And French Women for All Seasons: A Year of Secrets, Recipes and Pleasure
North Americans are always searching for a way to lose weight, it seems. It’s no wonder that we have lapped up Mireille Guiliano’s two best sellers, French Women Don’t Get Fat and French Women for All Seasons.
In the first of the series, French Women Don’t Get Fat, Mireille covers all of the “secrets” that are natural to the French culture: eating slowly, eating with friends, choosing natural foods and taking pleasure in every bite.
These tidbits prove that her native upbringing promoted enjoyment and nourishment above all else yet, in general, French women aren’t overweight. How do they eat those multiple course meals, consume all that bread and still have room for dessert?
The Solution
The answers are simple and reasonable and she never suggests dieting. That, she states, is a backwards way of thinking that North Americans have given too much power (she lives in New York with her American husband). Her advice is that if a woman takes satisfaction in everything she eats, she will not overeat, emotionally eat or choose foods that don’t make her feel well.
An emphasis is placed on buying regional produce from a local area and cooking it with creativity. Taking this time allows one to savor each bite and avoid overeating. Then, even foods that are “shunned” for their high fat contents can be eaten in moderation without an ounce of guilt.
To Exercise or Not
Mireille promotes exercise, yet denounces it. She personally doesn’t do gyms, as the machines are too unnatural. She does, however, recommend being physically active. Not running a marathon or staying at the gym for 2 hours a day, but stress free movement.
Small tips are given throughout about how to add fitness to a day, without even knowing. Things like using the stairs, walking everywhere within reason, doing yoga, and plain old getting outside to enjoy the surroundings.
A Novel Idea?
Her concept isn’t new, yet it somehow manages to stay fresh through both books. It probably has more to do with her French way with words and charming narrative than with the actual information itself.
French Women for All Seasons delves deeper into the French women’s daily life, giving tips on how to dress and prepare meals à la Française. Of course, French women are not all the same and things are certainly changing with the younger generation loving all things “American,” but the theory is if a culture has stayed healthy for all these generations, they must be doing something right, no?
