One of the things that drove me crazy in France was that NO ONE seemed to have a lot of food in their refrigerator. Why? Their food does not have preservatives, so they buy a small amount of food more often so nothing goes to waste. It also prevents overeating and late-night snacking - you can't eat it if it's not there! Having a full refrigerator makes you more tempted to overeat. Also avoid shopping in bulk in places like Costco, where you will be tempted to buy more than you need.
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My fiance is French, and I spend several months of the year in France. I am intrigued by how French women are incredibly slim without dieting, so I wanted to share some of their secrets with you.
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Secrets of the French #7: Perrier, S'il Vous Plait
The French can't get enough of the bubbly stuff, and no, I'm not talking about champagne. Almost every French household keeps Perrier in the fridge. And why not? It's 0 calorie, is a natural source of minerals, and the bubbles keep you feeling full so you're less likely to overeat. On a hot day in the South of France, they mix Perrier with mint syrup for a sweet treat (kind of like the lower-calorie, non-alcoholic French mojito) :)
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My fiance is French, and I spend several months of the year in France. I am intrigued by how French women are incredibly slim without dieting, so I wanted to share some of their secrets with you.
Secrets of the French #10: They Secretly Love McDonalds
McDonald's ("McDo's", as it is affectionately called in France), sells more food in France than any other country in the world besides the U.S. Unfortunately, it has contributed to the rising obesity levels in France, but still, most French who indulge in a hamburger now and then stay pretty skinny. Le secret? They eat very reasonably most of the time, and indulge in junk food very occasionally as a treat. Reward yourself for good work with one little "treat" once a month, with no regrets.
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My fiance is French, and I spend several months of the year in France. I am intrigued by how French women are incredibly slim without dieting, so I wanted to share some of their secrets with you.
While in France, I found that, despite eating baguette with nearly every meal, my carb intake dropped dramatically (to around the 100 range) from when I was in the US. Why? Well, the baguette is almost the sole source of carbs in the French diet. They eat lots of low-carb soups, salads, stews and veggie-based dishes - the carbs are not on the plate. In fact, carb-loaded food, like sandwiches and wraps, are considered "junk" food in France. They eat a lot of fat to balance out the low carbs.
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My fiance is French, and I spend several months of the year in France. I am intrigued by how French women are incredibly slim without dieting, so I wanted to share some of their secrets with you.
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