What do real French women eat? 7 French women shared their menu for the day

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What do real French women eat? 7 French women shared their menu for the day

Looking around in a crowd in France - be it Paris or a small town - you are unlikely to see seriously obese women, even the average overweight people here are few. And you also don't see many people, both men and women, with the bulging muscles of a disciplined athlete, even just chiseled bodies.

Why? Because in France, moderation and pleasure are lifelong mantras, this is how they are raised, this is how they stay healthy and this is how they live in general.

Refusal of food and some of its types, a negative attitude towards food, consumption of factory-made food - all this is not the norm.

Most French women don't go to the gym to get a toned figure. They go there because they know how useful it is. They find a physical activity they can enjoy and know they'll feel great afterwards (and look better in skinny jeans).

But ask any ordinary French woman: how often does she go to exercise? Maximum 1-2 times a week. And very rarely in the morning before work, since most fitness centers in France are open from 9 am. So forget about training 5 days a week at 5 am.

Does training 1-2 times a week seem to be not enough? But French women are constantly moving, spending hours walking and climbing stairs. And this is every day!

A family walk on a weekend afternoon is a common occurrence, but they don't even consider it "exercise." It is also normal for them to walk their children to kindergarten/school and take them home, go shopping and then climb up to the 7th floor with heavy bags in their hands.

So, despite visiting the fitness center or playing tennis a couple of times a week, French women are constantly moving. And if you're lucky enough to live somewhere in the French Alps, fitness is second nature: hiking, biking, water sports, skiing and more are an integral part of any weekend getaway.

As with their active lifestyle and fitness, French women practice moderation in their eating too. No type of food is avoided (including fatty dairy products, alcohol, sweets and all types of bread); however, being careful in the quantity and frequency of such treats is how they manage to balance moderation, pleasure and health.

During lunch, a French woman may refuse bread, but on the weekend she will never miss a glass of champagne and lemon tart.

There are no deprivations or absolute rules in the life of a French woman. It's all about wise choices, quantities and opportunities, and eating right most of the time. French-style eating is very easy to maintain for a long time, or even a lifetime, because you can eat a little bit of everything, although the main emphasis is on healthy, natural food.

We can talk for a very long time about how French women stay slim. But nothing will give a clearer picture than a visual menu of real French women. Rebekah Plantier, a famous author living in France, asked her French friends to photograph everything they eat in a day to show their diet clearly.

There are no fancy or unusual ingredients here, just everything the average French woman eats in a typical day. Rebekah asked them to take pictures of everything, including drinks, snacks and dessert.

Instead of photos of French food, each of Plantier's friends summarized the nutrition and health recommendations that they themselves apply in everyday life. This will make it easier for us to understand their food choices, as well as their lifestyle and cultural undertones.

The French also included types of physical activity during the week and ways to recover from “overeating” on special occasions: on vacation, on weekends and holidays.

Katya's Day: menu and tips

Breakfast

Homemade buckwheat pancakes with almond butter, raisins and a cup of organic vegetable juice.

Dinner

Fish cooked with tomatoes, onions, ginger and pepper, basmati rice, fruit salad.

Snack at 5 p.m.

Apple, herbal tea.

Dinner at 20 o'clock

Homemade vegetable soup (carrots, potatoes, leeks, zucchini) and salad of endive, half an avocado, olives, pumpkin and flaxseeds.

Katya's advice on health, beauty and slimness

1. If she wants dessert after dinner, she eats a few pieces of dark chocolate (80%).

2. She doesn’t eat cheese every day; she usually chooses goat cheese.

3. Katie usually drinks up to 1.5 liters of herbal teas and water per day.

4. For fitness, she does Pilates once a week and at least two workouts on the weekends: hiking, biking, skiing, etc., depending on the season.

5. On weekdays she often eats in restaurants, so when preparing food at home, she uses as many vegetables as possible.

Daily menu for French women in detail and with photographs: 7 complexes

It seems that French women have always been (and still remain) role models for Belarusian women: thin, feminine, light... And how do they manage to do this?

Most likely, they have some kind of secret..?!

It turns out that French women really do have some secrets. If you find yourself anywhere in France (whether in a big city or in the countryside), you won't find even a few overweight people.

But in the same way, you will not find those who have pumped up bodies with elastic, as if inflated muscles... And at the same time, most French women do not limit themselves in food!

And all because in France the main principles - moderation and pleasure - help people stay healthy and live a full life.

French women don’t force themselves into the gym just to meet some standard, no.

They go there because it brings them pleasure.

, they found it enjoyable, and they know they'll feel better (and look better in skinny jeans) after working out.

But if you ask the average Frenchman how often he goes to the gym, the answer will be once or twice a week. And most likely, the workout will not take place in the morning hours before work, since most gyms do not open until 9 am.

