How to eat for health and beauty – the Parisian way

Bonjour! Another happy Friday! I just realized I haven’t talked about nutrition and French food even though dietetics was my major in college. Most of the recipes I’ve posted just happen to be healthy, but still. I have always been interested in how the Parisian eats, what a day in her life would look like food wise. Basically, a Parisian diet, and the typical french diet, is the Mediterranean diet, which is considered one of the healthiest in the world. Here is how to eat for health and beauty – the Parisian way!

reading french

Many books and articles over the years have discussed the French diet, particularly how they can eat all the decadent French food, cheese and wine and still stay healthy and trim. French Woman Don’t Get Fat is one of the most well known books. I’ve read and researched the French diet so much I could probably write my own book. Hmmm… that’s a good idea. I found this book, Creating the French Metabolism: Eat, Drink and Be Beautiful, while looking around online, it looks cute, I’m going to order it right now. I seriously could never have enough books about Paris or the French. Someday I’ll make a list and post it. There is also the Dukan Diet which I did before my wedding, and I must say worked very well, but it is all protein based and today I’m leaning more towards vegetables.

the Parisian way

If I had to pick the #1 thing I’ve come away with regarding the Parisian diet it is small portions. Their meal portions are at least half of what a typical American portion would be. They don’t deprive themselves. If they want bread or cheese or dessert they have it, just a very small portion. They let their selves be hungry between meals too, no snacking. Lunch is the largest meal with dinner being notably smaller. I’ve found that almost every time I have a very small dinner, I’m a lb lighter on the scale the next day. I’ve also read several times that they often skip breakfast, or un cafe is breakfast.

The Parisian knows that beauty starts from the inside. Their beauty secret is balance, in their appearance and their diet. When they overdo it for dinner, it’s salad or steamed veggies for lunch and visa versa. The Parisian eats seasonally and locally. They never eat their meal on the go – your meal is an event. The Parisian is also much more mindful when it comes to food. They make the meal last, savor each bite and appreciate it. Sip on a good glass of wine, no chugging cocktails 😬. And sure a bite of baguette, how can you not, especially in Paris, just not every day.

other tidbits

More things I’ve picked up include drinking lots of water and herbal tea throughout the day. Warm lemon water in the morning. A lot of walking – but of course how easy and beautiful would that be, if you lived in Paris? And soup. That is a cure for everything. Feeling run down? Soup. Put on some lbs or just ate un peu too much yesterday? Soup tonight! And everyone knows of the restorative powers of onion soup. I remember a detox diet I followed a long time ago from Paris Elle magazine. You made a soup with a lot of water, leeks, carrots, tomatoes, celery, thyme, mustard, vinegar and olive oil. You made a big batch and alternated it every day for lunch and dinner. There was also a lot of yogurt in the detox. I’ve noticed the Parisian eats a lot of yogurt, so many varieties there! I do admit, I love Oui yogurt here – the coconut flavor is the jam. And another thing – carrots. It’s a thing to eat carrot salad or drink carrot juice often to get a glow – a carrot tan if you will. And I say, why not?

le menu

Speaking of carrot juice, healthy eateries, juice bars and vegetarian or vegan menus are becoming more and more popular in Paris. The whole idea of wellness is more popular. Wild & The Moon is a good example. I would love to visit here, it’s definitely a to-go spot. I’ve referred to their menu several times for inspiration. Better Than Botox juice anyone?

So how about a perfect Parisian meal, for health and beauty? To start, soeur’s Vichysoisse. Did you know potatoes are a great source of hyaluronic acid? Potatoes are no longer an enemy – they are a moisturizing beauty treatment! To end, Mousse au Chocolat from Dr. Olivier Courtin-Clarins, yes that Clarins. Beauty benefits from eggs and from chocolate. For the main course, salmon. Salmon, a face lift on a plate, Sunny Paris style! And sister vegan, here’s a recipe for smoked “salmon” – you get those glowy carrots, and on top of some Ezekiel bread, topped with hemp seeds you get your face lift omegas too! Feeling ya sis, and the healthy. Let’s not forget pizza Friday – here is a healthy pizza! À bientôt!

Print Recipe

Sunny Paris Salmon

A simple, delicious way to serve salmon with my favorite Penzeys spice.

Cook Time15 minutes mins

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American, French

Keyword: easy, healthy, Parisian, quick, simple

Servings: 1

Ingredients

• 1 4 oz wild-caught salmon filet
• 1 tsp olive oil, extra virgin * I ❤ Zoe brand
• 1 tsp Sunny Paris Seasoning
• pink salt, fresh ground pepper

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 350° F. Place salmon filet on a small foil covered sheet pan. Drizzle with olive oil. Top evenly with Sunny Paris, add salt and pepper. Bake in oven 13-15 minutes. Serve straight away, preferably with asparagus and sprinkled with pomegranate and feel the healthy – and the pretty!

Notes

If you don’t have Sunny Paris, or until you go buy some, use a combination of shallots, chives, green peppercorn, dill weed, basil, tarragon, and chervil, whichever you have.