As I settled into my new life in Paris, I decided the best way to adapt would be to live like the locals. It didn’t take long before I was enjoying four-hour dinners with cheese and dessert courses, replacing evening runs with glasses of rosé on the terrace, and stopping almost daily at the corner boulangerie for freshly baked baguettes that could seduce almost anyone within a two-block radius. While I can’t claim to have solved the mystery, I can share five ways French women know how to live right—and in the process stay thin and happy: The French also don’t deprive or restrict themselves from occasional indulgences. French cuisine, including cheese and wine, is such an important aspect of their culture and a source of regional pride, but that doesn’t mean that it is consumed at every meal or even every day of the week. And a true French meal isn’t complete without a glass of wine to accompany it. A glass of wine (or two) with a meal won’t wreak havoc on your diet; just recognize when you start consuming to consume rather than truly enjoying and savoring every sip. Typical French meals also contain very few processed ingredients and instead feature real meat or fish, a side of seasonal vegetables, and fresh fruit for dessert. French women often prefer full, balanced meals for lunch rather than a simple salad that will leave them hungry a few hours later. Even kids are served real, nutritious foods for lunch at school. At an early age, they’re expected to eat like adults, teaching them to enjoy whole foods such as fish and vegetables. Meals are also a time for families and friends to enjoy time together. Meaningful relationships provide nourishment for the soul and are important for overall happiness and well-being. When these relationships are missing, it’s easier to turn to comfort foods or to overeat to fill the void. With typical French meals lasting several hours and rich with conversation and debate, you’re sure to satisfy your needs beyond filling your belly. Even after four years of living in Paris, I still have a lot to learn from the French. And in the process, I’m forging a new identity that is neither French nor American—a new identity that is a hybrid of the two. (Oh, and by the way, I still choose my evening run over apéro at least two times per week.) Here’s what a French food blogger eats in a day. Plus, 14 healthy eating secrets from France. Her passion for healthy living helps her balance her work at BSR as a manager, where she advises companies on their women’s empowerment programs. She also studied at INSEAD, where she received her executive master’s in consulting and coaching for change.
