Why is it so Easy to be Thin in France?

[@LucileHR]

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[@davidb.6271]

Metabolism period.

[@kathryndelacote7374]

You are so right on. I lived in France for 25 years, had and raised my children there… We came back to the US and it was a culture shock for me to see how things had changed concerning meals. I grew up in the 70’s, 80’s in the US and mealtime was always with family. Then I moved to France. Since I’ve been back in the states, it’s so different. Kids with food allergies, food aversion, extracurricular activities, parents with such differing schedules- makes it almost impossible to share a meal sitting down with family. In France, our Sunday lunches at Mamie’s lasted hours, with an aperitif, entree, main course, cheese, dessert and coffee. Then we’d have a break and go for a walk or play outside, and sit again as a family playing a game together. Sometimes I was bored but mostly I was happy that it gave my kids an idea of what family time looks like in France. We are back in the US and now when the kids come home from college or jobs, they look forward to our sit down dinners together. Being in France in the traditional fashion feels like being in the US back in the 70’s and 80’s before life was so chaotic. Just my humble opinion.

[@isagrace4260]

Even in the 90s. My family ate dinner together every night. It helps that we naturally ate later than many American families (8p usually). But I say I think we spent more time with friends, activities, or teams vs hanging out with family all Sunday, for example. Life was certainly better before email/smartphones/working around the clock.

[@LucileHR]

Thank you so much for sharing this story, I enjoyed reading your comment :)

[@squidwardwithoutaclue]

Why on earth would you move to the USA 😭

[@flaviopons142]

We can agree on everything, but please don't demonize food allergies, intolerance or even other restrictions such as vegetarianism. I am an omnivore Italian living in Paris and I had basically zero culture shock in terms of food, however I have vegetarian, celiac and lactose intolerant friends and for them it is already quite the nightmare because all of these things here are not considered enough yet. However, these issues have nothing to do with having bad habits, they still totally eat classic French (and I would say west/south European at least) meals, they are still in good shape and they still want to enjoy social eating, which is a real challenge, even relatively fancy restaurants sometimes fail at exposing allergen lists or inform correctly on the presence of ingredients.

[@ebbyc1817]

@@flaviopons142 I don't think they meant it that way, or at least, I didn't read it that way. I think it is more that a narrow range of food options and the overall approach to food is leading in part to aversions and allergies. People that can't stand the sight of certain vegetables, for example. Where elsewhere those vegetables would be a staple. I noticed that when people in the US do veganism or vegetarianism, for them it's so different. Whole countries eat more or less vegetarian diets but you wouldn't 'feel' it as much when you eat their cuisine or eat in those countries, it doesn't feel restrictive. Americans also tend to make everything convenient, so even when they eat vegan they tend towards convenient vegan foods, rather than soaking and cooking a pot of split peas or white beans. They tend to focus on what they can't eat rather than what they can eat. So food becomes a source of stress (for them).

[@nykki21]

Knowing that you’re going to eat at the same time everyday - especially good food - I almost cried a little for my younger self. Even though I have access to good food now, I realize that I still eat in a way that reflects those times when food was scarce.

[@slow9573]

Same

[@bigmacntings7451]

it's different for different climates i think. if you go to spain/italy/portugal then a light breakfast is on, and long early lunch, just like france, but evening meal is REALLY late usually 9-11pm

[@mireyam4661]

Great video!!! I find French people very polite and have very good table manners. I noticed that small children behave very well in restaurants, and everybody speaks in a low voice tone. I like the French and their culture.🎉😊

[@LucileHR]

I love that parents feel comfortable going to the restaurant with their kids in Paris!

[@ladymacbethofmtensk896]

I believe that the mot juste is FORMAL, and being formal is often seen as being rude among Americans.

[@MJ-wrty]

When i lived in Paris I walked everywhere and would eat a croissant every morning with hot tea. Then salad for lunch and a full meal usually chicken with potatoes and veggies ( something like that) I was skinny skinny

[@alliterationUK]

I'm naturally left-handed, so when my grandfather noticed this, he taught me how to eat European style as he had been in a Spanish boarding school. When I lived in France they were all very surprised at how I ate 'like us'.

[@anastasia10017]

that is because most American parents dont take their parental responsibilities seriously anymore. They dont even know where their kids are. They do not teach their children to be respectful or polite and they certainly dont teach their children table manners.

[@stevecagle2317]

Many older American generations were taught table manners. I grew up in the 60s and I was taught manners and expected to follow them both home and out. Our family had different schedules for breakfast and lunch but we ate dinner together. I started helping Mom cook when young and by the time I was 12, I would start dinner after school and have it prepped and in the oven when my parents got home. Sadly, so many Americans don't know how to feed themselves and cook decent meals. Long ago, I adopted Julia Childs rules: Small, reasonable portions, no snacking, no seconds and try new things or a little of everything. I am an omnivore and eat a balanced diet and stay very active. I'm in my 60s, in excellent health (I have to pass pilot physicals twice a year) and I enjoy the best, freshest foods available seasonally.

[@cloudthief8918]

No trying new foods or snacks ever seems a bit much. If it works for you that's good tho

[@GGGirl55]

@@cloudthief8918She said to try new things. And snacking is truly very bad for your health, I won’t go into the physiology of it but it’s definitely best to avoid eating in between meals.

[@cloudthief8918]

@@GGGirl55 ohh ok, i get you. I agree snacking can be really bad if you're prone to high blood sugar, but for me personally it's the opposite. I pass out if I don't eat regularly

[@derbygagnant7458]

@@GGGirl55 that's a lie, the division of the day in three meals is cultural, it makes no sense biologically, many studies shows that we should be eating small portions all day long instead of three meals, you won't go into the physiology of it because you are not an expert but yet talk as such,

[@goldenaxe7564]

@@cloudthief8918 Did you get checked by a doctor for this though ? You're not really supposed to pass out if you don't snack, unless your actual meals are insufficiently nutritious.

[@Viciac1356]

I am tri-cultural - and lives half of the year in the states, and the other half in Spain (or Brazil). It doesn’t matter if we go on a month vacation to Mexico, or if we are in Italy,France, etc - every time we are out of the states for longer than 2 weeks we start to lose weight and debloat. We change nothing about our eating habits, and remain at the same level of activeness… my husband and I just were talking the other day that the addition of so many preservatives in the foods in the states really affect us personally (so won’t be surprised if also it affects others) 🤷🏼‍♀️

[@and9137]

I like in the UK, had a holiday in Spain for almost 3 weeks. Started to lose weight, and ate everything, drinking no restrictions

[@larisseKprod]

I think it’s about the quality of of food 😅 and the portions. Each time i go to the US 🇺🇸, as a french woman, it’s hard for me with the food because even the bread taste more sweet like if they put sugar in it and the meat, milk everything taste different 😅 So i lose weight finally 😂

[@Viciac1356]

@ ouais exactement - surtout la qualité de la nourriture est merde 😂😂 mais en ce qui concerne les portions, je voulais dire que même chez nous - on cuisine, on dîne au resto rarement - on mange peu mais on continue à prendre du poids, mais c’est comme tu l’avait mentionné, je dirais que c’est à cause de la qualités des produits aux états

[@Traderbear]

Did anyone else get anxious watching the tomato being sliced? Lol

[@grgtzm4837]

Could it be that she likes to "live life on the edge"? LOL

[@rkd419]

Ahahaha, in my country (Uzbekistan) we slice this way for our special daily "must-have on the table" salad. This way it's more juicy and tastier.

