Transport Yourself To Paris with the French Diet
The Un-diet
The French diet has traveled across the Atlantic and into the houses of North
Americans seeking none other than weight control through rich foods and
exquisite cooking. Many books have been written on the French way of life and
healthy dieting, all pointing out
similar disparities between their lifestyle and ours.
A major difference is our activity level. North America is very spread out, as
such, we rely on cars to get us from ‘A’ to ‘B.’ Conversely, major cities in
Europe are more compact and employ smart public transport systems. The point is,
despite North America's craze with fitness, the French see activity as a means of transport
rather than a hobby or past-time. They walk and take the ‘Metro’ wherever they
go. So practice walking weight loss to
get ‘one step closer’ to the French way of life.
Another major difference is portion size. In a study conducted by the University
of Pennsylvania and CNRS in Paris, 11 French and American restaurants’ portions
were compared. They found that the mean portion size served was 25% less in
Parisian establishments.
Quality over quantity is yet another reason why the French have slimmer
waistlines. They savor each meal and indulge in a buttery croissant and petite
café au lait each morning and still manage to stay slim. They drink wine freely,
they eat dessert and they eat at specific meal times. It’s this traditional
–almost regimented way of life which tends to keep the French healthy and fit.
We would do well to learn from our stylish neighbors' un-diet and savvy eating,
drinking and walking way of life. Bon appétit!
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