French Women Don’t Get Fat: The Secret of Eating for Pleasure
by Mireille Guiliano
Published by Vintage Books
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Reviewed by Jan Warren
French Women Don’t Get Fat is not your typical diet book, thank goodness. It is however, more of a philosophy of how one should approach food and life from the French perspective of author, Franco-American, Mireille Guiliano. She recommends a more relaxed approach to food consumption and preparation with less emphasis on what you can’t have and more emphasis on enjoying the food you do eat, choosing smaller portions with bigger flavor.
French Women Don’t Get Fat also contains fifty-five recipes that range from the exotic, like Fingers and Caviar and Duck Breasts A La Gasconne, to more simple fare of Lentil Soup and Baked Apples. There are also recipes for making homemade yogurt. I found most, but not all of the recipes contain ingredients the average American kitchen would have on hand.
I found the book a bit of a slow read, but the principles are sound enough. As every dieter knows, losing weight requires increasing activity and limiting portions. The difference is the author also reminds the reader that diets don’t work; therefore you have to make long-term changes that will work for your lifestyle and tastes. She suggests staying away from fast food and hunger cravings by eating good food in season, prepared well, which is the best way to eliminate the boredoms, and mindless eating resulting in the inevitable weight gain.
If you are looking for a non-typical diet book with interesting new recipes and French wisdom for getting slim and staying that way–then you will enjoy French Women Don’t Get Fat.
Armchair Interviews says: Interesting perspective on food and dieting.