[@rallara]

We're from Europe we cut pretty much all soft fruits or veg like that?? The world is so weird, how is that not normal?😅

[@grgtzm4837]

@@rallara Hi, the issue is not the slice, it is that she uses the knife in an inward motion, taking the risk of cutting the palm of her hand. For safety reason you suppose to cut outwardly, with the cutting edge of the knife away from your hand. Cheers.

[@defender4004]

@@rallaraI’ve never before seen anyone slice tomatoes like that. It’s not safe. And every chef I’ve ever seen slices vegetables, including tomatoes, on a board.

[@kathrynaston6841]

In America, food manufactures and food processes include additives that trigger the addiction portion of their brain. As we eat more prepared food, we crave it more and eat more of it.

[@grod805]

Yeah and in Europe you feel full with smaller portions.

[@toshitanaka1550]

MSG is one of those addictive substances, but is not harmful unless you consume it in large quantities. The main ingredients of how many people get addicted in the U.S. is lots of salt and sugar. Nature’s cocaine. That is the reason when you eat lots of potatoes, steaks, hamburgers or other American dishes your not satisfied unless you eat more which becomes a problem. The cheese industry is scary since there is a lot of processed cheeses with that. I wish America can eat a more reasonable palate when it comes to confectioneries since they have a lot of money yet they cannot make it delicate. Portions we also need to control on that since we eat way more than the average human outside the U.S. and we need less salt and other preservatives.

[@kathrynaston6841]

@@toshitanaka1550 well, you didn’t get a degree in food chemistry, and you don’t work for food pharma, so I wouldn’t expect you to know what I’m talking about. There are drugs that cause addiction and they put them in foods like Doritos. And they like you to think it’s just salt and fat. But it’s not. They have all kinds of names for it. My favorite is natural flavorings and coloring.

[@toshitanaka1550]

@ either way its not that great to consume and they do that to vegan meals.

[@ommsterlitz1805]

it's called sugar, salt and MSG

[@HerbMoore]

Everything in this vid is true, but there is an elephant in the room. Smoking. I just got back from walking 100 miles in the French country side. I'm old and a life time nonsmoker. I was shocked to see young people long distance walking and smoking. Not to mention all the smokers on the streets and sitting in cafes.

[@zaram131]

I haven’t been to France, but I was in Switzerland, and I was also surprised how many smokers there were. It seemed to be more fashionable there than in the U.S.

[@josefpoukine]

@@zaram131 it's hard to get rid of smoking in France because it has become a way of socializing for the youth & also a rite of passage into adulthood. Stats show 6 smokers out of 10 want to stop though.

[@etienne8110]

One bias might be that it is forbidden to smoke inside most buildings. So all the smokers go outside. Which can explain why you see so many of them outside. 😅

[@zaram131]

Yes.. one hotel we stayed in had a smoking lounge, which I haven’t seen in the US for years.

[@eagle_rb_mmoomin_418]

smoking is a big appetite suppressant.

[@lorellrogers1216]

When you were talking about table manners and everyone eating the same meal, that is what was expected in my family, too. I’m an American and back in the 1970s when I was a kid, it was that way with pretty much every family I knew. And nearly everyone I knew ate dinner between 5:30 pm and 6 pm. I think things started to change in the 1980s…that is when I noticed people eating later and having separate kid meals. When I became a mom myself, I saw how rare it has become for families to eat together. One of my daughter’s friends hadn’t ever eaten at the dinner table…they ate in front of the TV. I think her friend liked the experience of eating with us at the table, and using real dishes instead of paper plates. But I definitely felt like we’re the exception and not the norm. Thanks for this video…it was really interesting👍🏻

[@jfrancobelge]

If you come to France, don't expect to have dinner before 7:00 PM at the earliest - normal dinner time is around 7:30/8:00 PM. We have a rule for meals at home; when eating we turn the TV off, and smartphones are not allowed at the table. And these rules also apply to occasional guests, including our son's friends when they were still kids - and they actually loved eating with us, simple but real home-made food. Also, as a non-smoking family, cigarettes are banned from the house; most of the people we know don't smoke, but if someone wants to smoke it's outside. Some people might think we're strict, but we do believe in politeness and manners. Meals are a moment to enjoy the food, relax and exchange together.

[@Mairtn-dt3kk]

@@jfrancobelge les heures chiffrées ne veulent pas dire grand-chose. En Europe, nous sommes à la même heure de Saint-Jacques de Compostelle à Lublin, ce qui n'a aucun sens astronomiquement parlant. Si on se base sur la position du soleil, il est totalement logique que les Polonais et les Allemands dînent tôt et les Espagnols tard. En France nous déjeunons et dînons plus ou moins en même temps que les Britanniques mais étant donné qu'ils ont une heure de moins (ce qui est absurde), nous avons un décalage apparent sur l'horloge.

[@lifenature5463]

This is an exciting video. I'm Italian, and I heard some apparent things. In Italy, we have the exact lunch times and cook at home. During my four years in California, I was surprised by the low food quality, which included so much processed or ready-made food. I had to do a lot of research to find a shop selling unprocessed fresh food and extra virgin olive oil in San Francisco. Eventually, I found an expensive one that saved me.

[@CitizenTurtleIsland]

Not everyone in France is thin. I was thin until menopause. I am still on the slim side but not slender. I don't live in France. When I see a slender older French woman... I often discover that they smoke. Wonderful reflections on how people do eat healthier in many ways... in France. I do believe there is more quality overall. I think the butter is different too... starting with what the cows are fed.

[@harrodsfan]

Well said.

[@Allie-w1l]

I once met another Canadian, who had taken a 10-day pottery course at a farm in the Italian countryside, the year before. She reported that, in Canada, she has a lot of food allergies and intolerances, but in Italy, she was able to eat everything, including ice cream. This suggests that the additives and substitutions (and maybe traces of pesticides?) are a large part of the food intolerances in North America.

[@pandafragrance]

I was going to add "the skinny ones smoke nonstop."

[@Haupialani]

Maybe that's why I didn't gain any weight at all in Europe. I walked a lot, didn't eat fast food or packaged goods, only the fresh stuff, and I smoked. LOL

[@messyhomestead7320]

Thank you. Exactly. It's not a data point for a premenopausal young woman to do the analysis on this one. The public health data indicates her body type is not the average at all in France, and smoking is NOT a solution to anything except dying a more painful death, after all. I'm enjoying your handle name :)

[@bobbylind1145]

People in the US drink a lot of sugary drinks, and are conditioned to think we need a sweet treat every day, maybe even with every meal.

