The French Way of Eating
Like many Americans, I sometimes find myself trying to eat a meal in twenty minutes while doing eight things at the same time. We Americans live fast-paced lives; we tend to make everything a "to-go" activity. Americans eat as an extension of another activity — sometimes including driving.
In France, as Americans living here often observe, it's the opposite. Yes, young people in France are increasingly adopting "American" eating habits and go to McDonald's. But food culture in France is different. For the French, eating is a social activity. About 80% of their time eating is spent with other people. Long meals spread over hours are not for the special occasions, they are often a daily occurrence. In France food is a tradition; it is meant to engage you in something bigger than just eating. Americans eat on buses, at work, while studying, anywhere to get food consumption over with quickly. Americans treat food like an inconvenience; the French treat it like a ritual.
Let's look at some stats. According to an OECD study, Americans spend only about one hour and 14 minutes a day on meals, and nearly 60% of meals are eaten alone. The French, by contrast, spend at least 2.5 hours each day on meals (and most of the time it is more). Over meals, they speak, share ideas, discuss the food and enjoy the moment. Most lunch breaks in France are two hours long, and stores, banks, and doctors' offices often close over the lunch break.
Image Credit: Shutterstock/Romariolen
Growing up in the United States, my experiences with eating were very different than my eating habits here in France. As an international student in Paris for the past two years, I have realized that cultural clichés about eating habit differences are often true. I find myself sitting at a café for two hours just talking with friends. When I’m back home in California, however, I eat quickly and get on with my day.
McDonald's on the Champs-Elysées, Paris. Image Credit: Shutterstock/Alexandre Lande
When it comes to fast food, there is a glaring difference at outlets such as McDonald's. When Americans are eating at McDonald’s, it usually involves a drive thru, rarely stepping foot into the restaurant itself. Here in France, plush chairs and sofas adorn the inside of McDonald’s outlets, inviting diners to stay and spend their time eating and socializing at a leisurely pace. McDonald’s recognizes the amount of time that the French spend on their dining and eating, and so they accommodate accordingly.
The United States and France have their differences, but when it comes to eating I definitely don’t mind the Parisian way of doing things. The French find art and beauty in the creation and taste of food. We Americans have a lot to learn from the French. Bon appétit!