So no one here overworks themselves with five-day training sessions lasting several hours a day.

However, even outside the gym, French women adhere to a fairly active lifestyle: they walk, move a lot and do not avoid climbing stairs. And we? This is where it comes...

Girls from France know how to keep their figures slim when it comes to food. For most women there are no dietary restrictions (including full-fat dairy products, alcohol, sweets and bread of all kinds).

They know how to find a harmonious balance between moderation and pleasure

when you don’t overeat, but still have time to enjoy your food.

And no one talks about any restrictions: they eat a little of everything, but place more emphasis on healthy and fresh foods.

Let's look at some examples of what French women eat during a typical day. Very interesting! Perhaps you will find something useful for yourself. So, seven ordinary girls and their ordinary complexes for the whole day.

Complex one

Breakfast:

homemade buckwheat pancakes with almond butter, raisins and a cup of organic vegetable juice.

Dinner:

fish cooked with tomatoes, onions, ginger and pepper; basmati rice; fruit salad.

Snack (at 17.00):

apple, herbal tea.

Dinner (at 20.00):

homemade vegetable soup (carrots, potatoes, leeks, zucchini) and salad of endive, half an avocado, olives, sprinkled with flax seeds.

If a girl wants to eat something sweet at the end of lunch, she always has a bar of dark chocolate (80 percent) with her. She also drinks up to 1.5 liters of herbal tea and water per day.

For physical exercise, Pilates once a week and several workouts on weekends; walking, biking, skiing, snowshoeing - depending on the season.

If a girl stays to eat at home and does not go to a restaurant, then she gives preference to a large amount of vegetables.

Complex two

Breakfast:

mixed grains with almond milk, almonds, walnuts, goji berries and fresh pear, and herbal tea.

Dinner:

chicken with leeks, rice, cheese and bread

Dinner:

pasta with peas, onions and peppers, and salad with beets, carrots and dressing.

During the day, the girl drinks water and herbal teas, and on weekends she can drink up to two glasses of wine.
Avoids large amounts of sugar and dairy products, prefers lentils, chickpeas, and omega-3 products. Her weekly exercise routine includes Pilates and lower body workouts.

Complex three

Breakfast:

a large bowl of fresh fruit and yogurt, tea.

Dinner:

salmon with red pepper, cucumber and avocado salad, cheese and two fruits.

Dinner:

sausage, green beans, potatoes, cheese, bread, fruit and applesauce.

This girl's exercise includes walking, Pilates, dancing and tennis, and she also plays golf several times a month.

Complex four

Breakfast:

A fairly typical French breakfast of brioche, butter, honey and coffee.

Dinner:

steak and green beans. Dessert - one spoon of chestnut cream with coffee.

Snack:

chocolate brioche.

Dinner:

some charcuterie, capers, blue cheese, bread and fruit.

The girl advises everyone to eat until their hunger is satisfied (and never more). For dessert, she either has cheese or something sweet - and never both... Depending on what she eats at lunch, she sometimes skips the snacks.

Every day she eats bread, a teaspoon of honey, and drinks one glass of wine. At lunch she always eats a lot of vegetables.

Complex fifth

Breakfast:

bread and butter and coffee.

Dinner:

salmon, salad, zucchini pate (she makes it herself with zucchini, eggs, milk, spices) and fruit salad for dessert.

Dinner:

generous servings of risotto and vegetable soup.

The fifth girl's secret is that she doesn't eat anything else between meals. She does physical exercises every day, and which ones exactly depend on how she feels.

Complex six

Breakfast:

dark bread with jam or honey, coffee, fruit or yogurt.

Dinner:

chicken breast, rice, roasted vegetables and endive salad. Plus Greek yogurt for dessert.

Snack:

usually two fruits to choose from (such as a banana and an apple) or one fruit and a small handful of nuts.

Dinner:

a large bowl of vegetarian soup, a slice of ham and bread.

On weekends, the girl allows herself to drink a glass or two of wine, sweets or a sweet dessert - several times a week. Once a week she eats only vegetables in the form of salads or soups, giving her body a break from meat, fish and eggs.

On days when there is no meat in the girl’s diet, she drinks up to 3 liters of water to help “cleanse” the body.

He does physical exercise every day: it can even be just a walk in the afternoon and classes on weekends (tennis, swimming).

Complex seven

Breakfast:

bread or crackers with butter, honey, kiwi and tea.

Dinner:

baked cod, salad with various vegetables and a spoonful of rice.

Dinner:

vegetable soup, salad, lentils and yogurt.

During the day, the girl drinks a lot of water and green tea. After the festive dinner, vegetables, fish or chicken remain in her diet. If she is hungry between meals, she always has some fruit with her.

