French Protein Diet

The French attitude toward eating and diet may be the reason the French have lower rates of obesity and heart disease, despite regular consumption of high-fat meats and dairy products. In France, only about 11% of the people are obese, compared to 30% of Americans (with obesity defined as 30 pounds or more over ideal weight). A traditional French approach to food contains many elements to incorporate into a daily eating plan.

Portion Control

French diets contain many high-protein, albeit high-fat, foods such as red meat, goose, duck, cheese and cream. While the French regularly enjoy these foods, the portions are 10% to 30% smaller than a typical American portion. Their adherence to smaller portions allows for true food enjoyment but on a smaller scale. Avoid "supersize," "all you can eat" and "jumbo" portions. Consider halving an entree before your meal even begins, and rather than eating to fullness, eat to satisfaction. Rethink what full feels like. With practiced discipline, a dieter can to eat a wide variety of delicious foods in moderate portions to save calories.

High-Quality Foods

French diets do not contain many processed foods. They avoid prepackaged and frozen food, considering it unnatural and loaded with preservatives. Instead, daily trips to the market provide a fresh, wholesome array of dining options. There are no cheese-flavored crackers, there's simply cheese; no fruit-flavored rolls, just fresh fruit.

Local availability dictates many French menu choices. Near the coast, fish is a common protein. In the more rustic French countrysides, rabbit is a popular protein choice. Food is chosen for freshness of the highest quality. The beef dishes and cream sauces that are trademarks of the Burgundy region are a result of the area's superior cattle farming. Conversely, the mountain regions are known for their excellent, firm cheeses, often from mountain livestock such as goats and sheep, since food is preserved over the long and difficult winters.

Slower Eating

French people take nearly twice as long to eat a meal as Americans. A study in McDonald's restaurants in France showed that the average time it took a person to consume a burger was 22 minutes, compared to 11 in America. The French take time to slowly savor their food; meals are viewed as a cultural and social time. French lunch hours are close to two hours, and many businesses stay open until 7 p.m. to compensate for the long midday meal.