[@Allie-w1l]

As part of a self-designed diet, I once went from double-double coffee to black with no sugar, and I also banned dressing from my salads. I admit that they tasted a bit bitter and boring at first, but very soon I began to find the explosive taste of sugar and salt that is in salad dressings to be revoltingly excessive. If I forgot to say "no dressing" in restaurants, the salads became inedible. I admit, I fell off my diet in a lot of ways, but I very easily stuck to black coffee and no dressing because I learned how bad things really taste with gargantuan amounts of sugar and salt added.

[@valsblueforrest2961]

It amazes me when I see Americans having their meals with sodas that are totally artificially manufactured. Also they are constantly snacking more artificial stuff throughout the day that are in huge bags.

[@elize2952]

I was just thinking about this the other day, even tho it is still sugary I really crave the natural juices that are offered in my country (Venezuela) I rarely ever drank soda, it was always strawberry juice with my meals, now I’ve just started drinking a lot of sprite because there’s no other option, or if I’m feeling more healthy just water or lemonade

[@Allie-w1l]

@@elize2952 Sometimes those "power" drinks are okay if you just use a few drops to flavor your water.

[@arbyswitch5580]

I mean, im American and I feel as though the only thing I've been "conditioned" to do regarding food is feel guilty and disgusting whenever I deign to feed myself, despite the fact that I have a healthy diet. I take a spoon of sugar in my coffee (I drink a very strong dark roast coffee, it needs just a pinch of sugar to help the flavors bloom) but besides that I'm so avoidant of sweets, in part bc despite not eating sweets often i feel so terribly guilty when i consume processed or pre-prepared food.

[@joefalkner2368]

Having lived and traveled in both the US and France, I have noticed something about fruits and vegetables aka produce. In France produce is grown for taste, and thus it may very well be seasonal and grown locally. In the US produce is grown to travel well. That is the emphasis…..not taste. On one of our trips to France I had some of the best cantaloupe in my life. When I returned home I couldn’t replicate the experience. 😢

[@LucileHR]

I unfortunately agree with you! I also feel the fruits and veggies never "go bad" in the US, like an apple that would last a week before becoming rotten in France is still good after a month in the US. I've always been suspicious as to why that is haha

[@MichalMati]

In general, maybe, but just a couple of weeks ago I visited MN and WI - the apples (often sold by the road) there were incredibly tasty. Much tastier than most of apples I can get back home in Europe.

[@AtHomeWithAlex]

@@MichalMatiYes I believe the difference here is that you HAVE to go to a local place for your produce. Sometimes wholefoods will have some hits but overall our super markets have the worst produce ever

[@joefalkner2368]

@@MichalMatiYes! My point exactly. Locally grown.

[@LucileHR]

Yes absolutely!! I've had GREAT food in the US at local shops!!

[@Myperfectshell]

I want to offer something. I grew up in an Italian family and mealtime was an absolute non-negotiable 363 days out of the year (I don’t know the reason but perhaps 2 days out of the year we could for some reason get out of it 😝) and we never, ever ate at a restaurant; it was TABOO. We ordered takeout pizza as an ultimate treat a few times a year, but get this: my mom still cooked a full dinner those nights and we just had a slice or two of pizza alongside that. I complained about this so much. Now of course I realize I was very fortunate. I am a single lady just me and my dog, so of course it is the case that I eat alone often, which I know is not ideal. But I am very nice and skinny and very healthy in my 40s, and I was not always so slim in my younger years. I put many restrictions on my diet, and it really backfired. I believe that you should always eat whatever you truly want, just as long as you prepare it yourself. I became skinny when I adopted this rule. 😊

[@suzymv6946]

Same for my French family. Eating at the restaurant was uncommon and only for a "special" event so... 3/4 times a year ? We would eat at 19:30 and it was almost always homemade. Good memories:)

[@howdy2399]

Loved this video and how clear and straightforward everything was articulated. You are very well spoken and described very well what the relationship is between the French and your food. I learned a lot about your culture in just this one video that I would not have otherwise found anywhere else. You definitely have a new subscriber here. Thank you and keep up the good work!😊

[@ColleenJoudrey]

I have friends that are from both Mexico and Ukraine and they are not discreet about weight observations so it's not just a French thing. At first it caught me off-guard but I quickly grew accustomed to it.

[@souxie37]

I lived in Paris for 2 years. Way less preservatives than American food. One WALKS way more in Paris. Plus that red wine does wonders! 😊

[@doralicebenedusi5752]

As an Italian, I resonate with most of these points. However, I really don't like the "obligation" to eat with your colleagues, lunch break is free time and everybody should be entitled to spending it however they like

[@LucileHR]

I totally agree with you, that was one aspect of the French food culture I didn't really like!

[@billcolvard]

When my boyfriend (who had never been to France before) and I were in Paris back in January, he asked me on our second day there "wherere are all the fat people." He's rail-thin, and I have the dad bod, and here in the rural US where we live, I'm the norm and he is an outlier. But in Paris, he was the norm. I told him there weren't too many American tourists in January, and there'd be more fat people in July. I agree with you about the fresh food. I firmly believe that a lot of American obesity is caused by processed foods.

[@bysscanna]

im half moroccan but my dad is American and I grew up in the US, so its very interesting to see both cultures be seen regarding food in my life

[@mrs.bdaycare5530]

We went to Paris in March for 6 days. The quality of food was exceptional and I ate whatever I wanted to eat and we walked everywhere I go back home. I didn’t game that 1 pound. I can’t wait to go back.

[@alliterationUK]

I'm Latina/Hispanic but live in Scotland. My parents were shocked at how British people often feed their children a different dinner very early, put them to bed super early and then eat their actual dinner later with their spouse or partner. The one who feeds the kid will often finish off the kids' leftovers and gain weight, and then complain when the kids wake up at 5am. Needless to say, we didn't do that with our children! I make a few salads and two soups on Sundays so lunch is easy and bake fresh bread a few times a week. Butter is very expensive here now but easy to make yourself.

[@AkA-sw7rl]

The French women I know eat next to nothing during the day but when they go out with friends, colleagues etc. they do aaaallllll the courses wine and extra cream with the dessert and they behave as if that’s their usual behaviour towards food style „ I eat everything, I am not complicated, I am so cool and relax I just enjoy life“ and I applaud. Next day: tiny to no breakfast green salad for lunch half a cookie „regime“ as „goûter“ in the afternoon and 100g of fish for dinner. 😂 everyone has their own idea of „balance“ I guess

[@Hoid.]

Weird. I am a French woman, surrounded by other (thin) french women at work. And at lunch we eat normally 🤷🏻‍♀️ Only depends on how good the cafeteria is that day I guess. We also never skip afternoon snack.

[@stargirl33343]

@@Hoid. This is good to know! I have always heard that French women do not snack, but I know I would not be able to go from 12:30 until 8pm without a substantial healthy snack in between. Always wondered how the French did it!

[@Hoid.]

@@stargirl33343 I have to precise that it depends on the person. For some people, snacking in between meals is non existent. For the rest of us, it's usually not a very substantial afternoon snack. Usually something small with a coffee (or tea). But we do snack on apples or bananas when we get hungry. And when I get home, I definitely snack on bread!

