Book "French Women Don't Get Fat"

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-10-2004
Book "French Women Don't Get Fat"
5
Mon, 02-21-2005 - 11:21am

I bought it and loved it. It's written by the CEO of a French champagne corporation and she shares the secrets of French women and how they stay so thin.

She talks about journaling food intake down to the last morsel. This is to start until good eating habits have been developed.

She gives sample menus for each season because she emphasizes eating according to what's in season so that the food is the freshest and best tasting.

I've noticed according to her menus (and they are according to how she ate growing up in France), the following attributes:
1. Have a hearty breakfast (but not huge). Cereal (hot or cold), bread, fruit, coffee or tea, yogurt
2. Eat a fruit with every meal (including dinner). Eat up to 2 vegetables with lunch and dinner as well as a serving of protein.
3. She eats dessert with lunch and dinner. It's not what you think. She typically makes it with fresh fruit and will poach it in sweet wine with a teaspoon of sugar and a small scoop of ice cream. Or just a piece of fresh fruit with some cheese.
4. A small piece of bread can be eaten with each meal, but she typically doesn't eat it at more than 1 meal per day.
5. Carbohydrates in the French diet are mostly comprised of fresh fruits and vegetables and dairy such as yogurt. Milk is rarely served with meals.
6. The French drink an immense amount of water as a rule. More than 2 liters a day which is about half a gallon.
7. They walk most of the day, even in the country side. They always take the stairs instead of the escalator or elevator even if it's 20 flights up. You rarely see French women working out in the gym. They may lift small weights as they get older to prevent muscle loss and to build up bone mass. Walking is preferred method of exercise.
8. The pastries and cheeses we often hear about are eaten on special occasions, not on a regular basis.
9. Portions are smaller.
10. Rice and pasta are rarely eaten. Her family served pasta once a week. Potatoes are the main source of heavy carbs.

That's about it. Buy the book. It's sensible and I'll follow it now that I'm crawling out of the winter blues I've been in lately.

Shannon

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-21-2005
Mon, 02-21-2005 - 11:41am

These sound like good principles. I follow many of these just as a result of counting my calories. :)

Kim

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-28-2004
Mon, 02-21-2005 - 12:56pm

Thanks for the info. It was great! I saw the author being interviewed about the book and the most important thing I took away from it was that when they do have dessert, they enjoy it instead of feeling guilty as their chewing! They don't overeat because they enjoy what they eat. I think the feeling of depravity (guilt) is what causes a lot of people to overeat. No guilt, no overeating!

Ginger

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-10-2004
That's totally true. I wish I saw the interview!
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-17-2003
Those look like really great principles. Very similar to what I have heard referred to as the "earth" diet - sticking with foods that occur naturally - nothing processed. I did not see a mention of the alcohol, I am assuming they don't partake of the champaign and wine as much as we invision they do.
iVillage Member
Registered: 11-10-2004
She has one glass of wine or champagne with dinner. If she makes a poached fruit for dessert, she does it in wine or champagne. She's CEO of Clicquot which sells champagne and wine. She does mention quite a bit, but it's not like she guzzles a whole bottle every night.