What do the French eat and why. Not a single baguette: what is eaten in France for lunch, dinner and breakfast (which is not)

The French are famous in the world as true gourmets. Who, no matter how they are, knows a real sense in the kitchen and understands the subtle combination of products and the variety of tastes. Further in the article, we will tell you not only about what the French love to eat, but also provide information about the food that, most likely, they would not eat.

True gourmets

Food is an integral part of the life of this people, a kind of ritual, of course, food is necessary for all people, but ... with the French, everything is different. They, first of all, look at it from the aesthetic side - for them it is a kind of creative object. Moreover, everything should be beautiful - both the inner gustatory content and the outer beauty of serving food.

Understanding what the French love to eat, first of all, it is worth mentioning that they do not have ordinary dishes - even the simplest ones have their own flavor. This is a standard of delicate taste and a special, unique sophistication. So what do the French love and dislike to eat?

Russian dishes that they would not try

Each nation has its own food preferences: what is good for one person may go beyond all reason for another, or, at best, will not be something tasty. Russian and French cuisine, of course, differ from each other, and they have certain dishes that our people will not understand and will not accept, and the same is on their part.

For example, the French do not like herring, but here it is a very common product that is in good demand. And the inhabitants of France call it nothing but "rotten fish".

The next product is jellied meat, although it is incomprehensible not only for foreigners, but even not all Russians find it appetizing. Confused by its strange texture, smell and color. Buckwheat with milk is also beyond their understanding. Many of the French have never tried this cereal at all, and even more so in combination with milk.

Lard is also a controversial product. They eat it, but not in its pure form - most often it is bacon, with a small layer of fat. Kissel also did not like the French - in consistency it resembles the same jellied meat, for the same reasons it was rejected from the list of taste preferences.

Now it will be interesting to consider what the French eat for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

How does the morning start?

It is customary for Russians to eat hearty in the morning, but the French are deprived of this habit. Their breakfast is as light as possible. In the classical sense, it looks like this: orange juice, croissants, and more ... coffee. Also on this list may be dried bread, honey, confiture, butter. Naturally, not everyone eats like this, but this is, so to speak, breakfast in its classic form.

Let's see what's for lunch

A standard French lunch has three parts:

entrance (first) dish;
basic;
dessert.

Many deviate from this rule and can order one thing: a sandwich, salad, some dish or soup. The latter, it should be noted, began to lose its popularity. However, it is still used as an entry dish. The most popular of them are onion and white cabbage. Mashed soups are in greatest demand:

vegetable;
from leeks with potatoes;
from young peas;
gazpacho soup, originally from Italy.

Aperitif

A traditional homemade lunch starts with an aperitif (whiskey, etc., or just juice). The aperitif is delivered to the table with the so-called des amuse-gueule. Their role is played by salty cookies, canapes, salty nuts.

On the first

And now the turn has come for the entrance dish, some kind of salad often plays its role. The list of the most popular looks like this:

"Nicoise" (it contains green beans, tuna, olives, lettuce, boiled eggs, tomatoes);
tomato salad;
green salad (mixture of greens);
grated carrots with dressing;
eggs with mayonnaise;
beet salad.

Further, different types of pate (pate), sharkutri (sausages, cervelat) are served along with gherkins. Open cakes are also popular here, for example, with cheese, leeks, jambon, as well as those made according to an individual recipe.

Another dish that is appreciated by the French is snails (Burgundy) with garlic, for us this is definitely an unusual dish. Of course, seafood is also worth noting - oysters, scallops, mussels, shrimps, crabs.

A favorite on the French table is the Fruy de Mare dish - a salad with shrimps, mussels and salmon, dressed with yogurt. Sardines with olive oil and lemon juice are also popular.

By the way, for the curious, the recipe for Nicoise salad is as follows: 140 g of tuna (canned food), 10 olives, 200 g of green beans, 8 anchovies, 4 tomatoes, 2 eggs, 1 onion, 2 cloves of garlic, salad - taste, 1.5 tbsp. l. wine vinegar.

First, you need to prepare the sauce using olive oil, wine vinegar, freshly ground pepper, garlic, basil leaves, salt. All this must be thoroughly mixed and set aside for now.
Now you need to boil the beans in salted water over low heat. Rinse it off with cold water. To make it tastier, you can fry it a little for 1-2 minutes with olive oil and garlic.
Tomatoes and boiled eggs need to be cut, and preferably in the same way - this will look more beautiful. Olives, if small, do not need to be chopped.
We proceed to the final part. Place the torn lettuce leaves on the bottom of the plate. Next are thin onion feathers and pour a little sauce. Distribute the beans over the dish and again a little dressing on top. We put the tuna with a slide in the center. We put slices of eggs and tomatoes, as well as anchovies around. You can add freshly ground pepper and cooked sauce to taste.

Main dish

We looked at the options for entré, and now we move on to the main dish, which, of course, must contain protein and carbohydrates. It can be a piece of meat or fish with a side dish. Beef cutlets, fried chicken steak, baked veal, tartare, salmon fillet, flounder, duck breast - in general, there can be many options here.

