Americans seem to have a fascination with other countries' diets. Given that the US is one of the most unhealthy countries in the world, it makes sense that we often look abroad for tips on how to eat better.
In particular, France has long been looked to for diet inspiration due to the misconception that French women don't gain weight. The truth, however, is that the French diet and lifestyle does lend itself to a lower obesity rate than America. To figure out why, we took a look at some of the differences between French and American diets to see what we could learn.
SEE ALSO: The 15 biggest differences between French and American parenting
FOLLOW US: INSIDER is on Facebook
Meals are smaller but filling.
Buffets and food comas aren't par for the course in France like they are in America. Instead it's all about smaller, but still filling, meals of meat, vegetables, cheese, and bread.
Eating fast food is much more rare.
A 2012 study found that one in four Americans eat fast food at least once a day. French people, on the other hand, make a priority out of cooking most of their meals at home using predominantly local ingredients.
They avoid distractions at mealtime.
It's not uncommon to find Americans eating a sad lunch at their desk or scarfing down a granola bar in the car. That kind of behavior is kept to a minimum in France. Meals there are free of distractions like TV, driving, or working on your laptop. Mealtime is a social event enjoyed in the company of friends and family.
See the rest of the story at INSIDER
0 Comments