French children don't snack

Snacking isn't the issue, it's caloric intake. What some people call a snack here can sometimes constitute a meal, calorie-wise, and aren't burning enough calories to keep from gaining weight. And they'll have those huge snacks throughout the day in addition to sizable meals. If you eat a crap ton of calories but burn more than you consume, you're not going to be fat. The less physical activity you do, the less calories you have to take in to lose weight.

It seems to me one of the reasons that previously 'thin' countries are starting to experience growing obesity is down to the infiltration of American culture via the media and the on-going global march of homogeneous crappy food brands and fast food outlets. There's nothing quite so depressing, for instance, to see a photo of some kid in an African slum sporting a Coke t-shirt.

I believe that one of the reasons for over-consumption is over-availability of calorie dense, nutrient poor food. In the 70s rural Britain of my childhood we did indeed have afternoon tea at 4pm (dinner was 7.30pm) and that involved tea (obviously) and a piece of cake. Homemade cake. There were no crisps, chocolate, biscuits etc etc in the house and we certainly weren't allowed to help ourselves to food outside of mealtimes (food was bloody expensive in the 70s!) We didn't have fast food joints, global chain coffee shops and sandwich bars. The only thing that could you get delivered was milk. There weren't any 'ready meals' so people cooked from scratch. There was also cultural rules - for instance I was brought up that being told that eating whilst walking or driving around was 'bad manners' and in all honesty I still cringe when I see someone walking along filling their face.

I do think that with the trend of eating on the move we're in danger of not only losing essential cooking skills, but also the social skills that are acquired from a family sitting round a table together to eat.

I am just wondering how the French have such rigid set times for meals........ do all jobs over there start and finish at the same times of the day, no shiftwork etc?

Days in mainland Europe are arranged differently. Spain, Portugal etc, the heat make sit impossible to do anything during the afternoon. So everyone starts really early, eats and snooze the afternoon away, go back to work early evening then promenade until late (including small children).

France, on the whole, has a more relaxed working day too. They, like many less 'westernised/Americanised' countries, arrange work around lifestyle rather than the other way round. They are more family centred and really do work to live, not live to work.

It was the same in the UK not so long ago. Shops closed at lunchtime every weekday, Wednesday and Saturday afternoons and all of Sunday. We managed. It wasn't horrendous, no-one died. But now we chase every penny......

I think it is all part of the same thing, an instant culture. I want/need it now. I don't have time to make food from scratch, eat slowly, sit up at the table, live as a united family, etc. While we live fast we will live fat, correlation, cause/effect, who cares? Studies in the future may well show a trigger or causation. Until then, for some of us older bods, our lives have become fatter as they have become faster.

So part of my weight loss journey has had to include making real food, nothing prepackaged here. We also only use full fat products, real sugar, butter etc and simply reduce portion sizes. So I do indeed have my cake and I eat it, but only at meal times as I have never snacked

OP, if you didn't want people to discuss it, then you shouldn't have posted it in an open forum.

Actually, I quite disagree. I have found the majority of the discussion in this thread to be very interesting by people giving opinions on both sides. And I welcome opinions on both sides when they are given in a courteous manner. Unfortunately, there are some (as here) that will show up in a thread looking only to start being rude to others and issuing personal attacks. Many times (as here) referring to things that were never said. I think anyone who read carefully what was written made some comments in disgust towards a particular member, and frankly I don't blame them.

With that said, if you have something else to contribute to the discussion, in reference to the article (either pro or con), please feel free.

I read pretty carefully and, as far as I can tell, Beach Iron was the only person making sense for a bit there and, per usual, when someone dares try to analyze and not just accept people got their feathers rustled and lashed out.

It'd almost be funny, if it weren't A. Typical of these forums and B. So damn sad.


And he didn't personally attack anyone, except maybe the author of the article, by calling her a bored housewife which, let's be honest...is the vibe the article gives off. That's not even mean, its observational.

I have a friend who is French and live in France, he has definitely refered to snacking before. How come they sell biscuits (British for cookie, I don't mean whatever American biscuit is) in that country? I don't think people eat biscuits for their meal. I would guess snacking is less usual, but not like it don't happen.

The French invented biscuits: 'biscuit' is French for 'baked twice'. :-D

Interesting article and discussion! Enjoyed reading this thread! Very insightful!

When I was a child, growing up in America, snacking was not nearly so prevalent. There would be milk and cookies after school, but that was about it. Schools also did not have vending machines. Less of an issue for children, there were no ATMs and you used credit cards only for bigger items so if you didn't have cash you were SOL.

But there are some satisfying fight backs - like the school that totally boycotted the McDs that opened up directly opposite its gates. The school had a renewed call for traditional French food and the kids chose, liver and kidneys over a burger

Just got back from France. I spent much of my time with a French family and noticed how they only brought out a snack every few days in the evening. They'd only eat one, like a small chocolate just for a little taster, similar to an after-dinner mint. Then they'd put the snacks away.

Mealtimes were very controlled and healthy. Dinner was usually something like achovy pate on very small slices of baguette. They'd eat maybe two small pieces followed by peppers, turkey or chicken with tomatoes... but all very small portions. They were delish! Then a couple more very small slices of baguette with a little Camembert cheese. Finally a small yogurt for dessert or piece of fruit. Some rosee wine too.

It's normal to put weight on whilst on vacation but I actually lost 2 pounds! I'm delighted!

Most of the family are in their 30s or 40s, the parents are in their mid to late 60s. Everybody does 2 or 3 days exercise each week, mostly road cycling for 3 hours each session. Sometimes a swim in the sea. Nobody goes to the gym or does strength training/other exercises.

When we hit the beach, they all had flat stomachs. Not six packs but all in really great shape! I was showing my parents the photos and they couldn't believe even their 65 year old peers in France had flat stomachs and looked so healthy.

I found it all "tres agreable" and would love to continue this lifestyle some more!

An important thing to note here is there are tons and tons of shops for snacks in France. It seemed like every street was just for patisseries, boulangeries, chocolatiers, sandwicheries and so on but I found most of them are for the tourist industry. The menus all in English might be the giveaway!

The locals weren't squandering their hard earn cash on expensive macarons and intricately carved pieces of chocolate. Just as I don't buy the expensive snacks here in my own country. Like many of the French, I hit the supermarket for my milk and bread.

Pomme Frites or Frites (we call them French Fries for a reason, folks)

Actually, they're from Belgium originally.