Since moving to France in 2000, I’ve written endlessly about French lifestyle and the small cultural habits that quietly shape everyday wellbeing. And without question, the topic that fascinates readers the most is how the French eat — adults and children. More specifically: what French women eat in a day.
Walk through any crowd in France, whether in a large city or a tiny village, and you’ll notice something immediately: you rarely see rampant obesity, but you also rarely see hyper-toned, gym-sculpted bodies. The French live somewhere beautifully in between. They look like people who eat well, move often, and enjoy life — without obsessing over it.
Why? Because moderation and pleasure are the cultural mantras. French women navigate their world-renowned cuisine by enjoying delicious, accessible food… but in small portions, at the right moments, and without guilt.
In other words:
No deprivation. No villainizing foods. Nor macro counting. And no factory-made diet products.
Just balanced, joyful eating — daily.
For an overview of everyday French wellbeing habits, start with → The French Approach To Wellbeing.
French women also approach fitness differently. Most don’t go to the gym to transform their bodies; they go because it feels good and keeps them healthy. A weekly yoga class, a brisk walk to run errands, a weekend family hike — these count just as much as traditional workouts. And no one is waking up at 5 am for a boot camp. Many gyms don’t even open that early.
So if French women don’t restrict foods, don’t follow strict diets, and don’t spend hours doing punishing workouts, how do they maintain their weight and their sense of wellbeing?
To find out, I asked several French friends to photograph everything they ate and drank on a regular weekday — a real, unedited look into their meals, habits, and rhythms. Alongside the photos, they shared their personal approaches to food, hunger, movement, and balance.
Many of my friends below choose a variation of the Mediterranean diet → Why French Women Love The Mediterranean diet.
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Leonor
Breakfast (7:00 am)
Fresh fruit and coffee. A very classic French breakfast: light, simple, and mostly hydration plus caffeine.
Lunch (12:30 pm)
Large salad, fruit, cheese, and Greek yogurt.
Her salad includes mâche, tuna, seeds, corn, green peppers, avocado, and parsley. A generous, nutrient-rich meal that’s filling but not heavy — very typical of French weekday lunches.
Snack (5:00 pm)
Two madeleines and herbal tea. A gentle pause that keeps hunger at bay until dinner.
Dinner (7:30 pm)
Risotto and green beans. A warm, satisfying evening meal, balanced by vegetables.
Wellbeing Habits
No alcohol during the week; wine or champagne only when going out to a dinner party or restaurant.
Desserts only on weekends or special occasions.
Bread occasionally, not at every meal.
Exercise: walks every day plus two or three weekly workouts (tennis, hiking, or swimming).
Winter activities include skiing or snowshoeing on weekends.
Vegetables every day; meat occasionally.
Always eats fruits in season.
If dinner is late, she has a small afternoon snack to avoid arriving at the table starving.
After dinner, she drinks herbal tea or decaf coffee.
Catherine
Breakfast (7:30 am)
Homemade buckwheat crêpe with almond butter and raisins, plus a cup of organic vegetable juice.
Lunch (12:30 pm)
Fish cooked with tomatoes, onions, ginger, and pepper; basmati rice; and fruit salad.
Snack (5:00 pm)
An apple with herbal tea.
Dinner (8:00 pm)
Homemade vegetable soup (carrot, potato, leek, zucchini) and a salad of endives, half an avocado, olives, and a sprinkle of pumpkin and flax seeds.
Wellbeing Habits
If she wants a sweet ending to dinner, she has a few squares of dark chocolate (80%).
Cheese is not part of her daily routine, but when she has it, it’s usually goat cheese.
She drinks up to 1.5 liters of herbal tea and water a day.
Her exercise routine includes Pilates once a week and at least two workouts on the weekend — hiking, cycling, skiing, or snowshoeing depending on the season.
Because her work often takes her to restaurants, she focuses on eating plenty of vegetables when she cooks at home.
Delphine
Breakfast (7:30 am)
Mixed cereal with almond milk, almonds, walnuts, goji berries, and fresh pear, along with herbal tea.
Lunch (12:00 pm)
Chicken with leeks, rice, cheese, and bread.
Dinner (8:00 pm)
Pasta with peas, onions, and peppers, plus a salad with beets, carrots, and vinaigrette.
Wellbeing Habits
Throughout the day, Delphine drinks water and herbal teas.
On weekends she may have up to two glasses of wine.
She avoids too much sugar and dairy.
She eats a lot of lentils, chickpeas, quinoa, and omega-3–rich foods.
When she overdoes it at a dinner party, she resets the next day by drinking plenty of bouillon broth.
Her weekly workouts include Pilates and lower-body toning.
Vanina
Breakfast (6:30 am)
A large bowl of fresh fruit and yogurt, with tea.
Lunch (1:00 pm)
Salmon with a salad of red pepper, cucumber, and avocado, followed by cheese and two pieces of fruit.
Dinner (8:00 pm)
Sausage, green beans, potatoes, cheese, bread, fruit, and applesauce.
Wellbeing Habits
Vanina tries to eat lighter dinners a few nights a week — smaller portions or simpler meals — to balance out restaurant outings or larger lunches.
Her weekly movement includes walking everywhere, Pilates, tap dancing, and tennis.
She also skis every winter and plays golf a few times a month.
Katerina
Breakfast
A typical French breakfast of brioche with butter and honey, and coffee.
Lunch
Steak with green beans.
Dessert is one spoonful of chestnut “cream” with coffee.
Snack
Chocolate brioche.
Dinner
A classic light French evening meal: a bit of charcuterie, capers, blue cheese, bread, and fruit.
Wellbeing Habits
Katerina eats until she is satisfied — never more.
She never has seconds (unless she’s a guest).
For dessert, she chooses either cheese or something sweet, but not both.
She always includes carbs in her meals.
Breakfast is moderate, lunch is her main meal, and dinner is light.
Depending on what she had at lunch, she sometimes skips her afternoon snack.
Every day she has a teaspoon of honey, one glass of wine, and bread.
On weekends she enjoys a croissant or pain au chocolat.
At lunch, she makes sure to include plenty of vegetables.
What We Learn From French Women
What stands out most in these “What French Women Eat In A Day” daily food diaries is how normal, unpretentious, and balanced French eating really is. There is no obsession, no guilt, no macro counting, no “good” or “bad” foods. Meals are varied but moderate. Movement is natural. Pleasure is allowed. Vegetables appear everywhere. And the rhythm of the day (light breakfast, satisfying lunch, lighter dinner) keeps everything in check.
It’s interesting to see that herbal teas or water are usually the drink of choice with alcohol saved for more special occasions or only on the weekend. Read more about water → Why The French Choose Water.
This approach has nothing to do with perfection — and everything to do with consistency.
More From France
If you’re curious about how France nurtures healthier habits — from school lunches to everyday food, movement, and wellbeing — I share practical tips and stories each month. Sign up for the free newsletter below and receive my guide, The French Guide to Everyday Wellbeing, straight to your inbox. Merci!