The garnish is traditionally served with French fries, cauliflower, beans, artichokes, lentils, pasta, rice, steamed vegetables. As a seasoning - sauce, sour cream, butter or olive oil, spices.

After the second course, cheese platter will be used, and as you know, this product is simply very popular in the country. Here they are produced in a wide variety of forms and for every taste.

Dessert

Finally, if you go to a French lunch, coffee and dessert in creams, pastries and fruits await you. Moreover, fruits can be in different forms, for example, flambéed in cognac, rum or strong wine.

Consider now what the French prefer for dessert. The leaders are melting chocolate dessert (fondant au chocolat). Also on this list are chocolate mousse, pancakes - again with chocolate, banana and even cognac.

Simple in execution, but no less delicious dessert "Floating Islands", made from whipped proteins, milk, vanilla sugar and caramel, you can also add the famous tiramissa, yogurt with sugar or jam and also "strawberry".

How does it look like zhin?

What do the French like to eat for dinner? The French prefer to dine at home, as well as dine, but as an exception they can go to a bistro or restaurant. Unlike lunch, which they pay much attention to, they eat light meals in the evening.

It can be anything from vegetables for the first time, in the cold season they can be replaced by hot soups, as well as the main course is added to them, dessert or cheese is added to the end.

Differences in French cuisine by region

There are differences in the same recipe in different regions of the country. However, regardless of the region, there are common features that are inherent in French dishes. As a rule, a lot of vegetables and root vegetables are used, and also there is generally very little use of dairy products (with the exception of cheeses). So what do the French like to eat in different parts of the country?

For example, Lyon cuisine is famous for its delicious onion soup - gratine; in Lorraine, open pies with slices of smoked bacon and ham with melted cheese, as well as stewed cabbage with pork and smoked breast are popular dishes in Lorraine.

In Burgundy, wine is used in many dishes for cooking - it is added to sauces and gravies. Wine pickled snails are served without shells with onions and parsley.

In Provencal cuisine, various vegetables, garlic and all kinds of seasonings are widespread. Meat consumption is limited here. Vegetable dishes are prepared here very satisfying. They often eat fish - halibut, pike, carp. They love seafood - mussels and oysters.

Desserts are in great demand here: traditionally chocolate, nuts, nougat, crème brulee, cookies and cakes are always present on the table.

And what do the French like to eat in Normandy? Here dairy products are used in the preparation of dishes - butter, cream and camembert cheese. Even meat and fish are always cooked with cream.

We now know what the French like to eat, but still, each part of the country has its own characteristics, and this is how they differ from each other.

Some of the most famous dishes

What other dishes are worth trying when you find yourself in the country of true connoisseurs of gourmet cuisine? Reviews of gourmets about the cuisine of France indicate that the dishes here have a unique combination of flavors, in addition to this, they look very aesthetically pleasing. Only fresh products are used for cooking, attention is paid to detail and decoration.

The favorite dish of the French is foie gras. It is a very popular delicacy that you can also prepare at home. There are many recipes for it, and we will consider the most common. It is easy to prepare and requires a minimum of ingredients.

For fried foie gras you need 500 g of duck or goose liver, lettuce, pepper and salt.

First, the liver must be carefully rinsed and divided into parts.
Place the pieces in the refrigerator for a while.
Then pepper and salt, place in a skillet and fry for 1-2 minutes on each side.
After the golden crust appears, you need to remove the liver from the pan. In this case, you do not need to add oil, because it is very oily in itself.
The toasted foie gras must be placed in a baking dish and cooked in the oven.
The delicacy is placed on a plate, decorated with lettuce leaves, and served immediately to the table.

Naturally, in addition to this dish in the national cuisine, there are still many others who will answer the question of what the French actually eat and what else do they prefer:

“Bloody steak” - meat is fried outside, but inside it remains half-baked. Served with potatoes and vegetables;
roti - beef roast;
kok-o-ven - a cock in wine;
frog legs are a famous French delicacy. The legs of these amphibians are fried in breadcrumbs or deep-fried. However, not everyone dares to try them;
escargot is an exquisite dish made from snails.

And here is another popular dish - ratatouille. Let's take a closer look at this vegetable dish, simple, but very tasty.

To prepare ratatouille, you need to take one eggplant and zucchini, 4 tomatoes, a third of red pepper, 3-4 cloves of garlic, half a head of onion, vegetable oil, black pepper, salt, bay leaf, herbs.

Next, cut the zucchini, eggplant and three tomatoes into thin slices.
Place the vegetables in a greased mold. Moreover, they should alternate in color. Add bay leaf, pepper, sprinkle with oil.
Cut the onion and pepper into small cubes, which then need to be fried in oil.
The remaining tomato must be peeled, finely chopped and mixed with pepper and onion. Pour half a glass of water. Cook the sauce for 5 minutes. Add chopped garlic and herbs to it, as well as salt and pepper to taste.
Pour vegetables with this very sauce and bake them in the oven for an hour at 180 ° C.
And now you need to lay it out beautifully in the center of the dish and pour over the sauce. Bon Appetit!

