Reposted from December 3, 2014
The French Paradox
I was lucky enough to “cross the pond” over the Thanksgiving holiday to visit my daughter who is studying abroad in London. (Rachel is actually turning 21 today-Happy Birthday!)
We ended up in Paris where not only the language was different, but the culture as well. A friend of ours is an American but has lived in Paris for the past 25 years. He introduced us to the French perspective (and that of many European countries) and it was something we Americans could learn from.
First, what exactly is the French Paradox? The French seem to be able to eat breads, cheese, wine and desserts while maintaining slim figures and boasting low rates of heart disease (among other diseases as well). This is due to many factors, most of which are quite different than in our American culture. The quality of food, quantity of food eaten and how they eat all contribute to this French Paradox.
It seemed like every street in Paris offered a cornucopia of local, fresh vegetables and fruit from its outdoor markets. Quality is important to the French as they seem to really appreciate what they consume. We may all taste food, but for the French, it’s about the total experience. They take their time to enjoy their food as well as their company and conversation.
Lunches are typically the bigger meal of the day and may go from 1 to 2 hours. Then, they may sit at a cafe later on and nurse a cup of coffee for an hour. In France, no waiter will ask you to leave. It is actually considered good service for a meal to take longer to be served. The French simply don’t understand why Americans are always in such a rush–and in a rush to eat copious amounts of food. The irony is that the French take twice as long to eat food portions that are around 25% less than the typical American portion, with some much less than that.
Let’s consider this. Eating better quality, less processed food in a relaxing, non-stressful environment may certainly lead to better digestion and absorption of a meal. Of course this seems to transcend to overall better health as well.
Voila! It makes perfect sense. Perhaps the French really have it right. Life is not meant to be rushed through in a constant state of stress. Life is to be savored and enjoyed. Savor those moments, savor the fuel that feeds your body, savor life. Joie de vivre.
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