What French Girls Really Eat

France, a culinary wonderland.

Croissants, macarons, BAGUETTES, coq au vin, ratatouille, vin rouge, ROSÉ.

Whenever I come back from some time abroad, 5 months, 3 months, 2 months, this fall I will be there for 7 my American girls will somehow work into the convo,  “How did you not get fat?!”

Like Is butter a carb, am I right?

Truth is, I never gain weight abroad- and my sister even lost weight the 3 months she studied in Paris.

Lemme tell you how.

The normal French working girl doesn’t eat like that every day. If anything, there just isn’t time. These extravagant meals take hours to prepare. Gourmet meals are often saved for special occasions, eating out, and the weekend. Weekdays are made up of balanced, quick meals.

So what does a busy French girl eat?

Breakfast

On weekends, expect to see croissants, brioche and pain au chocolats. Unfortunately, the French don’t eat much savory food in the morning. Most days breakfast is: fresh fruit, tartine (toasted baguette with butter and jam) and even porridge.

And of course fresh juice, black tea, or Café au Lait- half milk, half coffee !

10am Work Snack

Frenchies get the munchies too. Morning snacks are usually more fruit, an espresso (all workplaces and even universities have coffee vending machines) and possibly a croissant or other pastry.

Lunch

The French have amazing lunch hours! They’re long. Some people bring healthy lunches from home but often times people go out. At little cafés and restaurants you can find quick sandwiches (This healthier one is on multigrain baguette, with mâche and carrotte rappée-grated carrot  ) and quiches. Sometimes coworkers will even go to a restaurant together, it’s pretty great.

4pm Goûter

Goûter (“to taste”), stems from French children coming home from school. TREAT YO SELF to a pastry. Adults can’t seem to let this tradition go either.

8pm Dinner

So let’s jump back to this past week when it was 5:30 and I couldn’t decide what to make…

Enter the French version of easy dinner.

Quiche. Salad. Bread. done.

1. Notice the bread on the table being an American germaphobe, I never put bread straight on the table or *super french* carry it in the crook of my arm. But it’s really common in France.
2. French people LOVE grated carrot on their salads
3. Quiche They take about 30 min to bake and are instant yumminess. I’ve seen all my French friends fall back on this after a long day at work

In winter, they will often have soup as well.

9pm After-Dinner

A square of chocolate. Or a smidge of dessert. (Trust me, every person I’ve ever met has offered me chocolate after noon. They can’t resist)

They call it their petit plaisir (their little pleasure)

French “youth” “millennials” eat this way because it’s in the culture. They look at their healthy parents and grandparents and follow their lead.

Check out what California Girls take in the morning to stay slim

I hate that in the 90’s fat was a sin (lowfat milk and yogurt hardly exist in Europe- trust me, it’s weird). And now, years later Keto diet is the sh!t Fat it up

Nowadays carbs are the devil; but they’re a stable of all human diets ever. I will never quit baguettes.

Meal Prepping sounds like a punishment to the French. French culture emphasizes that eating is an enjoyed activity with variety and quality. And often times these meals are seasonal, French grocery stores rarely carry exotic or out of season produce.

To-Go does not exist in France, you always take time to savor your meal.

What we can learn from the French diet is moderation is key, take time for yourself and your meal, prepare varied, seasonal entrées, and never deprive yourself.

Bisous,

Anne