What I learned From the French

Many of you have heard that I went to France for the 75th anniversary of D Day. That event was definitely the highlight of our trip and it was very emotional to see the War War II veterans, now as old as 102, participating in the ceremonies. It was very moving, especially since my Grandpa also fought in that war, however not in Normandy.

My husband and I also enjoyed Paris, the “City of love” and as I looked around me it didn’t take much time to realize that the locals looked healthier than my fellow Iowans. So I learned a few things:

1. They take their time while eating and have long lunch breaks, the cafes are pretty full around 12-2PM. Many places close, so that leaves less room to run errands. You can see the Parisians engaged in lovely conversations with just a small plate and a glass of wine in front of them…it seems like they enjoy extending lunch forever…

2. They walk a lot and guess what…they do not wear tennis shoes and yoga pants. Walking is simply a part of their lifestyle and it is not considered a work out. It is just their standard transportation to work, get their kids to and from school, pick up groceries and shop. Public transportation is used for longer trips.

3. Their food is so delicious. Simple or sophisticated, their meals are not loaded with artificial ingredients. Meal  portions are small to medium, with moderately sized desserts while every dish is very pleasantly presented. Ambiance is so important in France. The servers are dressed nicely and there is often soft music playing in the background and no TVs to stare at.

So in retrospective, the lesson I am willing to embrace is the first one: slow down and enjoy my meal. This is actually what I teach during my Mindful Eating class, see link below for the next opportunity to enroll. I hope to see many of you there! À bientôt!