It should be noted that this is a feature of the national cuisine: almost all dishes are served with sauce. There are thousands of recipes for sauces, and for the French this is not just a sauce for a dish, but a very complex recipe and a certain mystery. However, it is customary here to treat the preparation of any dish this way, putting your soul into creating incredible combinations of tastes that conquer the world.

French cuisine can rightfully be called the finest in the world, and the cooking process itself is a real art. Knowing this will help you understand that the French love to eat.

If you decide, then you have to get used to new formats of eating. Firstly, what the French eat is very different from what the Russians are used to, and sometimes it is very contrasting. Secondly, in France they often, a lot and willingly talk about food, and if in Russia they often hastily put a sandwich in their mouths, thinking about their favorite work, then in France the opposite is true - work will wait if a Frenchman is going to slowly chew his favorite baguette with a piece cheese. Thus, there is a difference not only in favorite dishes, but also in the culture of consumption. And if you decide live in France for permanent residencethen all this will be an important point for you. However, getting used to the new format and new attitude to food in France is not difficult at all, as well as to new dishes. After all, most of the dishes in France are very tasty, and if even at first it is not so easy for you to switch to them, then later you will surely be happy to eat exactly what France offers you, and dishes from other countries, including dishes from your home country. to which you are used to initially, will no longer seem so tasty to you.

Besides the taste, almost every French dish is healthy. And the French themselves often discuss the usefulness of different foods and make sure that in this regard they lead a healthy lifestyle. So it is not only tasty, but also healthy.

What the French love

Here is a rough list of those foods and drinks that the French are crazy about.

1) Coffee. The first place is really worth rightfully giving away coffee, because this drink is the most popular in this country. The French drink coffee several times a day, literally at every opportunity. Morning for a Frenchman is unthinkable without coffee, but at lunchtime, the Frenchman will definitely miss another cup, and in the evening he will not refuse.

At the same time, the French love to drink black espresso coffee, without milk, despite the fact that it is bad for the stomach. For lovers of gourmet coffee, Italy with all its cappuccino is more suitable, in France they drink quite "hard" coffee - but in large quantities. If you come, you will have to get used to coffee, because this is the kind of drink that the French drink all the time.

2) Cheese. Cheese is rightfully included in the list of the most favorite foods and dishes for the French. Yes, sometimes cheese can be an independent dish, in many cafes and restaurants you will be served a so-called "cheese plate" with pieces of cheese of different varieties. In France, there is simply an unthinkable number of different types of cheese, in fact, this is the cheese capital of the world. Upon arrival, you will learn about such types of cheese as Camembert, Roquefort (however, it is well known abroad as well), and chevre. Cheese is added to salads and even soups, so you'll find it in almost every French dish. For someone who has come to France to love cheese is the number one task.

3) Vegetables. The French eat a lot of vegetables because they are healthy. The French go to the market for fresh vegetables almost every week. At the same time, vegetables on the market are more expensive than in stores, but a conscientious Frenchman is ready to pay more in order to end up with a proven quality. Many French people are personally acquainted with the farmers from whom they buy products, there are certain attachments and addictions to the products of this or that supplier farmer.

Many vegetables that the French love require getting used to. For example, when cooking, a very large amount of greens is often used, which is very useful, but not everyone likes it. Eggplants, zucchini, potatoes and tomatoes are something that is familiar to a Russian and is dear to his heart. French fries, by the way, are a very common dish that is often prepared in France. And a very tasty dish.

4) Meat dishes. Meat in France is also eaten often and a lot. Pates and steaks are popular. Dishes such as a bloody steak with a toasted crust and a stew of vegetables and meat are common. The most commonly used meat in France is poultry and beef.

5) Seafood. The French here differ from most representatives of other peoples, in terms of both love for products of this kind and their variety. But on the French table you can often see oysters and shrimps, scallops and other seafood. Also, the French, as you know, love frogs, which, however, do not belong to seafood, but they left not far from them. Frogs, however, are a delicacy, and in general are designed for a narrow circle of amateurs, and if you come to France, do not be afraid that you will be served frogs on the very first day. By the way, French frogs do not differ much from the same oysters in their taste, while they are grown specifically for meat in ecologically favorable conditions in special ponds, and the legs of such frogs are mainly used for meat. If you love seafood, then there is a great chance that you will like frogs.

6) Wine. As for this noble drink, France is also its homeland. It is here that there are most of the vineyards, which supply the material for the production of the best varietal wines in the world. However, even the cheapest wine in France is very tasty, you can buy a bottle for only 1-2 euros - and already enjoy the full taste and aroma. This is due to the fact that in France, without exception, all wine has a natural origin. If you come live in France for permanent residence, you can be sure that not only do not get poisoned by local alcoholic products, but also get extraordinary pleasure from their use. France is a country of winemakers, and almost every self-respecting Frenchman understands wine at one level or another. You can also have a vineyard if you feel like it and produce your own wine.