[@mikaelmoss1233]

What I noticed (but that’s only my personal observation) French people are just small. They are not really having wide bone structure, never seen them with massive calves or tights, which I am seeing a lot in Slavic countries, and I don’t mean fat people there. Same for most of Portuguese (I’m living in Portugal now)

[@stargirl33343]

@@Hoid. Interesting! Is the same true for very active people? For instance, I walk 7-10k steps per day and do moderate-high intensity weight lifting 4x a week. I assume that is maybe not as popular in France as it is in the states? Also cannot blame you, bread is amazing.

[@kueller917]

The peer pressure can definitely be huge. I've gained a bit of weight recently which combined with being really tall has made clothes shopping hell. But when I visited the US it wasn't so bad, even the UK wasn't too bad. And also having friends who were bigger in their youth and what that meant for their school lives. It can be rough. I also grew up eating a lot of home cooked which was really a blessing. And it really taught me to eat different things.

[@barrysteven5964]

Can you explain what you mean when you say it was so bad when you visited the US? In what way?

[@kueller917]

@barrysteven5964 oops I meant "wasn't"

[@MrBlaxjax]

It’s true that French mealtimes are exactly on time. I used to go to France a lot and frankly I was astonished by the food consumption. It was a bit like whatever us brits were advised not to eat the French ate loads of it. Red meat, butter and especially cheese. And the national motto is if in doubt pour in more cream. And then there’s all the saucisson, sausages and I won’t exaggerate as the French also do also eat a lot of vegetables often cooked in butter, French fries ( with steak, the national dish). A lot of soup ( usually with cream!). Charcuterie and anyway. Yeah. Most of it pretty delicious much of it not specially ‘healthy’. And as for sweet pastries. They are lovely but in fact the French really don’t eat many and I reckon it’s because they are quite pricey. Ordinary middling people can only afford this stuff once a week or less. I just want to make this observation. In the uk we used to be skinny too. What did we eat? Bacon cooked in lard, fried eggs cooked in lard. Chips( French fries in the English fashion) probably cooked in lard. Full cream milk, cheese. Sunday roast dinners Yes there were a few veggies and a lot less fast food/ supermarket ready meals. But the brits started getting fatter almost from the moment that government dieticians began to advise that we cut down on fat eggs, red meat, and replace it with carbs. So everyone stuffs their face with pizza and pasta and starchy vegetables. Because that is the dietary advice. It’s probably wrong. All that starch was avoided by previous generations as being somehow substandard, fattening and low in nutrients. Can someone please explain how those dieticians are still even in employment? Oh yes salads in France are actually tasty as they do often contain eggs, bits of tuna or liver and plenty of olive oil. In the uk you’re expected to subsist on salad made with lettuce, maybe a bit of pepper and low fat dressing. No wonder people give up and reach morosely for the chocolate biscuits.

[@jj.1412]

50 years or so ago in North America we were smaller too- but many jobs were farmers/labourers & got food down the road at a local farm.. then along came processed foods, larger portions & a sedentary lifestyle.

[@sarahlongstaff5101]

As far as eating times are concerned-in the US this is because of the erosion of workers rights here as compared to France. Many people have unpredictable work schedules with random assigned “lunch” at weird times of day. Often workers only get 30 minutes to shove food in. It is definitely unhealthy. And for children it’s very similar-sports matches are scheduled during dinner time or even close to bedtime. It’s very hard to have a normal routine here. And it’s not good. I don’t know why my fellow citizens put up with it.

[@priyar.6732]

I wonder about the evening sports also. Why not just after school ?

[@surlespasdondine]

Also bread in Europe, especially France, is not the same as the bread they eat in the States. For any lovers of the film Ratatouille: you recognize good bread by it's crust🤓

[@LucileHR]

Great reference haha

[@ladymacbethofmtensk896]

Bread that crackles on the outside and bounces on the in inside...

[@surlespasdondine]

@@ladymacbethofmtensk896 yes!

[@bigmacntings7451]

@@ladymacbethofmtensk896 oooooh yes.....

[@nicolechafetz3904]

Thank you so much. This is a great video on the culture of France. I studied French for five years in American school, but I’ve never been to France. All almost all of this is new information to me! And actually makes me feel that your culture superior to mind by far.

[@iritklinger499]

Want to thank you so much! I watched your very good videos and bought your amazing map before going to Paris for our second time. It was so helpful and the recommendations were exactly what we like and looked for. Thanks to your map our visit was so much better than the first one and we enjoyed Paris so much! ❤❤

[@LucileHR]

Oh that is so sweet! I'm so happy to read that my map helped, I put a lot of work into it, so this means a lot!!

[@Phiapc]

This is what I miss the most about living in Venezuela, we had such an immigration wave from Italy, France, Spain, and Portugal and it influenced the culture in the best way possible, there we all used to buy the bread, cheese, charcuterie, and veggies literally every day fresh, now I am living in Colombia which is more influenced by the US and my gosh how I miss getting freshly baked bread and desserts 😔

[@isagrace4260]

You made very good points! I e noticed this while working in France. One thing I’ll add is I think the natural body type of many French people is also very very lean, not only in fat but also muscle. Obviously you can see this in women but I’m mostly struck by how noticeable it is among the men compared to other countries

[@LucileHR]

I have noticed that too when compared to the US where everyone has played a sport growing up!

[@isagrace4260]

Yes and also the aesthetic ideal has always been a bit different in the US. For instance, in general, women « should » look more like Sports Illustrated models and men « should » look like even more muscular versions of Greek gods. So it’s also unrealistic pressure, just a different version of it 😂 I think in the 1930s-60s there was more similarities between the US and (generally) European beauty ideals

[@do2170]

@@isagrace4260 It implies that those aesthetic ideals are different in the US? Different how?

[@beatapogorzelska1241]

I've watched a few similar videos and the key rule is that the French are great at masking how little they really eat.Sweet breakfast -why not 300kcal lunch a biiiig bowl of leaves with a little bit of everything and a few drops of dressing , some bread with a microscope to see that bread , then tea -dark chocolate -a small piece and that's it and tadam , ladies and gentlemen DINNER the one and only decent meal eaten for 3 hours. Grand total 1500 kcal for mesdames and 2000 for messieurs looking like an all day feast.

[@grgtzm4837]

Funny comment 😀 More seriously, the officialy recommend "average daily amount of calories" is 2000kcal. As it is an average for all people, it is more specifically 1800 to 2200 for women of working age and 2400 to 2600 for men of working age. It is a little bit less for the chidren and the elderly. You make it seem like we are starving ourselves, I assure you, we are not 😉 And yes, I know, I am that fun at partys... 🙄 Cheers

[@monicacreator3168]

Aren't the rates of anorexia and bulimia super high in France?

[@jademusic1211]

​@@grgtzm4837I could never eat 1800 calories a day without putting on weight.😩💔 I'm not elderly or a child, but middle aged. The guidelines are kinda ridiculous and need to take height, age and activity level into account. It's not uncommon to need less than the recommendation.❤

[@josefpoukine]

don't take this chick as benchmark. I personally eat a ton and don't count calories and stay in shape. But then I have a super fast metabolism.

