My first week back in France has been indulgent.
Wine, cheese, saucisson and foamy cappuccinos have been consumed and fully enjoyed.
Something happens when I come here. I am reminded of pure food pleasure. Everyone I see seems as obsessed over their next meal as I am, and they look forward to enjoying it and sharing it with loved ones. Food is culture, celebration, family.
There is an appreciation for food that lacks at home. It is treated with respect.
I was watching a movie online when a French advertisement came up with a piece of health advice“For your health, try to avoid snacking between meals”.
I felt so far away from home. At home the snack market is a huge money making industry, with junk food and health food alike. I’m guilty myself for splurging on expensive “healthy” snacks to keep in my purse when I need a nibble. And while France is not untouched by this, it’s less common to see people snacking in general. Why eat between meals when you have a delicious 3 course dinner with others coming up?
Today I looked around me at a restaurant and watched tables dig into their quiches, salads and tartars with vigour. Wine was poured, people admired their food before eating, and most topped the meal with an espresso and dessert.
I love this lifestyle, and even though I try to embrace it in North America I am often swayed by different concepts of health and diet and wonder if my lonely lush ways are right.
A few years ago, I returned from 6 months in Paris, and brought that food appreciation home with me. I spent time and money on beautiful meals and dinner parties. I shared almost every meal at the table.
Over time, it became easier to make excuses, pick up a frozen pizza, eat in front of the TV, or to start another diet or cleanse. Guilty.
The sad thing is, this shift altered my food appreciation, and if anything has made me less healthy overall. My body image and my joie de vivre have suffered.
So I’m making amends. Food appreciate is back. Meals shared with others is a priority. The kitchen is my creative workspace and my fork is another way to say: “I love life, and myself.”
Bon appétit.
‘Romance is not a science but an art, no less so than the art of eating well. And it takes cultivation and refinement if a relationship is to offer its fullest rewards.’ – Mireille Guiliano, French Women Don’t Get Fat
Speaking about food appreciation, read about my memorable meal created by a Canadian Top Chef here!
{ 12 comments… read them below or add one }
Awesome!!!. I’m torn at times to eat 6 small healthy snack like meals a day or 3 gorgeous larger meal portions. A toss up.
Wish I was with you in France.
T
BTW. I’m in!!! Totally making my food a piece of art on a plate & going to enjoy every bite like its a symphony in my mouth. With friends. And wine.
XoX
T
Beautiful, honest post. It’s quite difficult to maintain a loving relationship with food in N.America when everyone around you is spouting out nutrition facts and the latest diet that is guaranteed to make you more beautiful or live longer. I realized over years of struggles to maintain a positive, modest approach to food and my body that the best eating regime for me-for my health, my appearance, my LIFE is an indulgent one. Good food, wine and a daily dessert shared with those I love makes me extremely happy!
It’s difficult to sustain but this fulfilling lifestyle is worth it!
xo
That was so great to read! I appreciate the food culture that France has. I remember visiting there, and viewing that they have a totally different concept of food that we do in Canada or America. Our relationship with food over here is so skewed by media, diets, and the next best thing. It makes me sad to see people losing their love and passion with food when it should be celebrated and appreciated. I’m so happy to hear your appreciation with food is back:)
xox
well said! I remember when in Italy and watching how people ate there. It was always the whole family…always a celebration. I loved it. I admired it. I wish I was better at. I go through periods where I am really good about taking my time, enjoying my food. But then life gets busy and you are doing what you can. I do not like when that happens, but it happens. I just try to recognize it and do better next time. Lately I have been eating 3 larger meals with small snacks here and there if needed. One thing I struggle with is dessert, I always have something everyday
You cannot update your blog often enough. I want more posts!!!
I loooove this post, Gillian. (I’m always saying this to you, haha). I love reading about people’s personal journies to inner peace with food. Yours is refreshing and beautiful…and I can’t wait to keep reading about it, girlfriend.
Cheers to food!
And apparently my iPhone does NOT want to send my posts… that one was supposed to say: “Enjoy every single bit, Gillian!”
Thanks Marie-Sophie!
I love food and I feel like I appreciate it like the French but in a different way. When I eat, I try to savour every bite and never just gobble it down really fast (unless I am super hungry). The only thing is that when I’m home, I don’t like sitting down at table to eat. I want to be comfortable in front of my TV while catching up on my favorite shows or reading a good book; I want to eat while doing something I enjoy! I don’t have a problem with mindless eating (that some people get when they do that) because I like to exercise.