French cuisine has a reputation for being rich and fattening, but there are some myths about its typical fare. While some famous dishes are high in calories, everyday French meals tend to be healthier. The French rely on fresh, local ingredients and consume modest portions over long, leisurely meals. Typical French cooking features vegetables, fish, poultry and bread rather than heavy sauces, and the French prioritize enjoyment of food through conversation rather than fast eating.

1. SOME MYTHS DISPELLED ABOUT FRENCH FOOD
Most people who go on holiday to France come back a few pounds heavier. These
travelers lose no time telling you of the rich, fattening and sumptuous meals
they enjoyed while there. They may or may not mention the fact that there are
very few overweight people in this lovely country. You may well wonder, how can
this paradox exist? Rich, buttery sauces and wine with every meal are bound to
pack on the pounds.
When these unctuous French sauces are served, they are not piled on the plate in
quantities that drown the food beneath. The sauce is intended as an accent, to
bring the flavors of the food to perfection.
Although some of the most famous French dishes do carry more than their fair
share of calories, this is not daily fare in the French household. The French
are masters of the sauce, but everyday French food is far healthier than you
may have thought.
French food relies on the freshest of ingredients and combinations of
seasonings, refined through the centuries. French people generally shop daily
for their food. The more particular French food shoppers wind their way through
the marketplaces stocked with produce and meats obtained that morning from local
farms. Then it's on to the cheese shop and of course, the boulongerie - the
bakery.
French bakery goods are not made with bleached, highly refined flours and do not
contain preservatives such as we are accustomed to finding at our grocery
stores. Breads are usually baked twice daily, to be consumed that day. The
French abhor waste. Any bread leftover is used for croutons, French toast -
slightly different than the American version -or added to a French onion soup.
Dinner may consist of a stew, some crusty bread, with fruit and cheese for
dessert. Vegetable soups and salads full of bright, fresh vegetables are other
standard menu items in the everyday lineup. Food portions are not large and are
eaten in courses, not served up on one plate at once. French food is enjoyed
over a period of time we might consider ridiculously long - a weekend lunch can
easily last two or three hours.
Conversation is an integral part of the thorough enjoyment of French food. The
talk is as good as the food, with long intervals spent appreciating and
digesting each dish. The custom of serving each course separately means your hot
food doesn't get cold and the salad stays crisp.
Aside from those fabulous French creations with the mouthwatering rich sauces
that accompany them, typical French food is characterized by a predominance of
farm-fresh vegetables, fish, poultry and always, bread. So if you think of
French food as a once-a-year indulgence, try some dishes of the real French
cuisine.