[@surlespasdondine]

A friend's French mom gave him a scale for Christmas-very subtle message😅

[@LucileHR]

Oh no, that's totally something that a French parent would do lol

[@reyjay1965]

How incredibly rude. The French mom obviously has no manners.

[@surlespasdondine]

@@reyjay1965 this is normal and even seen as funny in France. You are measuring it with your own cultural bias.

[@reyjay1965]

@@surlespasdondine Nope, no cultural bias, just good manners. I have French relatives and they agree, this is rude.

[@surlespasdondine]

@@reyjay1965 Just saying what is considered as polite or rude can be relative and depend on your viewpoint which can be informed by where you are from.. There are so many examples of this.

[@jcasillas78]

Great video! Although I grew up in the states I've always made 90% of my meals from scratch. Taking the time to cook for yourself is not only fun but I think more about what I'm eating and where it comes from than I would if I just ordered out.

[@LucileHR]

Totally agree with you!

[@clareinnes2048]

Ahh - how you make me long for Paris! Such a wonderful city and a gift to the world.

[@sarahjaye4117]

I miss it

[@pjalexandra]

Just home from France and missing the food, among other things. My household also focuses on quality, taste, nutrition. But it's harder to source that here in Canada. I put a lot of work in to do it, where in France it was just around the corner usually, as the video says. In North America, our systems tend to privilege the success of 'Big Food' or 'Big Agriculture' rather than local, fresh, and tasty.

[@LucileHR]

Love reading your perspective!

[@AtHomeWithAlex]

Did you see the difference between your fruit loop cereal from Kellogg and ours here in the states? It’s infuriating.

[@pjalexandra]

@@AtHomeWithAlex no I missed that! Did not spend much time in that aisle at the grocery store--can you share what is the difference?

[@michellechouinard4958]

This is refreshing. People SHOULD be honest and tell you if you've gained weight. It's so horrible when everyone sees it, but they don't tell you, and you don't realize it yourself. Then finally you see a photo of yourself and you're like, "WHAT?!" Peer pressure isn't always bad, and shame is actually a really good motivator for modifying behavior.

[@jean-loupdesbordes4833]

Part of the "healthy" aspect of French and probably more broadly Mediterranean meals is undoubtedly freshness but also variety. It is traditional in France but also in Italy and a little in Spain too. We have a wide variety of quality and fresh products which are enough to live without artificial intake (vitamins, proteins, etc.). It is for this reason that the dietetics trade at the beginning of the 20th century was always less successful than in the Nordic and Eastern countries, restricted to a much narrower range of products.

[@GimaVergara]

Great video. The quality is so much better in Paris. And go Bears! Love seeing a Bears mug in Paris.

[@LucileHR]

Thank you for watching! And Bear Down!! We were in London for the Bears-Jags game two weeks ago :)

[@IslandGirl40]

Bravo! J'adore ta vidéo! Très informative et intéressante! Love your video. Very informative & interesting! ❤❤

[@oliverqueen5883]

All I have for breakfast is fresh air, 2-4 pieces of bread + fruit sounds insanely much to me, not little 😂

[@AndreaCinnamondCreative]

I have been in Paris, London and Amsterdam and I used the Airalo eSIM and it was brilliant!! I highly recommend it!!

[@LucileHR]

Happy you love it too!

[@surlespasdondine]

As a fellow European I remember seeing (when youtube was still fairly new) a video of an American who proudly announced she made sweet potato fries "from scratch" - I was so confused. Over time I learned Americans use this expression a lot and started understanding that what is normal for us in Europe is not necessarily in the States. With the example of sweet potato fries I remember thinking : "what other way is there?" We don't ever say anything akin to "from scratch" because that's just how you prepare food here. Normal. I'm also surprised when so many people ask for the recipe under videos that show you a meal idea. For me and many people who are used to cooking, that's not necessary. Even little kids know basic kitchen skills over here. Anyway it's an interesting cultural difference!

[@LucileHR]

I love your comment and I really find that fascinating too! I don't even consider what I do on the daily "cooking" because it's super basic haha

[@ladymacbethofmtensk896]

It is funny how something that can give one bragging rights in the States is nothing special on the Continent.

[@DrewJmsn]

I recently returned from 2 weeks in France, went directly to Lyon where our friends live then a roadtrip to their home in northern Normandy and back. Coming back home to 'Murica, i was determined to eat more like we did in France and be more active, but alas it seems nearly impossible here. If you can find quality food here, it isn't affordable, and not many places in USA are truly walkable like in France. It's got me thinking about retiring to Normandy when the time comes (ain't too far off) but not confident I could learn French language well enough to be functional. 😛

[@thepugdoc3270]

Love your videos Lucile. I agree with everything you said. The food in France is phenomenal. There is one thing that I have noticed after traveling to Paris multiple times, and that is that a lot of people smoke there. There have been studies that show that smoking works in the brain to suppress smoker's appetite.

[@grgtzm4837]

Hello from a frenchman, born and raised in Paris (or close to it). Even though Lucille seems to come from southern France, I can totally relate to this video, everything is on point. Concerning tobacco, as a smoker (bad habit, I know...) I have looked into it and it appears that nicotine contains molecules that connect to the same "neuro-receptors" as sugar. Therefore, when you consume nicotine it becomes almost impossible to be addicted to sugar simultaneously. Good for diet control but not so good in many other ways... Cheers

[@jessicaevans2564]

Wow, quite interesting.​@@grgtzm4837

[@Durga695]

So true, the French pride themself on such good quality produce, meat and cheese. And yes, it was the law, a midi on mange!!! By 20:00 hr dinner is eaten. There was no snacking, or maybe a petite friandise at 4 hr, la goutee. So yes eating times are very structureed.

[@Dracomies]

The real reason is that not everyone drives a car there. If you watch the video, you'll notice that most people are walking. It's a similar situation in Tokyo-when walking is a regular part of life, it naturally helps people stay healthier compared to relying on cars for everything.

[@ayhay4686]

Love the name Lucile, it has this middle age France ring to it. We dont hear it that often anymore.

[@NicaVero_]

Lucile, your skin looks so healthy and beautiful! I know you focus more on facials and believe that inner well-being shows up on the skin and I also agree. Can you please share with us your skincare routine, what products you use and what is that tinted SPF that looks amazing on your skin🤩

[@magnificus8581]

My wife and i just visited Paris and Normandy from the US a couple weeks ago. Thank you for all your helpful tips!

[@LucileHR]

Happy it helped :)

[@LivingBobby]

French food is the best 😋

[@LucileHR]

:D

[@valsblueforrest2961]

And Italian ❤️

[@_marloesvh]

You are BRAVE for cutting that tomatoe that way 😂

[@tbam994]

I've never seen anyone slice (more like saw through with a large dull knife) a tomato like that.. ridiculous

[@Wnaco]

Actually in my country,we usually cut tomatoes like that 😅

[@annette_164]

I’m glad I found your channel😊 I love your videos/vlogs!

