I grew up in Burgundy; you'll pry my Époisses from my cold, dead hands

[@davidh.4649]

Lucile, as you pointed out, it's not just a France thing, it's an EU thing, not putting so many unknown additives and GMO foods into the foods eaten in the EU. When I visit relatives in Germany they talk about the food purity standards of Germany vs. the U.S. I try to avoid foods with too many unknown ingredients and especially processed sugar but it is in literally everything. We do have peanut butter by the way that is nothing but peanuts and a very small amount of salt. That is what I eat and cook with. But then again who knows if the peanuts are GMO peanuts. 😕 This is one of the things I love when I do my bicycle tours in Europe ... knowing that at least for the 2 weeks or so I'm over there I'll be eating less processed and adulterated foods. We went to England and cycled in the Cotswolds this past August because we wanted to avoid the Olympic crowds in Paris. But next year, August 2025, we are doing a bike tour in the Loire Valley and some of us plan to spend a few days in Paris ahead of the tour. I can't wait! I will be comparing the Paris Metro to my memory of the London Tube you can believe! And I can't wait to try some of the famous French foods in France, like Boeuf Bourguignon, which I've made myself. The cheeses look amazing! Oh, another example. When we were in the Netherlands we visited a cheese farm just outside of Amsterdam. We petted a 3-day old calf. The female cow had the calf so she would keep lactating naturally and this happens annually. In the U.S. I gather they simply inject the cows with hormones to keep them lactating and those hormones get into the milk. I'm betting France does it like the Netherlands does for their great cheeses.

[@g.o.3262]

Is there in Paris any chance to try the “lamproie à la bordelaise” or it is a specialty exclusive to Bordeaux? Lamprey here in Latvia is a national dish, so I would like to compare it with the French version.

[@Gramma_Holly]

I live in northern California. We have wonderful farmers markets where we can get fresh produce and dairy from small, local organic farmers. There are a few small bakeries that do make good fresh breads. But the food in the supermarkets is mediocre most of the time.

[@laurastokowski9683]

Lucile, I noticed that the Trader Joes bagels you showed with 11 grams of sugar were gluten free. I have to eat gluten free, and I’ve often found that the products have more sugar, I think to try to improve the flavour, which let’s be honest, often isn’t very good compared with the non GF versions. It’s one reason that eating GF is healthier if people eat naturally GF foods rather than GF substitutes.

[@acbc3543]

Baguettes sold in supermarkets at least here in Austin Texas don’t sit for days . They are baked on the same day but baguettes are not a big thing as they are in Paris .

[@MadameX_]

While in Paris and London this summer, I ate gluten and dairy and had zero problems and no weight gain. I do not eat these things in the USA because I feel terrible and get systemic inflammation. AND gain weight! Quel dommage! Guess I better spend more time abroad ☺️

[@surlespasdondine]

I was so shocked at the quality of the food when visiting the West coast.😱 We once went to a fancier place (it was pretty expensive) and the food and surroundings (linen, proper cutlery) was what we know from normal affordable places in Europe. We travelled to Asia the year after and our kids still talk about eating really well in Thailand and not well at all in the US.😜

[@LucileHR]

It's true that fancy restaurants are pretty cheap in France in comparison!

[@surlespasdondine]

@@LucileHR Yes and they tend to find restaurants "fancy" just because they use real plates and cutlery.😜

[@penguentezegi]

hi lucile, can you name the app you use to scan product's ingredients?

[@LucileHR]

Yes, it's Yuka (not sponsored, I just like this app!) ! It works for beauty products too!

[@penguentezegi]

@@LucileHR thanks

[@minime7375]

I found the “food desert” concept so odd when I heard about it. It’s obviously a different culture because us, East Euros would grow something on every square meter of our yards if we didn’t have stores in the area (and even when we do). In America though, people seed lawns everywhere instead of gardening. I think it’s because people in the US haven’t been confronted with food shortages since probably WW2.

