Milly Gaines
The French diet is characterised by a love of food and a focus on quality over quantity. Meals are savoured and eaten at a leisurely pace, with the French sitting down to three meals a day. Breakfast is usually light and sweet, with a slice of bread and butter, jam, or Nutella, or yoghurt with fruit and granola. Lunch is a three-course meal, consisting of an appetizer, a main dish, and cheese or dessert, and is typically served between midday and 2 pm. Dinner is the main meal of the day, served after 7:30 pm, and includes an entree, a main, and cheese or dessert. The French diet includes a variety of meats, fish, vegetables, fruits, and, of course, wine and cheese. Red wine, in particular, is considered a staple, often paired with heavier meat dishes, while white wine is served with lighter meals. Snacking is rare, but when it occurs, fresh, real foods are chosen over highly processed snacks.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Meals | Three meals a day, eaten at the table as a family. |
| Breakfast is a lighter, sweeter meal. | |
| Lunch is a three-course meal, lasting 1-2 hours. | |
| Dinner is the main meal, served after 7:30 pm. | |
| Food Groups | No food groups are off-limits. |
| Meals include meat, fish, vegetables, bread, cheese, and dessert. | |
| Snacks are rare and usually bread, cheese, yoghurt, or fruit. | |
| Portion Sizes | Smaller portions. |
| Eating Habits | Eating is a leisurely experience, with meals eaten slowly. |
| No seconds, unless a guest. | |
| Drinks | Red and white wine, depending on the dish. |
| Coffee and espresso. | |
| Exercise | Gym sessions 1-2 times a week. |
| Walking, hiking, cycling, water sports, skiing, and stair climbing are common. |
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What You'll Learn
Typical meals
The French diet is not about deprivation or cutting out food groups. Instead, it's about enjoying food in moderation. The French savour their food, taking their time to eat three meals a day. They also tend to eat together as a household, which is said to help them realise when they are full.
Breakfast
Breakfast in France is called "le petit déjeuner", which means "little lunch". It is usually a light, sweet meal, such as a slice of bread with butter, jam, or Nutella, with coffee. Other breakfast options include croissants, Pain au Chocolat, or apple-filled pastries. Yogurt with fruit and granola is also a popular choice, as is a bowl of cereal.
Lunch
Lunch in France is referred to as "le déjeuner" and is typically a three-course meal eaten between midday and 2 pm. It usually consists of an appetizer, a main dish, and cheese or dessert. A typical appetizer could be a salad or soup, followed by a meat or fish dish as the main course. Cheese or dessert then follows to complete the meal. On weekends, the French often enjoy picnics.
Dinner
Dinner is typically the main meal for the French, served after 7:30 pm. Like lunch, it consists of an appetizer, main course, and cheese or dessert. The starter is usually light, such as a salad or melon in the summer, while the main dish could be meat or fish with vegetables and potatoes. After the main course, the French typically enjoy a selection of cheeses with bread, followed by dessert, which could be fresh fruit, mousse, cake, or pastries. Dinner is often accompanied by red or white wine, depending on the dish being served.
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Portion sizes
A typical French breakfast, or "le petit déjeuner", is usually light and sweet. It often includes a slice of bread with butter, jam, or Nutella, known as a "tartine", or yogurt with fruit and granola. Pastries like croissants, Pain au Chocolat, or Chausson aux Pommes are also common but are considered treats.
Lunch in France, referred to as "le déjeuner", is typically a three-course meal: an appetizer, a main dish, and cheese or dessert. It is common for French people to take a one- to two-hour lunch break, emphasising the importance of a proper midday meal. A typical lunch might include a salad or soup for the appetizer, followed by a meat or fish dish as the main course, and cheese or dessert to finish.
Dinner is usually the main meal for the French and is served later in the evening, after 7:30 pm. It follows a similar structure to lunch, with an entree, main course, and cheese or dessert. The starter is often light, such as a salad or soup, while the main dish could be meat or fish with vegetables and a staple like potatoes.
While the French do indulge in rich foods like foie gras, fatty meats, and desserts, they do so in moderation. They also have access to high-quality, fresh ingredients that don't require a lot of processing to make delicious dishes. Their meals are often accompanied by wine, but they consume it in limited portions, typically one to two glasses per day.
Snacking between meals is not a common practice for adults in France. Instead, they stick to three meals a day and choose fresh, real foods when they do snack, such as bread, cheese, yogurt, or fruit. This approach to portion sizes and eating habits contributes to the overall health and well-being of the French population.
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Eating habits
The French diet is characterised by a focus on quality over quantity, with an emphasis on savouring flavour and eating for pleasure. Meals are seen as a leisurely experience, with the French taking their time to enjoy their food and practising moderation in their consumption. This mindset extends to their attitude towards food, where deprivation and negative feelings are avoided, and all food groups are included in their diets.
