Size Matters
Listen to this… Order a ham sandwich in France, and you may be surprised to
get one thin slice of ham and a few tomatoes with mustard on a baguette. It
has nowhere near
ythe calories found in an American-style overstuffed deli sandwich, or a
cheeseburger and French fries.
And there lies another secret to the French secret of slimness: Portion
control.
The author of the article attended a child’s birthday party where the adults
enjoyed espresso and mini pastries while the children played. After having
one tiny pastry, the author writes that her instinct was to go for another
until she realized that none of the adults had more than one paper wrapper
next to their coffee cups. Woops. Up rears that portion control issue again.
Interestingly, the parents at the party were asked to share their insights
into French dietary habits and here is what they said:
Breakfast is typically coffee with some kind of bread, yogurt, or cereal.
Croissants are a treat, and served mostly to visitors. Snacks are enjoyed
primarily by children after school; adults
usually stick to three meals a day. Dessert is de riguer, but the portions
are small — just like the tiny pastries.
Kathy Strahan
