Losing It in France – Les Secrets of the French Diet
By: Sally Asher

“Losing It In France” is written in a easy to read, narrative style. Sally, a native of Australia, shares with us her experience, living with a family in France, as a story that is instructive as well as entertaining. Unlike many nutrition books that are presented in text book format, “Losing It In France” reads more like a novel that leads you through the information you need to improve your relationship with food.

Once I saw this book, I knew it was a must read for me!  Back in 1994, my husband and I went to Nice, France for 10 wonderful days.  We enjoyed eating in outside cafés, restaurants ,where the table was yours for the night, and all the lovely French people we encountered. One thing that has always stuck out in our minds was how we felt after eating.  We never had that “stuffed feeling” but always felt content after each and every meal.  I have enjoyed “Losing It In France” by Sally Asher, very much and am excited to share it with others.  Sally is right on track with what she has learned from the French people about food and how to dine. There is not an obesity problem in France like there is in other parts of the world.  This is primarily because of their attitude towards food from a very early age.

“By allowing myself to eat previously forbidden foods, I discovered there was no reason to eat them all at once when I knew I could have them again later.” Sally learned this while spending time in France, as an Au pair for a French family. She learned that we not only need food for the nourishment of our bodies, but we also need to enjoy and savor each bite we eat. Sally says, “And I realized that in the past I had done a lot of swallowing, but not much tasting!”  Snacking is something Sally use to enjoy, like others, but learned that it is far better to be very hungry at dinner time then grabbing a snack before a meal. Once she adapted this new attitude and understanding about food, she was able to lose weight and maintain the correct amount of weight intended for her body.

Sally struggled with her weight for many years. As a child, she was taught, like a lot of us, that food was comforting.  Food became a reward, a treat or a form of love. She also states that as children we are not allowed to discover for ourselves what amount of food is comfortable for us or what is enough.  Many of us were raised that we were to eat everything off our plate, “Clean your plate.” is what a lot of us use to hear.  Overeating is a learned behavior and you have to undo this behavior. Sally states that “The French eat less and enjoy it more because they give eating their full attention.” They are not running their kids to a soccer game and grabbing a “Happy Meal” on the way home.

Shopping for food seems to be a chore for a lot of us, but Sally explains how easy it is to shop for healthy food and prepare it at home, in a reasonable amount of time.  She explains that all it takes it a little bit of planning and you will be enjoying, home cooked, healthy food. Food should not only taste good, but presentation is equally as important. To the French, presentation is everything. A list of must have ingredients and types of food to keep on hand is in this book. I found this very helpful. Her book is not only a good read, but a wonderful reference that you should keep handy in the kitchen.

Sally has included many recipes that are easy to make and will make your mouth water just reading them. To name a few of her recipes, “Lamb Cutlets and herbed lentils, Apple and cinnamon bircher, Homemade granola, Eggplant gratin.  What I found wonderful about her recipes were the ingredients list was not lengthy or complicated. A beginning cook will find her recipes very easy to follow and prepare. Chapter 14 is an excellent resource, “A Week of Eating French Style”, she lays out a week of eating for each meal of the day.

If you have been trying diet after diet and nothing has been working for you, or if you, like me, eat healthy most of the time but need a new perspective on food and an understanding of the emotional aspects of food, invest in “Losing It In France”. Getting healthy and making wise decisions about food is a lifestyle and not just a quick fix using a diet plan.  After reading this book, I have become more aware of how, when and how much I eat. I am learning to fully taste my food and not just quickly swallow it. I am enjoying my meals much more now, than before reading this book. Thank you, Sally, for sharing your experience in France and a new way of eating and enjoying food!