For all that, the French do not usually drink a lot, their goal is not to force themselves intoxicated, but to enjoy the wine. For this reason, they most often drink it in small sips throughout the evening and rarely drink more than one glass during this time. And that's very French. A Frenchman can drink alone, going out with a glass of wine on the veranda and savoring it in small sips, while looking at the people passing by and thinking about his own. This enjoyment of life, coupled with wine, is very characteristic of the French, who can generally be called one of the most cheerful nations on the planet.

7) Sauces. Sauces from the arsenal of French cuisine cannot be ruled out either. Sauces are served with almost any dish, primarily meat. But you can also see interesting and unusual sauces that are served with vegetable dishes. In fact, you can choose your own sauce for almost every dish in France. Which, without a doubt, makes French cuisine much more interesting and varied.

8) Soups. In general, soups in French cuisine do not occupy such a privileged place as in Russian cuisine. However, the French still love soups, although the most popular are soups-mashed potatoes. An interesting fact is that almost every soup is added, again, cheese (grated) and small crackers. This makes the French soup exquisite and unique in its appearance. The French eat their soup, just like all other dishes, exquisitely and gracefully - taking their time and enjoying every drop.

9) Baguettes. In general, they love baking in France, and despite this, the French are one of the slimmest nations in the world. According to one of the legends, baguettes were invented by bakers during the war, and the advantage of baguettes is that they are baked very quickly. But even to this day, baguettes are very popular in France. They are usually made without any additives - only flour, yeast and water. If you want to get up early in the morning to catch a fresh hot crispy baguette in the bakery and eat it at breakfast with a cup of coffee, know that you are already half French.

findings

If you are invited to visit in France (in a cafe it is easier, since you can order dishes you are used to), then get ready for a lot of new things. The French rarely put many dishes on the table, but they will certainly treat you to good wine, vegetables and a sweet dessert. French hosts won't force you to eat all that is available - eat and drink a little and keep the conversation going, praise what you like and you don't have to try what you don't want.

What the French don't like

Now let's talk about which dishes the French don't like and which ones you are likely to say goodbye to when you come to live in France for permanent residence. These dishes should not be offered to the French - they fundamentally dislike some of these dishes, and some simply do not understand. The sad thing is that almost all traditionally Russian dishes are on this list.

1) Tea. This drink is drunk on the other side of the English Channel - in Britain. As for the French, they simply do not like tea. Almost never it will be found in a Frenchman's apartment, although in a cafe, most likely, tea will be present on the menu. But even then, for the most part, for foreigners. The French are so unaccustomed to tea that some have hardly ever even tasted it. Plus, tea would undermine the "coffee monopoly" that reigns here almost limitlessly. In short, don't offer tea to the French, but rather brew a cup of coffee for them!

2) Fatty salads. The salad that Russians call Olivier and are proud of its allegedly French origin is actually a nightmare for any Frenchman! Because the composition of such a salad includes everything that contains a lot of calories - eggs, sausage, mayonnaise. For a Frenchman, such a salad is simply unacceptable. Like herring under a fur coat, which is considered a very harmful dish among the French who know about such a salad, and at the same time not particularly tasty. If you want to make a salad for the French, cut up any vegetables and sprinkle them with stronger herbs - your French friends will certainly not refuse.

3) Okroshka. Such a dish seems normal only for Russians. After all, kvass (already an unusual product for foreigners), in which vegetables, eggs and sausage float, looks frightening and unappetizing. If you offer okroshka to a Frenchman, for the first time, divide it into salad and kvass in a glass. However, the dry component of okroshka is too reminiscent of Olivier, and therefore it is very doubtful that the French will eat it.

4) Russian soups. Yes, and rich Russian soups, too, do not like the French. Firstly, they are accustomed to puree soups, and in Russian soups everything that has been sliced \u200b\u200bthere can be seen at a glance. Secondly, the French believe that cabbage soup with sour cream or mayonnaise is literally too fat. If you want to surprise a Frenchman with soup, just grind all the ingredients with a blender, and the Frenchman will be happy.

5) Mayonnaise. Despite the French names for Russian mayonnaise, this sauce (and this is a sauce) seems to the French too fatty and unsophisticated, while they have dozens of other sauces in their national culture - more tasty and healthy, in their opinion.

6) Buckwheat. It would seem that this is not a dish, but just a food product. At the same time, buckwheat has many proven beneficial properties. But the French simply don’t grow it and don’t know it. You will hardly find buckwheat in a French store, moreover, you will need to explain for a long time what it is all about. If you love buckwheat, bring it to France with you or look for specialized stores for those whose souls yearn for the national Russian flavor.

7) Dairy dishes. Milk and in general all products and dishes based on it are not very popular in France. Excluding, of course, cheese, but that's another story. Semolina porridge, milk noodles and many other dishes that seem international are also unknown in France or simply did not take root. Despite the fact that the same semolina or oatmeal is a much healthier breakfast than what a Frenchman usually eats for breakfast - cheese with a baguette and coffee. By the way, the French do not eat oatmeal on the water either, unlike the same Englishmen.