[@renatolabadan4038]

The social aspect of the meal helps you digest better, perhaps, as you take your time eating rather than consuming in a short period of time. And to a certain extent, there is more enjoyment of the meal itself instead of it being a consumption activity.

[@LucileHR]

I agree with you!

[@jocelynburton7149]

As an aside, as a Chicago Bears fan, I approve the mug in this video. 🐻⬇️

[@sabrinabeardmore730]

Thank you for taking me on another wonderful trip to Paris.A Big Hi to you and Bobby hope you all are doing well.have a good day.

[@LucileHR]

Thank you Sabrina, have a good day too!

[@sabrinabeardmore730]

@@LucileHR you too thanks for the reply.

[@chrismathis4162]

They eat Whole Foods, smaller portions, and they walk a lot. Americans eat processed food, huge portions, and ride instead of walk.

[@AtHomeWithAlex]

Our infrastructure was designed to not be walkable. The history of getting rid of public transport in favor of automobiles, development of suburbia, and lack of side walks is criminal.

[@Remybrook]

Love that bowl you were preparing salad in.

[@gwenlumppio1753]

When I grew up everything was fresh, we had a huge garden, picked every kind of wild berries & all our meat was local vension, grouse, fish. My mom made everything from scratch. As an adult & raising my kids, we did the same. Meals not as easy to be consistent times due to me working shift work as a nurse & 4 kids being involved in sports! Also have lived a very active lifestyle. We live in rural America & this is not unusual! We've been to France 4 times & sometimes have been surprised at the size of portions..way more than we can eat!

[@LucileHR]

Wow I love that! Wild berries, local meat and a huge garder, that seems like heaven!

[@mikeazeka1753]

As an American who worked for a Paris headquartered company, I agree with the many reasons mentioned. A big factor is French banned GMO grains, hormone laced butter, milk, cheese, yogurt, and eat minimal packaged junk food.

[@bigmacntings7451]

oh yeah french mealtimes are absolutely sacred!!! not a million miles away from the brits at breakfast..generally a very light meal(unless doing a seriously active job or seriously drunk!), but lunchtimes in france are soooo nice.very relaxed even for working days it is expected to take an hour and a half for lunch(way different to uk),and same for dinner. Like you said it's a social event, not a pit-stop. Also the quality of food is way higher in europe compared to US. US eats 3 times as much, but EU is very much more natural food,less additives.

[@anandsharma7430]

This whole structured eating business requires sane working hours, easy commutes to work and a lot of public transport. You can't be working 10-12 hours like Americans and eating healthy home cooked meals socially. Unions and workers rights are at the foundation of healthy eating and healthy living. I believe European companies don't allow you to work after 5 pm or 6 pm (whatever the 8-9 hours time limit is). Contrast this with America and also the cars-only, big-roads-only system with poor American public transport availability.

[@luluandmeow]

The problem these days is that there are so many addicting foods (salty, sugary, fatty) that we become hooked on them and you cannot eat in a balanced, moderate way. The way to outsmart these junky processed food is to avoid eating them as much as possible and not bringing them into the house. These non-profit channels really helped me: Physicians Committee, Chef AJ, Nutmeg Notebook, Ryan Adams Slim and Sustain.

[@FalcomScott312]

Good evening Lucile, I would love to try out some French food while I'm visiting Paris, France 🇫🇷 next year in the fall! Love ❤️ watching your videos & they're very helpful. Thank you 😊

[@LucileHR]

Thank you very much for watching :)

[@bradw2k]

Thanks Lucile, this was clarifying ... I had the same questions from some of your other videos. 😆 PS I was just in Paris and loved the Parc Clichy-Batignolles as you recommended, merci!

[@LucileHR]

Oh so nice to read that you tried my recommendations!!

[@minime7375]

Similar food culture differences except I’m Romanian and I lived in Australia (similar food culture as in US). Our meal times are about the same as in France, I’m used to dinner at 8-9 and people in Aus eat dinner at like 4-5 and they do takaway a LOT. Portion sizes are huge by European standards, the single plates they use in pubs and restaurants there are actual serving plates here, portions are about 3x what I’m used to. But I find their food quality to be lower by any standard (except size) compared to Europe.

[@LucileHR]

Thanks for sharing your perspective, I love Romanian food btw!

[@minime7375]

@@LucileHR Thank you❤ I think our traditional cuisine is too heavy (pork pork and more pork) but similarly to the French we have about the same meal times and we do a lot of homecooking. It was fun watching you and Bobby experiencing some of our food but you were thankfully spared some of the really heavy dishes☺️

[@niewieder99]

Lol, this is why we’re fat in Australia 😅

[@dorotaberner5380]

oh its such a wonderful topic. would love to see more of your everyday eating habits💛💛💛

[@LucileHR]

I have a what I eat in a week type of video in the works :)

[@BunnyWatson-k1w]

At 0:26. The French and others in Europe eat fresh food. There is little processed and fast food like you find in America, UK, and Canada. Even fruit and vegetables taste different in France. The bread and pastries are for one day only and lack any preservatives like in other western countries. I would rank Italy and France as having the best tasting food in Europe. The others are none too shabby either, like Portugal and Spain.

[@davidkasquare]

What a nice and informative video!

[@anatomicic1992]

Obesity is a global public health problem that continues to grow. Over the last 25 years, obesity has grown in France, especially among youth. In 2020, one in two adults was dealing with overweight or obesity in the country. Indeed, 47 percent of French adults were overweight, of which 17 percent suffered from obesity.

[@fredericdehohenstaufen7874]

Unfortunately, it's very related to one's social class. In Paris, the only obeses will be 50+ years executive men who don't care because they have all social recognition and power. The ratio between obesity in the more modest decile is 3 to 1 to the upper-class. Only 5% of people with a PHD are obse, 25% amongst people who stopped school before college. Poor people go to supermakets, buy the cheapest food, which is also horrendous in terms of quality and health... It's really problematic indeed. She's clearly talking about the average parisian from high/middle-class who earns at leat twice the average revenue.

[@anatomicic1992]

@@fredericdehohenstaufen7874 Thanks for your thoughtful response-it’s true that socioeconomic factors play a huge role in obesity rates, and the disparities you mentioned are an important part of the conversation. That said, videos like this one, claiming it’s 'so easy to be thin in France,' are incredibly damaging. They perpetuate a romanticized and false stereotype that completely ignores the rising obesity rates and the systemic challenges many people face, especially those in lower socioeconomic brackets. Simplifying these issues into a Parisian fantasy does more harm than good and overlooks the real public health crisis in France.

[@anastasia10017]

I love how French people act as if nobody in the USA has ever eaten or even heard of a salad.

[@eddieg6436]

I live in L.A. and (of course) everyone eats salads, sushi, green smoothies, etc. …….But I know people in Montana, and Idaho and they ALL call vegetables “scary stuff”. They eat processed, white flour, white sugar foods, NO vegetables, (their veggies are white potatoes)……it’s absolutely awful!!

[@surlespasdondine]

small Lucile pics🥰🥰🥰 I love seeing how people looked as kids.

