The Diet of a French Family

               The first thing that comes to mind when I think of a typical French diet is cigarettes. Surprisingly, there are no cigarettes on the list. Maybe this is just a non-smoking family. Secondly, I would expect there to be pastries such as croissants mainly because that is what they sell at the French exhibit in Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida. And sure enough, this French family spends a lot of money on pastries but not as much as they do on their meats.

                Meat makes up approximately 25% of this French family’s food bill for the week. And according to the picture, this meat is primarily processed and bought from a store thus requiring them to cook it. One of the more surprising facts that really jumps out in the picture and the fact sheet is the amount of fruits, vegetables, and nuts they eat. This French family paid about $55 on fruits, vegetables and nuts which makes up about 15% of their food bill.

                Another key fact that needs to be pointed out is the lack of junk food in their diet. Snacks and desserts only amount to approximately 4% of their food bill. Their healthy diet is clearly reflected in the lack of junk on the table and the family’s overall physique. Their beverage list also backs up a healthy diet. Looking at the array of food on the table, water and juice are a huge part of their diet. You don’t see any soda, beer, or sugary lemonade-like drinks.

Like most families who live in wealthy nations, they buy primarily processed goods. Besides the fresh fruit, a majority of their food is packaged requiring them to cook it. They are also not hesitant to eat out of the house. They spent a whopping $85.66 on prepared food, which is about 23% of their food bill. A family that is experiencing financial difficulties does not have the luxury of eating out this much.

Considering they are able to spare about $375 on their food for the week, you can tell that France is a fairly rich nation. They spend their grocery money wisely by purchasing mainly the necessities. These necessities include meat, fruit, healthy drinks, and few desserts. Although they mainly buy necessities, since they are fairly wealthy, they are willing to splurge every once in a while in foods like their precious croissants. Overall in my opinion, the US should aspire to eat more like France.

Some nice warm croissants