8) Aspic. One of the brightest Russian dishes is, again, incomprehensible to the French. At first glance, it looks unusual and frightening, and it also has a peculiar taste. Despite the fact that the French, in principle, love all such dishes that have a liquid-solid consistency, such as puddings and jellies, their soul usually does not accept jellied meat.

findings

Thus, if you receive French guests, then try to cook not what you are used to eating, but what they are used to eating, so as not to end up being the heroes of the fairy tale about the crane and the fox. The ideal set of dishes for meeting French guests is a vegetable salad, a plate with a lot of cheese, good wine and any meat dishes. This will allow both you and your guests to have a good time eating and talking.

Ecology of consumption. Life: In France, children have no right to open the refrigerator and take whatever they want from there ...

The French don't eat. And their children too.

According to the recollections of grandmothers, they did not eat in our villages either. "Pulling food", "biting" was considered unacceptable and was severely punished. You can often hear: “don't eat it, you will ruin your appetite!”, “You need to work up your appetite”, “eat only at the table”. All this is a reflection of traditional folk culture, for which snacks were unacceptable. Note that there were no refrigerators, and no hot dog bars were on sale.

A similar tradition has been preserved in many countries. Unfortunately, in Belarus such a tradition has been destroyed and there is an aggressive imposition of "healthy snacks". For the average person, there is no "healthy snack", it is as absurd as a "healthy drug." A rare exception can be made for athletes, but this is not what we are talking about now.

According to statistics, 72% of women eat chips, crackers, sweets during the working day, often explaining that these delicacies are the only thing that brightens up their working hours. Many office workers are forced to have a snack right at their desk, since they cannot afford a full meal due to their heavy workload and a large amount of work.

In the United States in the 1950s, “people ate breakfast, lunch, and dinner. They ate at home, the whole family at the same table ... Snacks were the prerogative of children and adolescents - an additional opportunity to feed a growing body. It was not accepted in adults, ”says Meredith Luce, a nutritionist in Orlando. But snacks gradually became the norm, and, as statistics show, this happened in the same 1980s and 1990s. To make matters worse, the calories from a snack are usually not compensated by a decrease in the calorie content of the main meals: we do not consider it necessary to reduce portions at lunch or dinner due to the fact that we chewed all day.

Much of this norm is shaped by the food industry, whose goal is to sell more food. You can't sell much with three meals a day, so marketing has focused on diluting traditional meals and increasing the number of times.

Aggressive introduction: "Do not slow down - snickersney", "you are not you when you are hungry." Introduce new behavioral habits: popcorn during the movie, chips with friends, etc. The inclusion of "liquid calories" - soda. Yes, these are also calories and also a snack!

Outside America, cultural norms tended to reduce the risk of overeating. Snacks are frowned upon in the traditional culture of countries such as Japan, Turkey, France.

Countless publications, based on both research and pure theorizing, have tried to explain the so-called French paradox, which is that French people are less likely to suffer from cardiovascular disease and obesity than Americans, although they consume more fat. According to one theory, the whole point is that in France they cook with healthy olive oil. According to the other, the secret is in red wine. The third argues that the French are healthier because they have less stress in their lives than the Americans, the fourth explains this phenomenon by genetic differences in metabolism. The answer is simpler: the peculiarity of food in France is that the French do not eat.

Note that according to the latest statistics, French women are recognized as the thinnest Europeans. According to the sociologists who conducted the study, they can be ranked in an exceptional category. The body mass index of French women, the ratio between weight and height, is recognized as the lowest in Europe. It is 23.5, while this proportion for women in Ireland is 24.5.

Another nutritional factor in France that protects the French from obesity is the historical tradition of eating two or three times a day, with family or friends, without snacks in between. For a long time, French restaurants even only served customers during what was considered traditional for lunch and dinner.

In France, we still maintain a very strict dietary structure, ”Frans Bellil, who studies obesity at the Hotel Dieu clinic in Paris, told me.

Your cultural background doesn't allow snacks between meals? - I specified.

Yes exactly. From childhood, the French know that this should not be done. It is not right. Bellil often says to her students: “What, nobody brought anything edible to the audience? If we were in America, you would probably come with coffee, donuts and chocolate bars. "

Not so in France. “No one would ever dream of bringing food to the classroom,” she adds. “They never did that, and they are not attracted to the idea. In our environment, nothing provokes the wrong food at the wrong time. "

Alas, French behavior and nutritional standards that provided protection against overeating by requiring us to eat only at certain times of the day are eroding outside America as well.

Even in France, snacks, fast food restaurants and other temptations are already appearing. As the concept of the availability of delicious food is exported from across the ocean, it becomes apparent that conditioned overeating does not respect national boundaries.

