For breakfast, French women do not eat croissants and pains au chocolat every day. Those pastries are mainly eaten for special occasions and on the weekends as they are considered by the French fatty and sugary meals.
Although there are patisseries on every street corner and pastry is one of the things that the French do best, they tend to be more of a once or twice a week treat rather than an everyday item.
One thing to keep in mind about French breakfast foods is that the vast majority of French people do not eat a pastry daily for breakfast at home. Most people will grab a fresh croissant here and there, maybe more often on Saturday or Sunday, but it's certainly not a daily occurrence, despite what you see on Instagram.
No! Most French people eat breakfast at home so don't eat fresh croissants from the 'boulangerie' on a daily basis. Croissants and pain au chocolat are popular on more relaxed days for example at weekends or on holiday. Many people also eat them for breakfast on the run.
This graph shows the consumption frequency of pastries among French consumers in a survey from 2018. It appears that 30 percent of the respondents declared eating pastries once to twice a week, while 48 percent tended to consume pastries on occasions only.
Most French people eat bread every day. It's not just a cliché, bread in France is a staple and something most people care about. French people take bread very seriously. In some countries bakers add nutritional supplements to their bread, or they add gluten to make the bread rise better.
A French breakfast is sweet. It is composed of slices of buttered bread and jam spread on it, sometimes croissants or other pastries and cereals. Usually, the drinks are coffee, orange juice or milk.
French people usually eat a smaller meal for dinner, such as a soup or salad with bread and a dessert (often a yoghurt or a slice of cheese). Considering French people famously don't snack, they must survive a long break between lunch and dinner. The solution is that lunch is the biggest meal of the day.
A typical French breakfast consists of a croissant or bread with butter and jam and sometimes a sweet pastry. Fresh fruit juice and hot beverages, like coffee or tea, are also included. Here all meals for French breakfast. The tradition of eating a large meal mid-day continues at dinner time in France.
France is a country known for its fine dining, fresh produce and the slim waistlines of the locals, but the reality is quite different. Half of French adults are overweight and one in six is obese and it's mostly to do with the fact the nation has been having a not-so-secret love affair with junk food for years.
Crème brûlée is one of the most popular French desserts of all time, and for good reason. The two contrasting layers of luscious vanilla cream under a layer of crunchy caramelized sugar are a perfect marriage. This dessert stands out from all the rest.
The French bread law
The law states that traditional baguettes have to be made on the premises they're sold and can only be made with four ingredients: wheat flour, water, salt and yeast. They can't be frozen at any stage or contain additives or preservatives, which also means they go stale within 24 hours.
French people typically eat pastries, breads, eggs, and yogurt for breakfast. From croissants and pain au chocolat to omelets and crêpes, these breakfast foods will give you a boost of energy.
Butter accompanies the French baguette in the morning but is not served at lunch or dinner time. Don't wait for the butter to arrive on the table. It simply won't. That crunchy fresh baguette is a delicious pleasure all on its own.
Fixed meal times and no snacks
The French have always stuck to three meals a day and generally don't do food outside these set meals.
Eating between meals is discouraged in France, yet there is one snack which is never passed up, a beloved tradition known as 'le goûter' (also called 'le quatre-heures' or 'la pause gourmande') and an integral part of French culture.
An usual French lunch will include: an appetizer (une entrée), such as a mixed salad, soup, terrine or pâté; main course, (le plat principal), choice of beef, pork, chicken, or fish, with potatoes, rice, pasta and/or vegetables; cheese course (from a local selection) and/or a sweet.
Considering France is well-known for its gastronomy, it may come as a surprise to you that French people typically eat a very simple meal for breakfast. Usually more sweet than savory, le petit déjeuner, as the French say, is not a very big or important meal in France.
Straight up Yogurt
The French are amoureux des produits laitiers (in love with dairy products) in general. After all, France is one of the largest milk producers in Europe. It's not uncommon to eat yogurt every day, especially with breakfast.
French people will sometimes have eggs for breakfast. Eggs are usually cooked hard-boiled with salt and pepper. Soft-boiled eggs are also very popular, and you can even find them on restaurant menus for breakfast (and lunch).
As I said, it's common for French people to have a croissant for breakfast in a coffee place. Adults walking to work may also buy a croissant on the go at “la boulangerie”, which is also true for kids walking to school. At home, croissants or more of a weekend / special occasion breakfast food.
Dishes like ratatouille (a stewed vegetable dish) and épinards au gratin (a cheesy, spinach, lasagna-type dish) are staples in French culture and are great examples of how the French love to incorporate vegetables in their diet. In schools, students are given lots of fresh vegetables in their cafeteria lunches.
1. Baguette: The French baguette is among the most popular types of bread in French cuisine, known for its crackly, crispy crust and pillowy chew. The 26-inch long thin loaf first came into vogue in the late 1800s, and was officially defined by price, weight, and length by 1920.
In France, the traditional time to eat cheese during a meal is after the main dish and before dessert. Yes, it gets it's own course, though you can eat it in lieu of dessert also if you wish. French people don't eat cheese at every meal– it's more common during dinner and weekend lunches.