Often clients question the information they are given regarding reducing the amount of oils in their diets to help with their weight management. I have repeatedly had the response “the French eat a lot of ‘healthy’ fats and they stay slim, so why should I reduce the amount I am consuming?”. I tend to agree that we cannot place the blame on one food for causing a nation, or even an individual to become overweight, however it does come back to portion sizes and amount of the ingredient that is used on a daily basis, along with the rest of one’s dietary intake.
Quite a common situation my clients who are overweight find themselves in, is that they use food in a social context, and in particular, it has come to my attention that often people complain that when they have guests over, they want to serve something light and healthy, yet a packet of sweet biscuits always seems to be what ends up on the coffee table.
With all of this in mind, I thought it was only fitting this week that I would find a healthy light dish that can be served as an appetizer or light meal when guests come over, that includes the French philosophy of eating ‘good’ food in small amounts (and yes, there is a little bit of olive oil in this recipe), yet still allows you to uphold the desire to serve tasty and presentable foods to your guests.
If I am going to be true to myself, the one change I would like to suggest would be to switch the French stick bread over to a sour dough or wholegrain variety (as these will slow down the release of carbohydrates in your blood compared to the white French stick, leaving you feeling more energized for the hours to come). Check out the recipe and let me know what you think? Does anyone else have ideas for a variation that they could suggest?
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2 Responses to Following in a French mans footsteps (they have always been known to stay slim)
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Obviously, the following observations are just personal observations and there is no scientific evidence.
But I have spent some time in France and I am sure that their attitude to food is the key to why they are so slim.
First of all they don’t rush food- the enjoy it and take it slowly over hours if possible (similar to the Spanish actually). They sit down, eat with fork and knife and enjoy what they are eating with friends and family. Their brain can actually send them the signal that they are full.
Second, I think they exercise more. No diet alone can support healthy and sustainable weight loss if you don’t exercise at the same time. In France, people ride their bikes (ever tried to drive a car in Paris?), take public transport or simply walk.
Right on the ball Martina! I agree, moving more certainly makes a huge difference, and unfortunately for us most people choose the convenience of their car over the goodness for their health in walking somewhere. You should check out our next post which is all about sitting all day and not moving around enough! Right in line with what you are suggesting.