♥ Make the most of meals. The French space out f their courses and eat them at a leisurely pace—generally with friends and faily, reports Loomis. In addition to cutting down on indigestion, this practice makes them less likely to overindulge, because the sensation of fullness has time to develop
♥ Wine and dine. Bordeaux and Beaujolais are staples, but French women usually drink them with their meal—no guzzling one or two glasses at the bar before dinner. Plus, glasses in France are only partially filled—the better to fast the wine and cut down on calories.
♥ X’est cheese. They love cheese, but treat it as if it were delicacy—eating it only after meals and stopping after just a slice or tow, says Loomis. And although French cheeses seem rich, many (like Brie and Chevre) are actually lower in calories than American favorites.
♥ Park your car. Thirty-five percent of the time, the French get where they’re going by walking or biking. Americans don’t leave home without their cars a whopping 84 percent of the time.
♥ Boycott the buffet. In French, you won’t find many all-you-can-eat fests, such as brunch buffets, tailgate parties and unlimited pasta and dessert bars, where it’s easy for the calories to add up quickly. The French realize that they will get to eat again in a few hours.
Ref: fitness
