The French, it would seem, do not snack. I should know. I’ve been living in France for six weeks and when I offered my language teacher a pear to beat his 3pm slump, he quickly exclaimed: “I am Frrrrrrench! I do not eat between meals!”
Eeek. Just trying to help, monsieur.
Instead the French eat a tiny breakfast (toast, jam and coffee), a large lunch and a large dinner. Yet! They remain slim.
“This is often called the ‘French Paradox’,” explains La Trobe Unversity’s Associate Professor Catherine Itsiopoulos, spokesperson for the Dieititians Association of Australia.
“The French are known for their low rates of heart disease and low obesity rates, despite having a diet that’s high in saturated fat.”
So, that makes my habit of snacking in-between meals an Australian one.
Which is better: the Aussie or the French approach? To snack, or not to snack?
“The question of whether it’s best to snack or not depends on the nutritional quality of your whole daily diet, overall,” says Itsiopoulos.
“The French however have substantial main meals. They also tend to sit down to a meal, eat slowly and eat with family or friends in a more social environment.
“This is important because it allows the body enough time to register that you are full and you tend not to overeat.
“There are other important factors with the French lifestyle which keeps them within the healthy weight range, which includes walking, using public transport and less reliance on cars.”
Bottom line: if you opt to snack, you need to either reduce the calories in your main meals, or get your body moving more.
Then… it’s your choice of snack that matters. Here are Itsiopoulos’ top suggestions:
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