Eating French

[Colossal Spoons]

Aw man, I was hoping BHK wrote that article

 

[Ahura Mazda]

Having lived in both the US and France, I can tell you that the quality of the food is better in France. And I am basing this on high end restaurants in New York and Miami. I think the main factor in reality is the % of people who eat in fast food restaurants where even though it can be tastefull, it is pretty bad health wise.

 

[jaguarr]

Having lived in both the US and France, I can tell you that the quality of the food is better in France. And I am basing this on high end restaurants in New York and Miami. I think the main factor in reality is the % of people who eat in fast food restaurants where even though it can be tastefull, it is pretty bad health wise.

This is probably not far off the mark. The lion's share of food on the market and consumed by U.S. citizens generally contains a lot of artificial additives, fillers, preservatives, chemicals, high sodium and fat levels, and a lot of other unhealthy things. Having friends in Europe, I can make a bit of a generalization that Europeans, on average, tend to use and eat more whole, natural foods in their cooking and in their diets than people in the U.S. do. All that stuff can't possibly be good for the human body.

jag

 

[Ahura Mazda]

This is probably not far off the mark. The lion's share of food on the market and consumed by U.S. citizens generally contains a lot of artificial additives, fillers, preservatives, chemicals, high sodium and fat levels, and a lot of other unhealthy things. Having friends in Europe, I can make a bit of a generalization that Europeans, on average, tend to use and eat more whole, natural foods in their cooking and in their diets than people in the U.S. do. All that stuff can't possibly be good for the human body.

I would say that what you say makes sense. One thing to note however is that there is a high correlation between the increase in the number of fast food restaurants in Europe and the increase in level of obesity here.

I prefer quite a few things in the States but food is honestly not one of them.

 

[Colossal Spoons]

Ooooh, I can't wait to move to France

 

[knowsbleed]

“The French don’t traditionally wolf down a meal at their desk or while commuting in traffic,” she said. “They sit down with family or colleagues at a table, taking the time to relax and share conversation. When you are talking, you are not eating, and because you are relaxed, the hormones released help in the assimilation of calories, unlike the stress hormones we are riddled with here, which trigger hoarding of fat. In other words, eat 800 calories while sitting at a café in Paris, and they will get spent. Eat 800 calories while sitting in your car in traffic on the freeway, and most of them will settle in your hips or gut.”

What about the Japanese...who are always on the go? I'm sure they don't take time to "savor" their food and they are usually thought of as overworked and overstressed. Yet you don't see images of them as overweight as Americans are.

 

[jaguarr]

What about the Japanese...who are always on the go? I'm sure they don't take time to "savor" their food and they are usually thought of as overworked and overstressed. Yet you don't see images of them as overweight as Americans are.

Their diet contains a lot of fresh fish, vegetables and rice all prepared in a fairly healthy manner (except for tempura). Fast food and American junk food products that have popped up over there have had a negative impact on their health as well.

jag

 

[Immortalfire]

I don't "wolf down my meal". But when I sit down to eat a meal, I'm not sitting down to constantly yak while my food gets cold.

Seconded.