Lesson one: Savor your Meals
when the french gather around a table, they mainly focus on the company and pleasures around them. not the calories of what they're eating. the french begin with a aperitif such as olives and crackers an hour before the meal,so by the time they sit down to eat their less likely to over eat.
The Tips:
+ Always sit down when you're eating
+ hold your fork upside down with your nondomintate hand the way europeans do. this will help pace you. (sounds odd)
+ Swallow what's in your mouth before taking another bite and set your fork down between each bite
+ Listen to mellow music while you eat. The calmer beats encourage slower eating.
Lesson two: Eat small portions
In France an average croisant weighs 1 ounce and measures 15inches around, whereas an american croisant weighs around 2 ounces, and is measured 18.5 inches around. Simply said, a french womens stomach is trained to expect less food.
The Tips:
+ Put less food than you think you want on you're plate. you'll be less likely to eat past your point of fullness
+ incorporate healthy fats into your foods
+ Add flavor to your food- olive oil, garlic, and black pepper. you'll enjoy what you're eating, and feel satisfied with less.
Lesson three: Indulge Cravings
French women are far less concerned with what they eat than american women. Since no food is forbidden to them, they can eat sweets in moderation, whereas we tend to binge on fattening foods because we try to avoid them.
The Tips:
+ Treat yourself to one fun food a day
Lesson four: Make Lunch Your Biggest Meal
In america we tend to starve ourselves until dinner, then once there, we eat everything we can put our hands on. In france it's typical to eat a 5 course meal for lunch, and then for dinner just a small meal because they still feel satisfied from lunch.
The Tips:
+ aim to eat at least 1/2 of your day's food during lunch
+ set yourself a place at the table, dishes silverwear, all of it
+ top off your meal with an expresso, cappuccino, or coffee. Caffeine is a mild appetite suppresant and can boost your metabolism.
Lesson five: Dont Snack
Since the french eat 3 meals a day, they don't feel as hungry to need that snack in between meals. in america we try to eat as little as possiable during a meal, but then feel hungry later, and have a snack.
The Tips:
+ train your body to only eat at meal times.
+ eat a balanced meal
Lesson six: Enjoy Exercise
The french love to walk or ride a bike. they make their exercise an enjoyable part of their daily life. Every night between the aperitif hour and dinner, many french will go for a walk to see the sunset with their family. Most americans feel exercise as a chore and fail to follow through with it
The Tips:
+ take the stairs instead of using the elevator or esculator
+ plan activities with friends such as dancing, skating, or walking.