French Food, Fat and Big Meals: Cultural

[HOLLY_L]

I'm not sure exactly what this topic has evolved into, but I recently read this old quote that seems somewhat on point:

Like other chefs of the region, Michel Trama faces a difficult task. The local people are used to eating well, and abundantly. They want hearty food and a lot of it. Those not of the region prefer a more refined cuisine, smaller portions of inventive, yet light fare. As Mr. Trama likes to say: ''No matter what I do, the portions are too small for the locals, too big for those passing through.''

NY Times

I have also for years heard many complaints in the U.S. similar to what Ptipois describes:

A sentence that is often heard in French about "restaurants gastronomiques" is that "c'est bien mais y a rien dans l'assiette" (it's nice but there is nothing on the plates), which is not really true because many plates of a little something amount to something very big indeed, but at least that's what it's reputed to be. Besides, it is true of some restaurants. That is a tendency that has been going on for some time now.

This may be a separate issue than portion size more generally though.

Re American portion size at casual restaurants, I have seen commercials for TGI Fridays emphasizing "Right Portions," and while the portions still seem generous from the pictures, it may be the beginning of movement to portions that are at least not so ridiculous. Although the Fridays page notes: "Smaller portions leave more room for appetizers, desserts and, of course, margaritas."

TGI Fridays

[Vinotas]

As someone who travels between the US and France a LOT, I can attest to the fact that portions are smaller in France, in general. Now, there are exceptions, of course, but I have to say that after having similar meals on both sides of the pond, I almost never feel uncomfortably stuffed in France. Granted, that just means I need to watch what I eat no matter where I am, but I find that, again in general, I am less full after meals in France than in the US.

In addition, I do feel that ingredients in France tend to be "healthier" and more "natural" than in the US. After long periods in France, I can't help noticing how sweet and salty foods seem in the US. And not to get into too many disgusting details, but I do find that I am much more easily bloated after meals in the US than in France, for some reason.

So I don't think France is becoming super-sized, as there is a culture of healthy appreciation for food as opposed to viewing food as fuel. The US is changing, thank God, but it's a slow process. There are still too many crappy McDo's and Applebees all over the place (even, God help us, in NYC now!).

Cheers!

[John Talbott]

Today's Figaro on page 12 of the pdf had an article on obesity in the US vs France that boils down to the finding that: the French stop eating because of internal signals, eg satiety, whereas Americans stop because of external ones, eg the end of a TV show or when others stop. The American reference is Obesity 15:2920-2924 (2007).