Mindful Eating: A Balanced Diet Used In France

Butter, croissants, pate de foie gras and lots of cheese, it's not a diet that an American doctor would recommend! Why are the French able to eat three times as much fat as Americans, and yet they are thinner and have a lower incidence of heart disease than we do?

No doubt you’ve heard people telling you that you can eat what you want, but all in moderation. It’s true. Implementing mindful eating and an awareness of balance in your diet will completely change the way you approach foods, and get into that healthy diet just as french people do to stay healthy and elegant.

The French are always practicing mindful eating, especially when it comes to creating balance in their meals. It’s rare to find a plate of just pasta, for example, in a French restaurant. You’re more likely to find a small portion of cooked pasta next to some kind of protein, such as chicken. The meal is also likely to be paired with a salad and a small dessert.

The French like to enjoy a little bit of everything. They don’t believe in the no-carb diets or protein-only diets. The only thing that they do believe in having an abundance of is fresh fruit and vegetables. While a French person may love their meat and potatoes, they’re not apt to skip the side of veggies.

Mindful eating and creating balance in your diet isn’t just about saying you’re going to have 1 dessert in the day or 1 glass of wine. These are all well and nice, but it’s more about creating balance with ingredients and flavors rather than just how much you eat of one particular item. You could be consuming sugar all day without putting an ounce of candy or chocolate in your mouth. It’s all about being able to enjoy our favorite foods while also being mindful of what we’re putting into our bodies and how much of it we’re consuming throughout the day.