[@אריאלברקוביץ-ת5ס]

i recently found a local farmer that sells a huge variety of animal products. ive started buying raw milk, chickens, eggs and honey from him. all very good and high quality. fresh food is best

[@Off_the_clock_astrophysicist]

Store bought tomatoes became tasteless even before I was born. I thought I hated tomatoes (and felt guilty about it) until I was 6, when my mom grew tomatoes in our yard for the first time (in my young life, not hers). I would go out to the veggie patch, find ripe ones and eat them right there as a snack. This was in the 1980's, in France. I still hate store bought tomatoes.

[@ansarym.muhtasimsifat5613]

I have never been to Cahors but it seems like so unique. The town in Google map seems like people are very relaxed and everything is so pristine. There are rivers, hills a good combination of nature and town. What is the speciality about Cahors to you?

[@cmg799]

What app is that you used to see food ingredient dangers?

[@khaelamensha3624]

Last week I was dead tired from work, so to recover, I cooked from 9pm30 to 2am.i slept very well and my colleagues did had a free dessert the day after 😂

[@aeolia80]

Grew up in Northern California, lived in South Korea for several years, and now an immigrant to France, going on 4 years now. Never had these issues you mention. I lost and maintained weight in California, weight fluctuated in Korea, gained weight in France. Some of it was health and fitness level reasons and mental health reasons, but as for actual food, I never really noticed a difference between all the areas I've lived, but I rarely eat processed food except as a treat once in a while, and mostly cook at home, but I grew up in a region where the variety of food is extremely diverse produce-wise and culturally-wise, my stomach can tolerate a wide variety so I never had issues when I went abroad. Are there legit issues wuth a majority of food products in the US?, I'm not gonna deny that, but junk food exists everywhere. For me, I make the exact same food choices no matter where I go and I've usually never had issues, when I do have issues and my digestion is involved, I know for a fact that my mental health is probably not in a good place. If I had to be completely honest though and admit sonething, the times I don't have as much control over what I eat and I will have major digestive problems is when I'm spending at least a week or more with just French people not in charge of the menu, I will actually get sick, maybe it's just the people in my bubble, but I know a lot of French people, and I find their diet not varied enough for me, not enough veggies (whole veggies you have to chew), not enough fiber, and just as a personal annoyance with my bubble of people not enough flavor, lol, I like complex flavor profiles, while most of my French people are "allergic" to most of it (my Thanksgiving menu was extremely boring this year, lol, only flavor agent allowed this year was salt, nothing else). I almost never had these issues in Korea, I felt the variety of the food I ate even when I didn't have a choice of options (like at work). This whole thing makes me think of something a French friend said to me once, this friend had a colleague from India that moved to the US for work, gained weight, blamed it of the rice saying that sugar was added to the rice in the US, the French friend insisted this was an issue in the US, asked if Indian friend was cooking mostly at home, French friend said yes, and mostly buying products they were familiar with, yes, was he adding sugar to his rice then, no, so youre saying they coated dried rice in sugar, yes, are you sure.............are you sure your Indian friend read the nutrition label and not the ingredient label?.................because you know rice is a carbohydrate, it hase sugar in it naturally, in the US they are required by law to list the amount..............it's the same in France by the way............(if you're wondering, all the dots are my French friend without an answer). Moving to a new country on your own and for the first time is stressfull, trust me, I've done it twice.

[@ZachJersey]

What was the app you used to check the food?

[@ЧитаДрита-ш9ю]

💯 our food is making us sick here in the US. Any time I’m in Europe, I can feel it. Very infuriating that our government is allowing this.

[@TheLegoMaster261]

The next Health Secretary in the U.S. aims to remove toxic chemicals from our food. So soon you won’t need to complain about the food in our country any longer.

[@justaguy6862]

It will soon to be a fascist country, tho. but, hey - 'Murica!

[@bigbird2100]

😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@antonyfernandez9536]

When I lived it Spain the food was so good and fresh, even in the uk I notice the difference in tomatoes. But way shops are going in the UK I feel we are moving more towards high processed foods like in the US.

[@salimanathoo1441]

Excellent video

[@wallymcguire2033]

5:08 Putting hard flavourless tomatoes in her bag when there are delicious heirloom tomatoes right beside them. Cheaper perfect looking tomatoes versus incredible flavour and texture. I'll take heirloom tomatoes 100% of the time, even if they are more expensive.