Why The French Are Healthier Than Americans

French people are healthier than Americans. We are known to smoke a lot, and apparently, we don’t bathe often, but despite that, I am convinced that we live healthier than Americans. And that is for one reason; our diet is healthier.

It seems contradictory since we like cheese a lot. We also eat a lot of bread and buttery pastries. Surprisingly, the reason also isn't because we have better products in France. I would like to share with you the reason why we are healthier. I hope that this will help you understand the mentality française and guide you towards a healthier lifestyle.

What French People talk about

Food is one of the most important topics of discussion among the French. Everyone talks about it for a good reason too... to make and eat better food!

For example, it's not uncommon for a coworker to make smalltalk saying “Oh, did you hear? The new market sells the best-cured meat” before a meeting. Another day someone blurts out telling fellow employees “I cook one cake a week!” out of eagerness to share this almost patriotic love for cooking we, as French people, all seem to share.

We learn, and get inspired sharing these stories about la cuisine. I even remember a discussion I was having with friends where out of nowhere, someone shared that sometimes people will add water to cheap bacon in stores to make it look like you're getting a thicker piece of meat. C'est choquant, isn't it? Not only about the useful bacon fact tip, but also about the conservations that are had in France! French people always have opinions about what they eat, and they love to share those opinions!

The second reason why French people are healthier is thanks to our supermarkets. Surprisingly, the answer is not in the organic section but in the frozen section. Compared to the United States, there are far fewer varieties of prepared foods. Many Americans coming to France are shocked at the lack of choice in the frozen food aisle. This is because French people cook their food rather than buying processed food.

We have this belief, which is also a truth, that a homemade dish is much healthier than a processed product. French people are healthier, because they spend more time cooking. The two reasons form a cycle. We like to cook our own meals ,and we want to talk about it. It’s not because we live in France that we eat healthier. We are healthier because the French have a different culture and mentality when it comes to food. By understanding this difference, we can get inspired to live a healthier lifestyle.

Changing the mentality

We just need to change the mentality. But how? Here’s one way. Obviously, there are different ways, but I suggest starting in the kitchen. Think of your favorite dish that makes you nostalgic, a dish that defines you. What you think of could be simple, gourmand, anything works!

Try to make this dish yourself, looking for the best recipe on the internet, or even by asking a relative. Also try to buy as little processed food as possible. For example, if it’s a pasta dish, be adventurous, crack some eggs into some flour and make the pasta with your own hands!

Once you’ve made your dish, enjoy it. You can be totally satisfied with it, but think about how to improve it. Not just salt or pepper, but what spices you need to add, what element could be improved? Once you find the answers, remember it for the next time you make that same dish.

And, voilà, once you’ve done that, you have la mentalité française (the French mentality). If you continue in this way, you will naturally get a healthier lifestyle. Because you’ll see how challenging and fun it is to cook, and you won’t limit yourself to that one dish. You'll want to expand your cooking "vocabulary". Cooking is an investment. We spend more time, and sometimes we can spend more money than usual, but we should know that it's simply the price we pay to be healthy.

If you enjoyed this article and want to read my other work, remember to follow me! I also love reading your comments and personal experiences with cooking, food culture, and la vie gourmande! Merci!