Jean-Pierre Poulin, who heads the Center for the Study of the Hospitality Industry at the University of Toulouse (Le Mireille), sees signs of a gradual cultural drift from structured eating to what he calls itinerant eating. He sees this movement as a destructuring of French food traditions. While itinerant eaters still dine and dine with family or friends, they do not miss the opportunity to eat alone several times during the day. Frans Bellil noticed the same trend. “Food-related signals are becoming more numerous and more aggressive,” she says. As a result, obesity begins to threaten the French, and this is especially noticeable in children.

Note that the classic French upbringing of children in the field of nutrition in France does not allow them to bite:

1. In France, children are not allowed to open the refrigerator and take whatever they want from there.They must ask their parents for permission. This not only teaches children to "nibble", but also helps to maintain order in the house.

2. In France, it is not the children who decide what will be for lunch or dinner.No one offers a choice of dishes. All family members eat the same food. It is safer to try this method at home. If the child is not eating something or has barely touched it, react calmly. Do not offer another dish in return. Suppose a child is just beginning to emerge from his childhood dietary restrictions. Make his life easier - prepare meals that all family members like, and then gradually introduce new ones into the diet.

3. Perhaps the basic tenet of the French approach to baby food is that the child should try at least a piece of what is on the plate... I am sure that not all French families consider this rule sacred, but I have never met such a rule.

Try to imagine the "taste rule" to your child as a certain law of nature - the same gravity. Explain that our tastes are shaped by what we eat. If the child is nervous and does not want to try something for the first time, offer him at least a sniff of a bite (maybe he will bite off a little). Offer only one new product at a time. Serve the dish that the child likes with him.

Watch this process, but do not be like a jailer. Remain calm, or better yet, turn everything into a game. After the child has finally swallowed the coveted bite, praise him. React neutral if he doesn't like it. Never offer another dish in return. Don't forget that your game is long term. You don't want your baby to eat an artichoke once in a lifetime, and then under pressure. Your goal is to gradually teach him to love artichokes.

4. Even if a product does not succeed with your child, do not give up and offer it again after a while. Add broccoli to soup, serve with melted cheese, or sauté in oil. Broccoli may never be your child's favorite food, but each new flavor increases their chances of becoming familiar. And then you will boldly include broccoli in the family menu. Of course, a child does not have to love all foods. But you will at least give each of them a chance.

5. The French talk a lot about food.It is part of the food culture in France. These conversations help them instill in children the idea that food is not only the source of the body's vital activity. Food is an interesting gustatory experience.French manuals on children's education suggest not to limit the conversation about food with children to just one "like it or not," but advise asking questions: "Are these apples sour or sweet?", "How does the taste of mackerel differ from the taste of salmon?" : red leaf lettuce or arugula? "

Think of food as an invitation to conversation. If the cake falls apart or the roast turns out to be inedible, laugh at it together. In the supermarket, walk along the grocery rows with your child, invite him to choose fruits and vegetables.

From 1980 to 2008, scientists at Harvard University and British Imperial College conducted research on obesity. It turned out that the slimmest women live in Switzerland, Italy and France. More than 10 years have passed since then, but it is still difficult to meet fat women in the narrow streets of French cities.

What are the secrets of the harmony of local beauties? After all, they enjoy desserts, crispy baguette and soft cheese with such pleasure. Read this article and find out how French women do without diets.

5 main principles of nutrition in France

How exactly do French women lose weight? No way. They just don't get better because they eat right. However, the secrets of harmony and beauty are not in strict diets and rejection of harmful foods. French women eat everything - sweet, flour, fatty. Drink alcoholic beverages. But how do they do it ???

Diet should not be violated

Breakfast, lunch, dinner are holy things for a French woman. She will never miss a meal due to the fact that she gained 0.5 kg in the last week. The French woman tries to eat at the same time every day. But does not necessarily comply with the rule of no dinner after 18:00.

Important! The peculiarity of food in France is the absence of snacks. This habit is instilled in the French in childhood. If the child complains of hunger and demands to buy something, then the mother will most likely ask you to be patient until lunchtime. By the way, in French schools it is forbidden to sell sweet soda, fast food and breakfast cereals.

How is it beneficial for the figure to follow the diet?

The digestive organs (stomach, intestines) love stability and work correctly, which has a positive effect on metabolism.
Due to the lack of snacks, excess calories do not enter the body.

Try and you give up sweets and cookies in between main meals. Most likely, you will no longer be bothered by bouts of severe hunger caused by sharp surges in blood sugar levels.

Food is a source of pleasure

The secret of the harmony of French women is that they eat a variety of foods. If the brain receives a signal of pleasure, then the feeling of fullness comes faster. Therefore, women in France make do with micro-portions.

For example, a slice of baked red fish, three tablespoons of your favorite leafy salad, a slice of baguette with a drop of butter and herbs. And for dessert - a cube of elite dark chocolate with a cup of coffee. The peak of pleasure comes from the variety of flavors, not the sheer amount of calories.