[@LucileHR]

:)

[@MissBabalu102]

I wish there were more French people in America. I'm half French & Celtic, and your videos feel familiar. I'm thin naturally and naturally follow this lifestyle, I think it's partly ancestry. It's almost that we get slim-shamed in America, I'm healthy but so many have told me I'm too thin, always by fat people. Jealousy is a bubble. Although 8:00 PM for dinner is late, unless going out. I'm going to eat at exactly 12:30 now, see how long that lasts.

[@MattNav]

Couldn't agree more with all the points you brought up in the video (Brit living in the PACA region for 20 years). Bravo pour ce clip nickel 👍🏻😎

[@LucileHR]

Merci !!

[@aar9142]

My experience of 2 years in Paris is a bit different. Yes, there’s a variety of fruits and vegetables in supermarkets - but in big chains they are sometimes of questionable quality, not having much taste or being plain rotten. I was so confused when on occasion I could not find a bag of shallots that had not been sent to veggie heaven on the wings of fruit flies. Primeurs (greengrocer’s) are not always at your doorstep - you need to find one that will not charge insane prices, and markets are usually open 8am-1pm, so if you can only shop in the evening after work - that’s not very convenient. Indeed most Parisians I know are great at living off the calorie intake that’s way less than mine - normally there’s zero breakfast, salads or sandwiches for lunch and then dinner as the main meal of the day around 8-9pm. I found it not working for me personally. But many of them do stay rather slender, sure. Besides, you’ll see people in Paris of all shapes and sizes of course, but so many white French women do amaze me with their conventionally considered beauty and physique .

[@BunnyWatson-k1w]

My friend lived in Paris for 15 years. He gained 80 pounds in the first 18 months. He used to buy an original style baguette and a 2-3 big pieces of cheese each day on the way home from work. Plus he do the three hour restaurant lunches with coworkers once per week. And he would eat at restaurants on weekends. The sauces were dangerous because of the cream and butter. Plus he went through five bottles of wine per week. Once he figured you can't go full throttle like this and do some exercise he took the weight off. Having said this, the French don't have huge portions at a time. Plus they also walk a lot much like people in other European countries. They manage to keep the weight down unlike people from Canada or the U.S.

[@ConstantCompanion]

This is a very good video. Americans used to have similar eating habits fresh food was important and they were concerned about where it came from. There was no snacking. You ate at mealtime. We've always had dinner earlier than you but even then, no snacking after dinner. Treats or what are considered food now. I honestly think your food quality is far superior to us so you don't require as much. We end up with a bunch of garbage calories just to get the nutrients we need. Even then we're all taking a ton of vitamins. The food Supply here is corrupt. But even so? There's nothing wrong with trying. I hope you make more videos like this one. Got any good recipes?

[@SanSantable]

Food in France doesn’t have strictly calorie count on the label too. I used to live in Sydney and they strictly put calories on every item, even the fresh bread, grilled chicken or precut fruit. But i rarely see obesity people. There are certain food that taste better, veg skin and fruit skin is thicker than my country and Australia. So i have to chew abit longer 😅😅😅

[@McGuire40695]

I saw the thumbnail, and I thought "that has to be Paris." I was there back in April of this year after spending a few days in London. The food was so fresh and amazing compared to foods here in America. 2:51 I also love the more active lifestyle that Europeans have, and I walked in that exact pavilion! Overall, Paris was a beautiful city even with all of the setup they had going on for the Olympics

[@dadadapna]

I am from the US and so are my parents. My mom made home made dinner most nights and we all ate dinner at the same time most nights. She rarely let me get fast food as a kid (this is when McDonald's was like super huge). At my work places, no one ever wants to eat lunch together lol.

[@surlespasdondine]

When the two guys are eating by the Seine, I spotted a package of "Comté" I think🤪 my daughter's favourite cheese!

[@LucileHR]

Yessss, comté is the best :)

[@stargirl33343]

I have thought a lot about this since I went to Paris in 2021. As an American, what struck me as incomprehensible was how my food allergies (actual allergies, not intolerances) did not bother me in France. I have a master's degree in the life sciences, and I still cannot explain it. I think it must be related to the genetic modifications we allow in our self-grown and imported food that are banned in France. Also, bread and butter would make me so hungry if I only had that for breakfast. I would absolutely love to eat that, and may just make a slice as side with dinner :).

[@irinaf1eogende928]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts on French food and meals. I watched your previous video on what you eat in a day and it left me a bit confused 😅 she's so skinny and yet she eats so much sweets, i thought. How's that even possible? !😮 now it looks real: eating only 3 meals a day, cook at home, high-quality products eating a lot of veggies and fruits.. 👍 Could you, please, make a video on how French parents teach their kids to eat 'adult' food and about eating culture in general?

[@LucileHR]

Yes, those videos are food tours, so they are only special meals :)

[@etienneromano2600]

Hello, even if this comment was not adressed to me will try to help. In France, a majority of parents are preparing food during the " diversification" when the baby is no more eating only " milk ". During this period, often they make their children taste a lot of different tastes ( i.e cinnamon with butternut purée). In France kids are going at school at 3, and I would say 60 70% of the kids eat at school. They have the obligation to make the menus validated by nutricionists, they are obliged to not have the same meal during couple of weeks, a certain content of organic, local,.... Parents of children that eat at home are basically preparing food for them. Yes there are " ready meals" on supermarket but this is like exception in France ( hurry at work, work on the new house with few equipment,...). It is very common in France that the entire family is eating the same meal on week dinners and all meals in week end. My children ate the same than my wife and I since they are like 3. Of course you adapt by adding less spices, salt, fat,... We eat all together and kids participate to set the table and clean it ( few when they are young, but they must help). Of course they get treats some time. Candies ( very few, we are really cautious on processed sugar food here ), nuggets, fries and so on. Basically when us adults have something fun because we do have guests for example they do have as well. Around 4.00 in France there is the " goûter " which is a small " snack" for children ( biscuits, fruit, sugary anyway), and not for adults. This is the only différence. Kids spend a lot of time outdoor in France in general. At school, after school, on week ends. Now I noticed in France that things are changing in restaurants. Until now almost all the " kids meal' were beef or nuggets with fries.... now the logic is to have a smaller portion of a course of the " regular" menu. Often my daughters ask to help to prepare foos and to pick things themselves at the market. Sometimes I am told what I should prepare for dinner 😂. Hoping it helps

[@danvo1571]

what i think about “cleaner” food (i don’t like to use this term because chemicals are found everywhere) i think the same as you about the additives and ingredients added to processed foods, that are so much common unfortunately in the US (I’m Mexican and I have been to the US, we also have a eating disorders over here but I don’t think they are the same as in the US) and one main reason food in the US is different from the rest of the world is the industry producing massive tons of food and products non stop, and therefore they add so many additives, many ingredients with different purposes like thickeners, sweeteners, salts, gums, food coloring, a percent of modified food flavoring, food preservatives for longer shelf life, and so many more ingredients, that doses are not toxic but in the long run they harm the gut health, and one big part of losing weight, aging slowly, feeling more energized and light, lowering risks of cancers, is having a healthy gut microbiome, and americans unfortunately don’t include whole foods, they don’t have to pay for organic foods all the time, but fiber should be included in their daily diet and so micro and macronutrients; besides the awful food and dietary education. Maybe butter is different in France because you can find 100% natural only butter and salt in your local store while in the US lots of butters have hydrogenated oils, preservatives, etc. And that’s not good for the body, heart and guts. It can be so hard to find local stores in the us because cities are huge, they need cars to move around their cities while in france is really nice that you can walk to your stores! same thing in Mexico, you can walk to the store and markets and get fresh farm produce and goods, the bad thing about diets in Mexico is that people eat lots of caloric food that don’t burn everyday; i would say that’s the dark side of culture. But definitely in America the industry is incredibly harmful, comparing it to France or Europe.