Physical exercise includes swimming in the lake and water aerobics up to three times a week, as well as cycling around the city.

As you can see, good physical fitness and a great figure do not mean grueling workouts and starvation to the point of fainting. Everything is much simpler, more natural and pleasant. Take it for yourself and be irresistible!

VELVET

Dolphin Day: menu and tips

Breakfast

Mixed grain porridge with almond milk, almonds, walnuts, goji berries and fresh pear. Herb tea.

Dinner

Chicken with leeks, rice, cheese and bread.

Dinner

Pasta with green peas, onions and sweet peppers, beetroot and carrot salad with vinaigrette dressing.

Dolphin's advice on health, beauty and slimness

1. During the day, Dolphin drinks water and herbal teas.

2. On weekends he can drink up to 2 glasses of wine.

3. Avoids sugar and dairy products.

4. Eat plenty of lentils, chickpeas, quinoa and omega-3 foods.

5. If she drinks too much at parties, she drinks a lot of broth the whole next day.

6. During the week, she does Pilates and exercises to tone her legs and buttocks.

French diet for weight loss for 14 days: sample menu for every day (table)

Repeat the menu schedule for another week.

Vanina Day: menu and tips

Breakfast

Large bowl of fresh fruit, yogurt, tea.

Dinner

Salmon with red pepper, avocado and cucumber salad, cheese, 2 types of fruit.

Dinner

Sausage, green beans, potatoes, cheese, bread, fruit and applesauce.

Vanina's advice on health, beauty and slimness

1. Vanina tries to make herself a light dinner several times a week (less quantity, light composition and preparation) in order to balance out unhealthy or heavy meals in restaurants or at parties.

2. Her weekly activities include constant walking, Pilates, tap dancing and tennis. She ice skates every winter and plays golf several times a month.

Catherine Day: menu and tips

Breakfast

A fairly typical French breakfast of brioche, honey, butter and coffee.

Dinner

Steak and green beans. Dessert: 1 spoon of chestnut cream with coffee.

Snack

Chocolate bun (brioche).

Dinner

This type of light dish is often served in France: some meat, capers, blue cheese, bread and fruit.

Katrin's advice on health, beauty and slimness

1. Eats until full, no more.

2. Never takes supplements (unless when visiting).

3. For dessert - either cheese or sweets, but never both.

4. Always includes carbohydrates in your meals.

5. Eats in moderation for breakfast, the main course for lunch, and light dinner.

6. Depending on the size and nutritional content of the lunch, you may skip the afternoon snack.

7. Every day: 1 teaspoon of honey, 1 glass of wine and bread.

8. Enjoy a croissant or chocolate bread on the weekends.

9. Always eat a lot of vegetables for lunch.

Benefits of the French Diet

Allows you to eat and try all foods, but within reasonable limits. If you've ever watched a movie set in France, you've probably noticed that French women spend a lot of time in restaurants and cafes, eating all the goodies, drinking wine and smoking (and a lot of sex - but we don't know if there is a the real connection between sex and diet).

It's true - these women do not deny themselves anything that could bring them pleasure.

Corinne's Day: menu and tips

Breakfast

Bread and butter and coffee.

Dinner

Salmon, salad, zucchini terrine (she makes it herself from zucchini, eggs, milk and spices) and fruit salad for dessert.

Dinner

Generous portion of risotto and vegetable soup.

Corinne's tips for health, beauty and slimness

1. No snacking between meals.

2. Exercise every day. The type of physical activity varies depending on how you feel.

3. A short nap during the day, if possible.

4. Regular body care.

5. Home-cooked meals for the whole family are key (Corinne is a fan of the Thermomix kitchen robot for simple, quick, healthy meals).

Sophie's Day: menu and tips

Breakfast

A campagne baguette (dark bread) with either jam or local honey, coffee, fruit (banana that day) and sometimes plain yoghurt.

Dinner

Chicken breast, rice, roasted vegetables and endive salad. Not pictured is the Greek yogurt for dessert.

Snack

Usually two fruits (that day it was a banana and an apple) or one fruit and a handful of nuts.

Dinner

A large bowl of vegetable soup, a piece of ham and bread.

Sophie's tips for health, beauty and slimness

1. A couple of glasses of wine only on the weekends.

2. Exercise daily - in any form. Sophie usually goes for a walk in the afternoon and plays tennis and swimming on the weekends.

3. Sweets or desserts a couple of times a week. She tries to do this less often.

4. Once a week, eat only vegetables in the form of salads and soups, giving the body a break from digesting meat, fish and eggs.

5. Favorite drink is water. On meat-fasting days, Sophie drinks up to three liters of water to help her body “cleanse” from the inside.

6. Every three months, Sophie goes for a massage/facial and takes a day off from her family (alone or with friends).