Tip: Try an interesting experiment. On the first day for breakfast, eat a grilled chicken wing with 3 tablespoons of brown rice (about 270 kcal). On the second day - a large plate of unleavened porridge (100 grams of dry brown rice - 330 kcal). Then compare how fast the hunger sets in on different occasions.

What other habits of French women drive away the desire to overeat:

exquisite table setting: tablecloths, napkins, beautiful cutlery, fresh flowers in a vase;
calm music (promotes slow chewing of food, relaxation of the stomach walls).

How nice it is to get real pleasure from food and not get better at the same time. Take an example from the slender women of France.

Love for water and healthy drinks

Every second, if not the first article on a healthy lifestyle contains this advice: "Drink plenty of water." In hot weather, an adult is recommended to drink at least 2 liters, in cold weather - 1.5 liters.

The secret of the harmony of French women (judging by the reviews of our compatriots temporarily living in France) is that they regularly pamper the body with clean water.

And they also do not disdain such drinks:

mineral water;
herbal or green tea;
tomato juice.

At the same time, slender women in France hardly buy sugary soda and packaged juices... These drinks are high in calories, simple sugars and have no nutrients at all.

Important! Numerous studies (notably the Auckland Research Institute 2008) confirm a direct relationship between weight loss and clean water. The latter speeds up metabolism, increases daily calorie consumption and reduces appetite.

What about the red wine that French women adore so much?

Naturally, the benefits for the figure will only be if you consume red wine in moderation. French women try to drink no more than 2 glasses a day.

Tip: Choose dry red wines. They are less high in calories.

Quality comes first, not quantity

The secret of the harmony of French women is also in the fact that the latter are trying to buy high quality products. Instead of cheap milk chocolate, a resident of France will choose an expensive bitter one. Popular desserts are fruit tartlets and airy croissants. And not fatty waffles, cakes and cookies, as in Russia and other CIS countries.

Important! In France, it is customary to buy vegetables, fruits, legumes and cheese from local markets.

Minimum salt, sugar and industrial additives

Since France has a high standard of living, local women can afford to eat in good restaurants and bistros. They do not buy convenience foods, fast food and other foods with a lot of E-additives, salt and refined sugar for breakfast and lunch.... Accordingly, they have no problems with metabolism and digestive tract organs.

But what should the residents of less wealthy countries do to preserve their beauty and harmony? Buy unprocessed foods from the store and cook yourself. Don't be lazy! Take to work "with you". How else?!

Advice! replace sugar and salt in dishes with wine vinegar, lemon juice, herbs and healthy spices: rosemary, "khmeli-suneli", hot pepper, ground garlic.

How physical activity helps French women stay slim

"Beauty requires sacrifice" is a motto that a slender French woman doesn't even want to hear about. On the contrary, she is sure that only pleasant actions can benefit health and appearance.

The secrets of the harmony of French women lie in the ability to combine physical activity with relaxation. So they do not lose the desire to move a lot. Why torture yourself with heavy exercise machines in a stuffy gym when there are tons of other ways to keep your weight up?

For example, a French woman will not refuse:

from walking around the city (5-10 km per day);
jogging in the park;
cycling (you can go to and from work);
ice skating and skiing in winter;
hiking;
swimming in the pool, aqua aerobics;
dancing;
yoga.

The main thing is that the chosen activity is enjoyable. This helps you win in the long run. After all, if you do not like something, sooner or later you will quit what you started.

Important! Exercise in France is a joyful lifestyle, not a way to work off the calories you eat.

Expert Veronika Sasina, instagram: dietolog_vs, nutritionist, nutritionist-consultant Rostov-on-Don:

“Secrets of harmony. What is important to know?
Know, but there are no secrets! As there are no magic diet pills and miraculous conspiracies to the moon.
In fact, the secret of harmony is only in observing certain rules, habits and a healthy lifestyle.
So, the basic rules are:

correct sleep and wakefulness;

proper nutrition is the basis of the basics. Eat more fresh vegetables and fruits;

milk only from trusted farmers. If it is a store, then only from a trusted brand;

sports and physical activity are a must, choose an active holiday that will suit you. If it is fun, it will definitely benefit;

do not forget to pamper yourself with spa treatments and massages at home or in the salon - it doesn't matter;

body cleansing, detox. Spend at least once a week a fasting day, you can use kefir, vegetables or smoothies. This will positively affect the intestinal microflora and the gastrointestinal tract. Accordingly, the complexion will be fresh and beautiful.

As you can see, everything is not so difficult. You just need to follow your lifestyle, eat right and play sports. And you will have happiness and a beautiful figure. "

Stellar secrets of slimness

There are many beautiful and fit actresses, singers, and models among French women. Not all of them are on strict diets and do liposuction. What are the secrets of the harmony of the stars? I have collected for you the most interesting facts from interviews with celebrities.

Cindy Bruna, model

Participates in Victoria's Secret shows. How does she manage to be so skinny? Cindy Bruna tries to cook her own meals every day, loves wine, is engaged in sophrology (relaxation technique), and attends a fitness club 3 times a week. Her motto: "Everything is good in moderation."