[@Waldemarvonanhalt]

You walk a lot because it's accessible. The USA isn't walkable. That's it.

[@David-e7d2m]

Great video! Helps me a lot.

[@pazzariatv]

Bonjour! Oui! Bien sûr! Tres bon! My very healthy answer to this video, if you are in America, is Trader Joe’s. They don’t use any artificial ingredients, are extremely international and totally delicious. I also love the fact that sweets are used only for special occasions/once in a while. That’s my philosophy. You should know that dark chocolate does have a lot of antioxidants, however.

[@Haupialani]

I make homemade bread or get a baguette from the store and I use real butter (no fake butter like Smart Balance or I Can't Believe it's not Butter). I use imported butter like Ireland's Kerrygold, Finlandia, and German butter. I gave up on mayonnaise in a jar and started making my own - so easy and fun to make. I love baking pies, cakes and muffins but I always share with my family and office friends because I'd probably be a blimp if I ate them all myself.

[@santostv.]

Very similar to Portugal , although I think our portion are bigger but I’m not sure and nowadays a lot of young people don’t know how to cook. 7h-8h-breakfast usually coffee with bread or a pastry or cereals ~10h snack 12-14h-launch usually a warm meal 16h-17h- snack 8h-9h-dinner usually warm meal 24h-ceia not everyone do it Fast food is a occasional thing although nowadays some young people do it more often. Basic Table manner are important but not standardized. Eating together is also very important to foster a community Commenting on weight is common especially grandmas😂

[@iamthesword1180]

Basically almost every taste is an aquired one, so if you are brought up on "kids meals", you're palate doesn't develop during the formative phase and it requires much more of an effort to get it later.

[@trilok7961]

I think most people outside US, AU, NZ, CA homecook most of their meals. Not just for the sake of health, but economy. Alarmingly, this is something that has changed quite a bit in urban India, where I live. And there has been a corresponding rise in obesity, diabetes, and heart disease.

[@LucileHR]

Yes! It’s also so much cheaper to cook at home in France!

[@pdterre5496]

Interesting observations. I recall my holiday in Nice when I had lunch where the locals were.The next table from me was occupied with two ladies in their 40´s in business/office outfits. For starters they shared a bowl of oysters and the main course was "steak avec frites". Both were slender. I left before their dessert...In many Continental European countries you don´t see the endless shelves of sweets and sugary drinks in grocery stores that we have in the Nordic countries and in Britain.This was my teenage childrens observation from Spain and Italy; when it is not offered in the shop you don´t think about wanting it. Most people in the Latin countries don´t eat snacks. Don´t know for sure, just the impression I have got.

[@gerdar]

i love your video about France and french people so much ✨

[@lohphat]

It's the hidden sugars in the processed American "diet" and lack of activity.

[@LucileHR]

Absolutely! There's hidden sugars in so many random products!!

[@isagrace4260]

Portion sizes and snacking also

[@Antony-ng9yj]

Hidden sugars, really! Don't you understand the roll sugar plays in the body? It's the number two source of energy. The number one is fats. The more animal fats and olive oils you add to your diet, the less all those ' hidden' sugars matter. Didn't you hear Lucille say she eats a lot more of them.

[@lohphat]

@@Antony-ng9yj That is literally incorrect. Arterial plaques are not caused by excess fats but by oxidized LDL caused by excess sugars and insulin. There are enough sources by University MDs and data to document this. I eat a low-carb, high fat diet and my arteries are clean (after a CAC CT scan). I've lost 30pounds nad my a1c is now back to normal. There is no need to consume sugars, your liver can synthesize them from fats as they're digested. That's why people can do just fine on 7+ day fasting as they're running on ketones and whatever glucogen their livers produce from their fat stores.

[@Antony-ng9yj]

@@lohphat ketovore - aren't you. You said low carb and high fat in the same sentence. Glycogen is the giveaway word. I'm not wrong about sugar - as a high fat consumer you have learned all those goodies you used to eat are now a bit 'yucky'. You failed to mention seed oils, you know shortening without the final 'hardening' process - which is stuck into a bottle and called healthy. Maybe you should find other MDs to listen to - the ones that are dissenters. I do not have to agree with you, I agree with Lucille.

[@draum8103]

Cuisine and food culture in France is so damn good! The quality of the vegetable and meat products I think is the real basis, this is why French are very opposed to things like pesticides and GMOs (in general). Then the idea of making simple yet good dishes at home is very good. Americans tend to eat way, way more fast food, which does not help for a lot of people. There is also the tradition of telling someone when they are overweight. I was eating dinner with a French family once, and the father slapped the bread out of his son's hand and say 'you don't need any extra bread because you're overweight!' lol. That could be considered mean, but it was funny and to be honest, true.

[@defender4004]

2:11 Don’t say “portions are small (in France) compared to the rest of the world” rather say “compared to the US”. I’m living in Germany and I’ve lived in the UK and your breakfast would easily last me until lunch as well. Of course there are bigger “breakfasts” but they are rather late breakfasts or brunches and then I, as well as the people I know, will skip lunch.

[@cann9155]

Awwh cute pics. Lucile, Merci for setting the record straight on a real French diet & not the Movie/TV/#Netflix/or instagram version.💖💖💝 'All things work together for the good'...#moving💃🕺 walking 🚶‍♀ biking 🚴‍♂ #Manners ♥#Balance

[@LucileHR]

Thank you for watching :)

[@pocphotocompany]

Everything is supersized here in the US. And we eat a lot of unhealthy, high caloric snacks with lots of preservatives, sugars and other crap.

[@LucileHR]

It's a shame fresh food is not as available everywhere!

[@ladymacbethofmtensk896]

There is one thing that the French have in common with Americans when it comes to food: Neither really knows where the American diet culture actually comes from, and it is actually much older than anyone knows, with roots in very early New England, when meals, like everything else, had to be completely utilitarian and give absolutely no pleasure, and at that time, the idea was to eat as quickly as possible so one could get back to more fulfilling work. European visitors were quick to notice throughout the early decades of the Republic how Americans gobbled their food. In the 1820's, in response to the Industrial Revolution drastically increasing the food supply, especially of very elite ingredients, Sylvester Graham codified the Puritan diet ethic, and his views formed the foundation of every brand of American diet activism since.