Why are French people so slim? 7 habits to learn from "Les Français"

I often hear comments about French people like "how can French people be so thin while the food is so good"? Here is how.

Make time to seat down to enjoy your meals

French make meal time a priority. They take the time to seat down, usually enjoy an hour lunch break or more; and definitely try to avoid to eat on the go. Meals are also an opportunity to socialise and spend quality time with family, friends or colleagues.

I am often amazed how fast British colleagues finish their meals. I have not even started to enjoy my first bite, that their plate is already empty!

Taking the time to eat means allowing to chew better which helps to have a smoother digestion. Eating slower also presents the side benefit to notice when you are full, and avoid overeating.

Three meals per day

Since childhood, I have the habit to eat at regular times: breakfast around 7:30, lunch around noon and dinner around 19:00. When a kid, we also used to have a gouter around 4 o'clock in the afternoon. My husband is always amazed to see how my family is so strict about having meal times always at about the same time!

Those three meals are usually full meals and French people this way do not snack in between.

Home cooked meals

This is becoming less and less true, but French in general enjoy cooking and avoid processed food. French people like to know what they are eating and where it is coming from. In my family, we were even lucky enough to eat fresh vegetables coming straight from the garden.

Some French people make it a habit to visit the farmers market on Sunday mornings to stock up on fresh local fruits and vegetables for the week. Visit London's farmers markets, and you will not be surprised to hear French spoken around!

Plenty of fruits and vegetables

French food is very rich and diverse. Besides meat, seafood, cheese, pastries, French people eat a lot of fruits and vegetables. This helps to have a diet rich in fibres, ensuring a very good digestion and efficient elimination and hence sustaining a good health.

Eat everything in moderation

Everyday family meals are usually composed of four dishes: starter or soup, main dish, cheese or yoghurt and dessert. This habit allows to eat a wide variety of food and get a balanced meal. French like to enjoy everything in small quantity and prioritize quality ingredients. Less is more!

Enjoy a walk after family meals

French people walk a lot, especially in cities. People living in big cities usually use public transport and do not have a car. This makes you walk or bike everywhere. In my family, it is a ritual to go for a walk after Sunday lunch. This is the best thing you can do to help digestion after the traditional heavy Sunday family lunch.

Savour "l'instant present"

For French people everything does not revolve around work or making money. They like to enjoy simple pleasures of life, like a picnic outdoors with a baguette, some cheese and a nice bottle of wine. Savouring the simple moments, take it slow on the weekend. The art of doing nothing is a way of life!