I recently took a trip to Paris, France and aside from the beautiful sights I saw, I took away something so profound. The people there eat really healthy! It seemed like everywhere I walked, I saw a store with fresh produce. I’m talking fruits and vegetables in abundance on every street. Sure there was bread available just as much as fruits and vegetables, but people typically consumed it with wine while socializing or during dinner. They don’t seem nearly as afraid of carbs as folks the folks I know here in the U.S.
Perhaps bread isn’t their enemy because their overall eating habits are so much healthier than ours.
While looking for snacks in their local stores, the fruit was the best option. They had cookies and chips but the flavors were limited. There was no flamin’ hot anything and their version of “spicy” didn’t require you to have a beverage nearby to cool your mouth down. Oh, and if you know me you know I’m a fan of juice. Can you believe that cold pressed juice was the norm in their stores? I had this kiwi apple blend that I wish I had smuggled gallons of back home. It was that good. I didn’t see fruit “drinks,” they had real juice! This shouldn’t be a big deal, but it is when you consider all the ingredients you’ll find in beverages here in America.
It made me think of the American children who are growing up with poor eating habits. The ones who only receive fruit at school and even then throw it away because it looks unappealing. In their defense, pears really aren’t that good. But why can’t they have just as much access to cherries, strawberries, grapes, and other delicious sweet fruits as they do to the things that cause hospitalization and obesity?
In my book, What Teaching Taught Me, I discuss what parents can do to improve their children’s eating habits and overall health. Spoiler Alert: It starts at home!
I was also reminded of all the people on my timeline who post their golden meals. (Note: a golden meal is one that is mostly in the yellow, gold and beige color range. Think fried things, pasta, bread, etc.). They brag about cooking meals that lack nutrients and color alike. So many of us need to learn how to eat the rainbow because we’re too infatuated with fatty foods. This morning I saw a video of an obese woman sprinkling flamin’ hot Cheeto crumbs on corn and topping it off with hot sauce. It was sad to watch her orgasmically enjoy such an unhealthy snack.
This is not coming from a place of judgment. I, too, like to indulge in unhealthy foods from time to time but I’d like to think I’ve mastered the art of moderation. The day before yesterday, I had crawfish and fried rice for dinner but last night I made salmon and spinach. I like the idea of fried Oreos but eating more than two of them is out of the question for me. It’s OK to love food, but you can’t be a slave to it.
As I walked the streets of Paris, I saw not one obese person. This is not to say that everyone was supermodel thin, but no one could be called “fat” by any means. I’d like to attribute this to their eating habits and the availability of healthy snack options. Obesity is an American thing and we need to do something about it.
I encourage you to think about the foods you consume on the regular and ask yourself a few questions. What do your eating habits say about you? Do the foods you eat allow you to live your best life or do they make you tired immediately after consumption? What changes can you make to your diet today?
You can check out my vlog where I show you how my trip to Paris went by clicking here.
