What I’m learning about eating “healthier and happier”
I fell in love with cooking around age 13 — experimenting with flavors, colors, and techniques just for the joy of it. But over time, my desire to be “healthy” turned into a rigid obsession with doing food perfectly. I lost the playful spark that once made the kitchen feel like home.
By the time the COVID-19 pandemic hit, I had rekindled some of that joy, but practicality took over. Meal planning became my norm — at first out of safety, then out of time. Somewhere along the way, cooking became more of a task than a creative outlet.
“Food should be fun, not perfect.”
This is the thought I continually had while on my recent trip to France. I felt a sense of joy in every eating experience I had in France, even the ones that would have made the old me panic. I didn’t have a feeling of guilt about eating “non-perfect” food, calories, sweets, or weight changes once on this trip. I wasn’t worried about perfection. Instead, I was focused on having fun, enjoying the meal, and trying something new. So, I started to wonder why.
The verdict: The French food culture feels healthier and happier.
It’s not that every French person eats ideally or every American eats poorly. Rather, there are cultural norms that shape health and happiness around food in very different ways. What stood out most for me is how the French manage to enjoy buttery croissants, cheese, and wine, yet still embody a balanced, healthy approach to eating.
An older study compared the diets and lifestyles of French and American people and found that deep cultural differences may explain why we eat so differently. For example, French people prefer quality and moderation to the American preference of quantity and abundance. Additionally, Americans look at food as a personal comfort, whereas the French choose food for joy, especially when shared.
It’s not just what they eat—it’s how they eat and live.
So, what makes French food culture feel so different?
Meals are sacred, not rushed. They are celebrated events that are enjoyed slowly with intention rather than an errand to quickly breeze through and check off a list.
Portions are smaller, but the flavor is big. If you’re used to avoiding certain foods in your meals, it can feel somewhat mystifying to consider how the French regularly incorporate butter, cheese, pastries, and wine. But these foods are enjoyed in moderation without guilt and with full presence.
Food is colorful, seasonal, and playful. Every meal I ate, whether it was from a mom-and-pop pizza place or a multi-course dinner from a Michelin-star restaurant, was plated to perfection. Every meal looked like art – colorful, creative, well-arranged, and seasonal.
There’s less moralizing around food. I never heard food labeled as “good” or “bad.” Considering I hear this daily in the US, this felt like a welcome change. Food was just food, and there wasn’t a sense of earning or punishing.
Kids are taught to love food, not fear it. In a recent study, habitual fruit and vegetable consumption in French children was associated with parental promotion of taking pleasure in eating (i.e., enjoying the quality, taste, and preparation process of foods). A cultural significance around deriving pleasure from the sensory experience of eating food, along with sharing that experience with others, is considered the reason for their readiness to eat healthier foods.
The French relationship to food feels so different from the American one because it is rooted in something akin to playfulness. The magic of French food culture isn’t in the croissants — it’s in the attitude. It’s about pleasure without guilt. Presence without pressure. Structure without rigidity. And you don’t have to live in France to bring those values to your table. You just have to start noticing, slowing down, and giving food — and yourself — the attention it deserves.
Ready to add more French-inspired playfulness to your meals?
Download the “How to Add More French-Inspired Playfulness to Your Meals” guide for some ways to bring more joie de vivre into your eating routine.
