Comments on: France, celebrity chefs and bad diet

By: Jude

Jude — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 18:16:20 +0000

All that red wine also helps (says a few studies on the French Paradox). I also think that the French eat foods that are so rich that they don't really need a lot of it to feel satisfied.

By: Coby

Coby — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 22:57:18 +0000

So first world countries are the same even where there is a history of being seen to have a true love and understanding of food?

While the concept of a shop completely dedicated to frozen meals is astounding, I am less surprised to read that many of the French population are 'convenience' food fans. I suspect that in every country the balance of people eating junk food, packet food, 'health' food, home cooked food and restaurant meals is pretty similar. We're all more the same than we are different. Even Japan and China are now struggling with their younger folk being addicted to burger chains.

While there are slow food movement supporters all over, I have to wonder if those concepts ever really touch the people who just don't care that they are eating cardboard food?

By: Duncan

Duncan — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 02:57:33 +0000

@elra: My experience of North American supermarket produce has been very mixed, but certainly on rare occasions better than in France. It depends very much on how people shop in France to make the comparison.

By: elra

elra — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 02:23:19 +0000

I wonder if this only happen in the big city like Paris? My friends are from Alsace, and they do talk a lot about how fatty their food can be, but they still think that their produce are much better then here in California.

By: Lucy

Lucy — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 02:16:48 +0000

Of course I meant the 'fresh' produce in that second para.

By: Lucy

Lucy — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 02:16:18 +0000

Yes. I remember being rather surprised by the awful produce in the supermarkets in Paris. So much microwavable gunk, all being bought in large quantities.

The produce was worse. Sort of made our 'Fresh Food People' look far, far fresher.

By: Manggy

Manggy — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 07:41:55 +0000

Thanks for the links, Duncan. Interesting (if very depressing) reads. Makes me grateful for food blog culture helping a younger generation (ahem… me) get in touch with good eating traditions (not good as in healthy, but you know, the actual use of recipes, lol).