Why French People Stay So Thin

When the topic of international food comes up, soemone never fails to ask how it can be that French people stay so thin when they eat a diet of croissants, crepes, cheese and wine? (Before we go too far, research is showing that obesity is slowing becoming an epidemic there as well--just not as fast or as widespread as in America.) But, having spent a week and a half in Paris last month, I can say that almost all Parisians are very thin--I remember thinking a few days into the trip that a very overweight person would almost stick out in that population. I've got a few theories as to why they keep their weight in check even amongst the deliciacies of French food (as seen here):

1. Portion control. You don't see people eating large amounts of food, even at dinner time. The meat portions were significantly smaller than ours. Even their McDonalds are healthier than ours: their "large" versions of fries, sodas and McFlurries would be America's small size. Free re-fills are unheard of anywhere. Unlimited soft drinks, neverending pasta bowls, endless shrimp and bottomless fries are phrases that you would never hear there--and really, do any of us NEED a second bowl of pasta at dinner or more fries than what originally came out? You might say that you need a few refills on your soda, but would you say the same if you had to pay for each one?

2. Leisurely eating. Studies show over and over that when you rush, you overeat. We've all heard that it takes around 20 minutes for the brain to signal to the stomach that you are full. French people are notorious for sitting around at dinner for 2-3 hours, and when you are in no rush and have nowhere to be, you have more time to savor each bite and get an earlier signal that you are full. A very common sight in Paris is someone leisurely eating at a sidewalk cafe while they read a book or catch up with a friend (granted, they light up a few cigarettes in there too, but that's besides the point here....).

3. All-natural ingredients. True, French people may eat a lot of breads, desserts, wine and rich add-ons like Nutella and Bearnaise sauce, but what you don't see in restaurants or sidewalk food stands is an abundance of processed food. Croissants are made out of the real stuff: eggs, flour, sugar, cocoa, milk, etc. Not diet this or fat-free that, and in general, no overdose on chemicals that you can't pronounce. If you order a pizza at a restaurant, it's fresh dough, baked with fresh meats, cheeses and vegetables--not something that's been pre-made and then loaded with preservatives to make its shelf-life longer.

What if we thought less about "diet" food how much we're "allowed" to eat in a day and thought more about eating real food and eating intuitively?