Marion Cotillard, actress

At 43, he looks no older than 30. Like other slender French women, he prefers small portions, but does not follow strict diets. He walks a lot, rides a bicycle, loves water procedures, regularly visits the spa.

Jeanne Damas, star Instagram

What are her secrets of beauty and harmony? If Jeanne is going to a party in the evening, then during the day she refuses desserts and even fruits. Drinks a lot of pure water and green tea.

Vanessa Paradis, actress, singer and fashion model

Not everyone likes Vanessa's appearance. But you can't argue with the fact that this woman has a slender figure. In an interview, she listed her secrets of harmony: warm water with lemon juice in the morning on an empty stomach, avoiding grains and dairy products, yoga. Also, Vanessa Paradis is fond of non-traditional medicine, in particular, acupuncture and homeopathy.

Singrid Agren, model

Born and raised on the island of Martinique, she loves fish. He tries to buy organic products in the markets and does not use semi-finished products in his diet. Eat small meals and drink a lot of water.

Sophie Marceau, actress and filmmaker

Even at 53, she retains the figure and mischievous look of a young girl. She calls good sleep and morning exercises her secrets of beauty and harmony. From products he prefers cereals, yoghurt, fish and tea with milk. Vegetarian. Doesn't eat fried food at all.

Should I take dietary supplements for weight loss?

In the last 5 years, many dietary supplements for weight loss have appeared in pharmacies, in particular, "The Beaver's Secret, Perfect Harmony", "Hoodia Gordonia", "Neo Slim", and there are even positive reviews on the Internet about their use. Is it worth spending money to speed up your weight loss process?

I have never seen any information that French women and other slender women take such supplements. At the same time, some components in dietary supplements can affect metabolism. For example, chitosan from Beaver's Secret binds and removes fats from the body. There are substances that normalize blood glucose levels and reduce appetite.

Advice: if finances permit, you can take dietary supplements for weight loss. However, they are not a substitute for proper nutrition and exercise.

So, what are the secrets of the harmony of French women? In self love... They eat exquisite and varied dishes, lead an active lifestyle, and are in no hurry. If you are tired of agonizing diets and boring exercise in the gym, radically change your approach to losing weight. Learn to find joy in every action, stop blaming and punishing yourself. The weight will begin to melt. Though slowly, but irrevocably.

Food has long been a part of French culture. And not just food, but healthy and correct food. Is it possible to find fast food restaurants and various eateries with a high-calorie menu in the country of high fashion and delicious cuisine? Of course yes. But most of their visitors are tourists or those locals who rarely allow themselves such a snack. So what do the French eat for breakfast, lunch and dinner?

To begin with, they generally do not rush anywhere during a meal, but eat in a measured manner, serving an abundance of healthy dishes. Even breakfast is not just cereal and coffee or toast, but something that will give you a boost of vivacity and energy for the whole day. they have a lot, but we chose the main ones, which will not just open the screen, but will give a clear answer to the question, what do the French eat?

5 fruits or vegetables

What do the French like to eat? They firmly believe that by eating five vegetables or fruits daily, they protect themselves from excess weight, diabetes and even the formation of cancerous tumors. By choosing the right foods, you can also detoxify and improve your mental acuity.

So now in more detail: you need to eat 0.5 kg of fresh vegetables and fruits... Don't let the figure scare you, everything is feasible. Eat an orange and an apple for breakfast, and a cucumber, tomato and onion salad for dinner. With this approach, the norm can even be exceeded.

No fries

Do the French eat famous? Let's just say he is not very popular with them. The presence of trans fats in your favorite French fries is very high, and if in America their daily consumption is 8-10 g, then in France it is only 2.7 g.

Except potatoes from a fast food restaurant the French also refuse from bars with chocolate icing and cakes with sweet cream.

What do the French eat? They follow a Mediterranean diet: low in fat, high in complex carbohydrates, fish three times a week, vegetables with every meal and legumes twice a week.

The right olive oil

What is it? Only the first cold pressing. According to the latest research, this product helps prevent heart disease, obesity and diabetes. This is what ordinary French people eat.

80% of meals need to be steamed

Low calorie content isn't the only benefit of steamed food. It retains its shape and color, smell and taste, as well as a lot of useful substances. For example, while cooking a product the percentage of loss of vitamin C is 55%, and for a couple - 30%. Wondering what the French eat for breakfast. So steamed vegetables are considered one of their favorite treats.

Some whole grain bread

It is very dense, with a high content of organic acids, which are produced by lactic acid bacteria. But he has the lowest. Whole grain bread is loaded with a large number of trace elements that are perfectly absorbed thanks to phytase.

They also refuse most of the dinner. While the French eat various foods raw or steamed during the day, in the evening their menu consists of green salad, fruits, a small amount of almonds and a slice of toasted whole grain bread. If you follow these rules, you can improve your health, lose weight safely and generally feel better in every way. Ready? Keep the link and go for it.