gregory morrow

[found this on http://www.webmd.com ]

French Secrets to Staying Slim
Updated 8/22/2003 8:37:30 PM

By Jeanie Lerche Davis


August 22, 2003 -- How can the French stay so slim, with all those luscious
croissants, cheeses, pastries, and sauces?


A new study brings home what's known as "the French Paradox." Despite
France's rich cuisine, the French are decidedly slimmer than Americans. Only
7% of French people are obese, compared with 30% of Americans.


A group of scientists set out to investigate this phenomenon -- comparing
French and American foods, restaurants, cookbook recipes, even eating
styles. The French secrets to staying slim provide lessons to Americans on
losing weight.


Sizing Things Up

Researchers weighed portions at 11 similar eateries in Paris and
Philadelphia -- fast-food outlets, pizzerias, ice cream parlors, and ethnic
restaurants.


The average portion size in Paris was 25% smaller than in Philly.
Chinese restaurants in Philly served meals that were 72% bigger than
Parisian Chinese restaurants.

They looked at foods sold in supermarkets:

A candy bar in Philadelphia was 41% larger than the same candy bar sold in
Paris.
A soft drink was 52% larger, and a hot dog was 63% larger.
A carton of yogurt was 82% larger.

Even American cookbook recipes -- from The Joy of Cooking -- produced larger
portions than the French cookbook, Je sais cuisiner. Larger meat and soup
portions, and smaller vegetable portions, were in the American cookbook than
the French.


Also, Parisians spent 22 minutes on average dining at their McDonald's,
compared with the 14 minutes that Philadelphians spent on their burgers,
fries, and soft drinks.


"The results suggest ... that if served somewhat less than they would
normally eat, people may be satisfied," reports lead researcher Paul Rozin,
PhD, a psychologist with the University of Pennsylvania. His study appears
in the September issue of the journal Psychological Science.


Savor, Don't Stuff

Indeed, it's a cultural issue. Americans are getting exactly what they
want -- value for their dollar, regardless of taste, says Sheah Rarback, RD,
nutritionist and professor at the University of Miami School of Medicine.


They'll never lose weight that way.


The portions that are served in France -- people in this country wouldn't
buy them," she tells WebMD. "People here wouldn't be satisfied."


It's time either to start cooking more at home, or at least eat smaller
portions when dining out, Rarback says. "We need to get back to savoring the
food we're eating, demanding foods that are flavorful. We need to enjoy the
food and the company, instead of just wolfing the food down and barely even
noticing the taste."


One suggestion: Ask for a take-out box when your meal arrives. Put half the
dinner away immediately, even before your fork hits the plate. You can lose
weight, one meal at a time.


----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----

SOURCES: Psychological Science, September 2003. Sheah Rarback, RD, a
nutritionist and professor at the University of Miami School of Medicine.
Cynthia Sass, RD, private-practice dietitian,Tampa, spokeswoman, American
Dietetic Association. WebMD Medical News, "30% of Americans Are Obese."

</>

wardna

.. . . who know more and more about less and less . . .


The researchers seem to ignore the case of Spain, where people are very heavy
eaters, especially in Catalonia, but still run toward the svelte side.

Whether this physiognology trope will persist now that smoking's in decline is
worth observing.

Neil

george

Also Italy, where are they are also heavy eaters.

threeriversguy_2000

Food types and portion sizes are only part of a lifestyle. The
scientists should study both food intake and calories burned. The
French, and Europeans in general, well, people the world over for that
matter, walk and bicycle to get around. Or they if the trip is
longer, they rely on public transportation. Then they walk from there
to their final destination. We Americans drive right to the front
door of the store. It's hard to burn a lot of calories while sitting
on our butts in a car. C'mon, we drive to the gym just so we can walk
on a treadmill. Makes a lot of sense.

If nothing else, we should be able to laugh at ourselves.

(BTW, I just read a prediction that one out of three kids in the U.S.
will develop diabetes due to obesity. That figure seems outrageously
high, but it's a scary thought.)

Ken

frogleg

As I (dimly) understand it, the relative slimness of the French is due
to a number of factors: Small portions. A cultural emphasis on and
desire for really good food, not fuel. A further cultural emphasis
that obesity is distinctly unfashionable, at the vrey least. Regular,
reasonably leisurely meals at set times without snacking in between.

I've been trying to locate French school menus for some time without
success. A former poster living in France said there were regular
'tasting days' in schools, and chefs' demonstrations in school
cafeterias. No "hot dog nuggets" and catsup as a vegetable. The
university cafeteria menu she described sounded like the bill of fare
in a fine restaurant.

arri london

Try searching under "les restaurants des ecoles"

Here is one entry for Toulouse:
http://www.mairie-toulouse.fr/VivreAToulouse/vie_scolaire/Menus_Cantines.htm

sackv

Here are a few; there are many more to be found:
<http://llg.sergi5.com/cuisine.html>
<http://www.caousou.com/menuself.htm>
<http://www.lycee-pons.org/fichiers/122/>
<http://www.ville-courtry.fr/cantines.htm>
<http://www.etab.ac-caen.fr/cornu/rs010528.htm>
<http://www.ville-cholet.fr/jeu/1restauscol.htm>
<http://www.villers-les-nancy.fr/pages/fr/254.htm>
<http://www.mairie-montigny78.fr/viequo/cantine.htm>
<http://www.jean23reims.org/article.php3?id_article=49>
<http://www.mairie-laval.fr/franc/cuisinecent/14151603.htm>
<http://perso.wanadoo.fr/lycee.pierrebayle/intendance/menu10fev.htm>

Victor

penmart01

French Secrets To Staying Slim... slovenlyness, (the french never bathe),
cowardlyness (the french know how to take assistance but don't know how to give
assistance, and downright rat bastardlyness (the french are filthy no account
douche bags, ALL OF THEM!). Secret... no secret.


---= BOYCOTT FRENCH--GERMAN (belgium) =---
---= Move UNITED NATIONS To Paris =---
Sheldon
````````````
"Life would be devoid of all meaning were it without tribulation."

johnny&michelle

snip in the interest of making this shorter


Good point. It seems that the only times I've gottent a decent serving
of vegetables in
a restaurant is when I get them to double it in lieu of the starch
part. Never thought
I'd agree with Ronald Raygun on anything, but I like my veggies to take
up as much
space on the plate as my meat.

Michelle

johnny&michelle

snip in the interest of making this shorter


Good point. It seems that the only times I've gotten a decent
serving of vegetables in a restaurant is when I get them to
double it in lieu of the starch part. Never thought
I'd agree with Ronald Raygun on anything, but I like my veggies
to take up as much space on the plate as my meat.

Michelle