The French Eat Carbs and Drink Wine at Every Meal to Stay Healthy

If you are a rational person with even a little knowledge of nutrition, you will run away from the French paradox diet.

It is full of “bad” foods including saturated fats, sugar, and alcohol to name a few.

French don’t give a f*ck about conventions. They do what they want and eat whatever their heart desires.

French devour the foods that we fantasize about without an ounce of guilt. They love butter, cheese, wine, cakes, and pastry.

They eat what they love to their heart's desire, while the rest of us writhe in jealousy because even with this sinfully delicious diet they have a low rate of obesity and heart disease.

This supposed “bad food” keeps them healthy, thin, and disease free.

French paradox diet should be a hoax, but it's not. Several studies prove the efficiency of this wonderful diet.

Here is why the French thrive on pastries while the world battles obesity.

1. They care deeply about food.

French embodies the “YOLO” message better than anyone in the world. They eat whatever their hearts desire. They don’t count the calories because it's meaningless.

You may think that living a liberating life must come with heavy consequences, but that is not the truth.

The French know how to eat freely but they are never reckless. They practice mindful eating with every bite.

The French follow these four eating practices to maintain good health.

The first step to mindful eating

The French thrive on pastries because they have mastered the art of chewing. The French eat slowly. They take their time to chew every delicate morsel.

They eat slowly to extract the last drop of flavor. French eat for taste, so they eat every bite to satisfaction.

They put down their knife and fork and practice the art of stress-free eating.

The only food that you shouldn’t eat

Don’t eat it if it doesn’t taste good.

Taste is the only criteria the French follow. If it tastes good, then you can eat it, if not then leave it.

Moderation is a rule of thumb. You can eat everything you want but in moderation.

The French believe that eating for your happiness is the best way to stay healthy. They eat food for leisure and not survival.

Cooking is not a chore

The French love to cook, for them cooking is an act of love.

Many countries recognize cooking as a chore. But for the French, it is a chance to connect with their loved ones and have a chat over a glass of wine.

“Entertaining is an act of friendship and cooking is an act of love.”

2. French sit down to eat the biggest meal of the day

Lunch is the biggest meal of the day in France. People take time off their work to enjoy a three-course meal most days.

French know how to slow down and eat the food that nourishes both their bodies and soul.

It’s an affair to remember

People get together with their friends and colleagues to chat over lunch.

They take at least 30-minute lunch. They eat like they have all the time in the world.

Connecting and talking over a glass or two of wine makes lunch the most interesting meal.

Long lunch long life

The French know how to slow down their fast-paced life with a long healthy lunch.

Lunches are home-cooked meals, they are not grab-and-run sandwiches.

More variety is good

These long lunches usually have more than one course. They comprise of fresh vegetables, meat, fruits, wine, and sometimes a dessert.

More variety leads to increased satiety. You will be more satisfied with a long lunch full of different colors and tastes, than a boring old sandwich.

3. Culture is more important than genes.

Genes play a big role in your health, but your environment makes your habit which can alter your genes.

Culture has been embedded in you since you were a little kid. You are a product of your environment.

Kids soak up the culture like a sponge. So, the right culture can make you healthy regardless of your genes.

The French learn their culture early on

School lunches in France are so good that even you would want to reserve a seat there.

The kids are served three-course meals, prepared with locally sourced produce. They serve themselves to learn the importance of sharing.

Small portion sizes

French meals are long with a lot of different foods that are divided over multiple courses.

So, it makes sense that they have small portion sizes. Moreover, the French believe in quality over quantity.

Stop when you are done

Overeating is a sin. The French eat for pleasure but they are 100% against gluttony.

You are free to eat non-fat delicious food to your heart’s desire but once you are full you have to stop.

Overindulgence is a crime. You should never fill your plate with heaps of food only for it to go to waste.

4. The only anti-food rule the French follow.

The French don’t need to snack. Snacking is not a part of their culture. They are taught to eat their meals properly and then wait for the next one.

There are no small snacks in between.

Three square meals are enough

The French eat meals in no hurry. They sit down and enjoy the food till they are full.

Usually, the variety and number of courses are enough to sustain them for their next meals.

So, snacking is a once-in-a-blue-moon thing for them.

Indulge once in a while

You crave snacks more when you are on a diet. Deprivation causes you to eat more.

The French do indulge every once in a while. It reduces the urge to snack and binge eat.

So listen to your heart and eat that delicious chocolate pastry that you want today.

The author of French women don’t get fat Mireille Guiliano says,

“French women typically think about good things to eat. American women typically worry about bad things to eat.”

5. Drink like French for a healthier heart.

There is always a wine bottle open at meals. The French are renowned for their drinking habits.

The paradox of their diet is based on their wine consumption. They drink 1–2 glasses of wine with most meals, yet they have a low rate of heart disease.

Wine keeps your heart healthy

Wine is rich in Resveratrol which is proven to improve cardiovascular health.

This study found that Resveratrol consumption can lead to many cardio-protective effects.

So, drink wine in moderation to get heart-healthy benefits. One glass every other day can help you get these benefits.

Conclusion

The French paradox diet can make you happy. It will keep you fit, healthy, and satisfied.

It is a sustainable diet that you can follow forever without even batting an eye. It will make you fall in love with food.

“If my fellow Americans could adopt even a fraction of the French attitude about food and life managing weight would cease to be a terror, an obsession, and reveal its true nature as part of the art of living.”― Mireille Guiliano

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