A typical day of eating for a French woman might look like this: a light breakfast of coffee with bread, yoghurt, or cereal; a three-course lunch consisting of an appetizer, main dish, and cheese or dessert; and a similarly structured dinner, with the main meal of the day varying between lunch and dinner. Snacking is not a common habit for adults, who usually stick to three meals a day, while children often enjoy a small snack after school, such as yoghurt, a tartine, or a biscuit.
French meals are often served in courses, with an appetizer, entree, salad, dessert, cheese, and coffee. Portion sizes tend to be smaller, and the French typically eat until they are satisfied rather than overindulging. Dessert portions are also kept small, with just a bite or two of full-fat cheese or rich, dark chocolate to satisfy cravings and prevent snacking.
The French also place importance on eating meals together as a family, which has been found to promote healthier eating habits, including increased consumption of fruits and vegetables and reduced intake of fried foods and sugary drinks. Additionally, the French move their bodies daily, whether through formal exercise a few times a week or simply by walking, climbing stairs, or partaking in outdoor activities like hiking and cycling.
Red wine is a staple of the French diet, often consumed in moderation with meals. It is believed to offer various health benefits, including positive effects on heart health and gum health.
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Breakfast
A typical French breakfast may include a hot drink, such as coffee, tea, or hot chocolate, accompanied by a pastry such as a croissant, pain au chocolat, or chocolatine. These pastries are often eaten with jam or chocolate spread, such as Nutella. In Paris, the butter croissant is particularly popular. For children, hot chocolate is the preferred drink. Fruit juice, such as orange juice, is also commonly consumed at breakfast.
Bread is a staple of the French breakfast, and the most common type is the baguette, which may be sliced horizontally, toasted, and served with butter and/or jam—this combination is known as a tartine. The baguette may also be grilled and dunked into a bowl of café au lait. Brioche, a type of sweetened bread, is also popular at breakfast and can be found pre-packaged or baked fresh at boulangeries.
In addition to the aforementioned foods, breakfast in France may also include cereal, yoghurt with muesli, fruit, or charcuterie (sausage and pâté). Some people may opt for a more savoury option, such as eggs and bacon, or French toast, which is made by soaking bread in eggs and milk and then frying it.
While breakfast is considered an important meal by some French people, it is not always a big sit-down affair, and many people may simply grab a pastry or biscuit to eat on the go. It is worth noting that breakfast habits can vary across regions, and some people may skip breakfast altogether, choosing to wait until lunch for their first meal of the day.
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Red wine
Wine is believed to have several health benefits when consumed in moderation. According to research, light to moderate drinking may aid in maintaining a healthy weight. A study of over 8,000 subjects found that those who had one or two drinks a few times a week were less likely to be obese than non-drinkers. However, excessive consumption has negative effects, with four or more drinks per day increasing the risk of obesity.
The French approach to wine aligns with their overall philosophy of savouring food and enjoying it in moderation. They take their time during meals, conversing with family or friends, which helps them realise when they are full. This contrasts with the rushed eating habits often seen in the United States, where meals are often consumed quickly or on the go.
In addition to its health benefits, red wine is also associated with social and cultural aspects of French life. It is commonly shared with family and friends during meals or as an aperitif. The act of sharing wine fosters a sense of community and enjoyment of life, which is an integral part of French culture.
The French also have a deep appreciation for the culinary arts, and wine is considered an essential component of their cuisine. They value the quality of their food and drink, and wine is seen as a way to enhance the flavours and enjoyment of a meal. The French take pride in their ability to create delicious dishes with simple, high-quality ingredients, and wine is often the perfect complement to these culinary creations.
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Frequently asked questions
Breakfast in France is called "le petit déjeuner", which means "little lunch". It is usually a light and sweet meal, consisting of bread with butter, jam, or Nutella, and coffee. Yogurt with fruit and granola, or pastries such as croissants, Pain au Chocolat, or apple-filled pastries are also common.
Lunch, referred to as "le déjeuner", is usually a three-course meal including an appetizer, a main dish, and cheese or dessert. It is typically served between midday and 2 PM, and most kitchens close until dinner, which usually starts at 7:30 PM. Dinner is typically the main meal for the French and follows a similar structure to lunch, with an entree, main, and cheese or dessert.
The French diet includes a variety of foods such as meat, fish, vegetables, bread, cheese, yogurt, fruit, and wine. They also enjoy dishes such as Boeuf Bourguignon, Blanquette de Veau, Couscous, Tartiflette, and Crème Brûlée.
Yes, the French culture emphasizes the enjoyment of food and eating together as a family. Meals are seen as a leisurely experience, and the concept of "l'apéro" involves gathering to enjoy wine, cheese, and conversation. The French also value moderation and pleasure in their eating habits, focusing on quality over quantity.
