“Bonjour!”
“Merci!”
“Au revoir!”
When I returned from our brief whirlwind trip to France this week, I not only had my short repertoire of French phrases swirling around my mind, but I also kept pondering a few aspects of French culture that left a lasting impression on me.
A brief background on this trip…. we were invited to the wedding of one of our very dear friends (who lives in France) and who also flew across the Atlantic to celebrate our wedding two years ago! We were very excited to be a part of her amazing wedding celebration and while we were there, we made a quick stop in Paris to celebrate my 28th birthday (the day after the wedding)!
International travel provides the unique opportunity to get a glimpse of different cultural perspectives on diet, routines, relationships, priorities, physical activity, traditions, and so much more. Below I share the 5 most unique and interesting aspects that I noticed about French culture and their direct impact on health and quality of life…..
Savor your meal
As a country, the French really take pride in their food. Every item we ordered throughout the entire trip was exceptionally fresh, prepared to perfection, and beautifully plated. Everything tasted as if it had been cooked to order and prepared as though we were the guests of honor! This attention to detail encourages guests to savor every bite, eat slowly, enjoy conversation, and make mealtime into the main event! I noticed people relaxing at streetside cafes all day long, lounged back in their chair, sipping wine, coffee, or tea, and frequently smiling and laughing. Now that I think about it, I NEVER saw people looking at their iPhones or technology during a meal. With the exception of snapping a picture of our gourmet plates, there wasn’t even a temptation to pull out a phone – we were too busy munching on our Primary Food! (quality time nurturing relationships with friends and family)
More walking & biking, less driving
Similar to NYC or other major cities, having a car is actually the least convenient form of transportation in metropolitan cities. People walk, bike, take the Metro, or hail a cab to get nearly everywhere in Paris. In the more rural towns in France, like Montbron, where we stayed for the wedding, the small town set up allows residents to walk to get nearly everywhere. We walked several blocks across town to get to the store for groceries (and carried them back with us), we walked to and from our meals, walked to church, and even walked 25 minutes to and from the wedding reception! Benefits?? Our delicious meals were half burned off by the time we got home, we got lots of fresh air in the country, we got to admire the stars on the way home at night, and had some of the best laughs and conversations as we pumped out our endorphins during exercise and stretched our muscles!
Get Dressed Up!
In America, special clothes are often saved for special occasions such as church, a fancy dinner or date night, and in some professions, for work. In France (the fashion capital of the world), people look their best every day – it is extremely common for women to wear sundresses, skirts, and blouses on a daily basis. With the exception of a few tourists, I didn’t see anyone wearing sweatpants, gym shorts, or sneakers, and few people wearing t-shirts. Now I am the first person to advocate for comfy clothes and t-shirts, but I have also noticed in the last few months that when I get a little bit more dressed up throughout the day (as opposed to lounging around in jogging pants, tshirts, or running shorts), I am noticeably more productive, focused, and ambitious. Comfy clothes have their place – workout time, cookouts, sporting events, cozy evenings, and early mornings. But wearing nice clothes is one simple way of showing respect – both for yourself and for others!
A Glass of Wine…
Were you wondering how people in France are able to calmly relax, savor, enjoy, and chat without letting the stresses of daily life interfere with these special rituals? A little glass of wine will do the trick. It is completely acceptable (and actually expected) to order wine with most meals. People don’t save up their wine for nights and weekends – they sip throughout the day and week instead of letting the stress build up and indulging all at once. Plus, if enjoyed with meals, they are often sipping and celebrating in the company of friends and family. The drinking age is 18 in France and after talking with a few teenagers, they view alcohol as a part of daily life and not as a “guilty pleasure.” They know how to sip in moderation – and that is the key to wine: a little at a time!
All in Moderation: Bread and Cheese and Crepes, Oh MY!
As we were reflecting on our trip, my friends and I were discussing, “the French are all so slim, yet they love their bread and cheese!” Yes, this is very true, but notice the portion sizes – one croissant, a wedge of cheese, a freshly-baked baguette, and a tablespoon of Nutella. And ALL of it has NO preservatives and is made fresh each day at the local bakery or cafe. A typical breakfast in France is some sort of bread and some sort of cheese with a cut of meat. After a walk to work, a stroll around the neighborhood, or a bike ride, that healthy meal is being efficiently turned into energy and nutrients for the body.
The problem with processed food is that preservatives are not designed to be broken down by the body and used for energy. Instead, they are preserved in the abdominal region! They are difficult to digest (causing stomach discomfort, bloating, etc) and do not actually contribute to energy or bodily needs. If you are eating real food that provides energy and you burn that energy as fuel, your metabolism runs seamlessly and you can actually ENJOY a few treats with no guilt!! The whole purpose of eating is to enjoy it and not stress about it!
In closing, I really appreciated the opportunity to experience French culture. I will be going on my own little journey in the coming weeks as I practice integrating what I learned into my own daily habits.
**Just like my approach for health coaching of taking little steps at a time in order to build a lasting healthy lifestyle, I will:
- practice getting a little dressier one day per week,
- carve out a little more time to sip my tea in the mornings (instead of jumping onto the computer),
- take a few more after-dinner walks with my husband, and
- yes, even experimenting with some pastries and crepes in the kitchen! (gluten-free, or course 😉 )
What are you inspired to incorporate into your daily routine?! Leave a comment below and share ideas so that other people can start their own Mission for Nutrition!!
