This is really interesting! I did hear from a friend how her children are given dark chocolate at school here, but I hadn't heard about the no snacking thing. It makes sense! It's such a thing in the US (with grocery and convenience stores packed with so many different kinds of snacks). I do appreciate how the French seem to have a much healthier relationship with food all around, on many levels.
I also wonder if this is one of the reasons why French children (and adults) don’t seem to be so picky about food. Everyone seems to eat everything! Forget about making different meals for different people - you all share in the same experience of what’s for dinner.
Love this! The French meal time ritual is interesting. I recall when visiting the South of France and going to a local street market. At lunch time, I see one of the vendors had set a small table with a tablecloth, china, cutlery, cloth napkins and then set down a tureen of something hot. In N.A. as a vendor, we would have packed a sandwich, chips and maybe fruit and ate it sitting on a chair, sans table! I love how lunch is sacred in French culture.
You've reminded me of my time as an au pair in Paris years ago. I remember picking up the 2 little boys from school and heading to the boulangerie for their daily pain au chocolat.
Because I was a somewhat unusual au pair, in that I was older and had studied French, the parents would invite me to their dinner parties. It was the standard multi-course affair, served one course at a time.
It's not just that they don't do snacking because they don't believe in it - it's also that the meals are balanced, unlike the crazy things a lot of Americans do with their meals. So they tend to be satiated by their meals and really don't need to snack. Everything is in moderation.
They don't tend to jump on trends like Americans - low carb! low fat! no sugar!
They eat what they want - just always in moderation.
I've developed a diet that works this way, too.
Another thing you may have noticed - and I'm guessing that this is still the same as it was years ago, though I may be wrong - is that the French don't walk around with huge water bottles or guzzle coffee all day long. Coffee is typically an espresso, not a big mug of weaker coffee.
I'm grateful for my time there years ago, as it did expose me to these various ways of approaching life, many of which I incorporated into my own life.
Something I’ve adopted from the French (even though I still live here in Canada) is having a jar of crêpe batter in the fridge for the gouter. True, mine are made with rice and oat flour heheh, and we have them with nut butter and fruit instead of jam, but the intention is the same. I love that you are making this adjustment that makes your life as a mom easier too - we work enough lol!
In Spain too people don't graze all day like Americans. We have our social wine hour before dinner too but it's usually in a bar, kids welcome. Spaniards love their bars. Kids do get a snack in the morning at school too. But lunch is quite late, usually 2 pm. My kids are totally Spanish, not really into peanut butter but loving their hot chocolate for breakfast!
What a wonderful newsletter! Your writing really just puts us there. I’m always in awe when we travel through Paris the types of food that is available to buy at the airport…lots of greens, yogurt in jars…you can just see how important good food is to them. Even if you are just passing through the airport.
Oh my gosh: I relate to this so much in so many ways: 1. My French husband finds goldfish, perplexing. 2. as an American, I totally view food as fuel and snack on almonds throughout the day 3. i love the Apéro (do you ever get the cheese blocks with little jokes in them?) 4. whenever i go to France, I come home having lost weight and I'm always surprised at this b/c the food is so delicious and I've eaten croissants for every breakfast. 5. i'm so envious of the French schoolchildren's canteen
Anyway: thanks for this! Maybe I'll cool it on the goldfish for a while and instead adopt the French goûter. And also just be okay with being a little hungry until we sit down to the meal. Merci, Kamille ! Bien à vous, Alexis .
What a great read, Kamille! I love the change in pace you present here. I feel like I am there, figuring it out with you.
This is really interesting! I did hear from a friend how her children are given dark chocolate at school here, but I hadn't heard about the no snacking thing. It makes sense! It's such a thing in the US (with grocery and convenience stores packed with so many different kinds of snacks). I do appreciate how the French seem to have a much healthier relationship with food all around, on many levels.
I also wonder if this is one of the reasons why French children (and adults) don’t seem to be so picky about food. Everyone seems to eat everything! Forget about making different meals for different people - you all share in the same experience of what’s for dinner.
And there seem to be fewer allergies, too… hmm. 🧐
I wish you wouldn’t write with AI
Love this! The French meal time ritual is interesting. I recall when visiting the South of France and going to a local street market. At lunch time, I see one of the vendors had set a small table with a tablecloth, china, cutlery, cloth napkins and then set down a tureen of something hot. In N.A. as a vendor, we would have packed a sandwich, chips and maybe fruit and ate it sitting on a chair, sans table! I love how lunch is sacred in French culture.
You've reminded me of my time as an au pair in Paris years ago. I remember picking up the 2 little boys from school and heading to the boulangerie for their daily pain au chocolat.
Because I was a somewhat unusual au pair, in that I was older and had studied French, the parents would invite me to their dinner parties. It was the standard multi-course affair, served one course at a time.
It's not just that they don't do snacking because they don't believe in it - it's also that the meals are balanced, unlike the crazy things a lot of Americans do with their meals. So they tend to be satiated by their meals and really don't need to snack. Everything is in moderation.
They don't tend to jump on trends like Americans - low carb! low fat! no sugar!
They eat what they want - just always in moderation.
I've developed a diet that works this way, too.
Another thing you may have noticed - and I'm guessing that this is still the same as it was years ago, though I may be wrong - is that the French don't walk around with huge water bottles or guzzle coffee all day long. Coffee is typically an espresso, not a big mug of weaker coffee.
I'm grateful for my time there years ago, as it did expose me to these various ways of approaching life, many of which I incorporated into my own life.
What a great read. I wish I can harness that type of willpower and not snack.
Do you make videos of your renovations??
This was very interesting!! thanks for sharing 💗
Something I’ve adopted from the French (even though I still live here in Canada) is having a jar of crêpe batter in the fridge for the gouter. True, mine are made with rice and oat flour heheh, and we have them with nut butter and fruit instead of jam, but the intention is the same. I love that you are making this adjustment that makes your life as a mom easier too - we work enough lol!
In Spain too people don't graze all day like Americans. We have our social wine hour before dinner too but it's usually in a bar, kids welcome. Spaniards love their bars. Kids do get a snack in the morning at school too. But lunch is quite late, usually 2 pm. My kids are totally Spanish, not really into peanut butter but loving their hot chocolate for breakfast!
What a wonderful newsletter! Your writing really just puts us there. I’m always in awe when we travel through Paris the types of food that is available to buy at the airport…lots of greens, yogurt in jars…you can just see how important good food is to them. Even if you are just passing through the airport.
Oh my gosh: I relate to this so much in so many ways: 1. My French husband finds goldfish, perplexing. 2. as an American, I totally view food as fuel and snack on almonds throughout the day 3. i love the Apéro (do you ever get the cheese blocks with little jokes in them?) 4. whenever i go to France, I come home having lost weight and I'm always surprised at this b/c the food is so delicious and I've eaten croissants for every breakfast. 5. i'm so envious of the French schoolchildren's canteen
Anyway: thanks for this! Maybe I'll cool it on the goldfish for a while and instead adopt the French goûter. And also just be okay with being a little hungry until we sit down to the meal. Merci, Kamille ! Bien à vous, Alexis .