Thus far, Kory and I have spent a couple of months in Martinique, and have come to love the French cuisine. We have also become quite fascinated by the French diet. For the French, mealtimes are special. They love rich and savory food and don’t skimp on the best of the best, but they don’t overdo it either. We have observed that the French have a very balanced diet that includes lean meats, fish, poultry, vegetables, healthy fats, dairy, and whole grains. Most meals include fresh, high-quality ingredients, such as organic produce and locally sourced meats and seafood. The French eat very little processed or packaged food. Their cracker, chip, cereal, fast food, and boxed meal options are minimal compared to the United States. But the French enjoy pastries, breads, desserts, cream sauces, meats and cheeses — they just have a much more balanced way of life.
Breakfast in French Martinique is usually the lightest meal of the day. A typical breakfast includes coffee, juice, and a sweet or savory carb called a viennoiserie. This includes either a croissant, pain au chocolat, pain au raisin, small quiche Lorraine, or a baguette with jam, butter, or cheese. Crepes, yogurt, and eggs are also eaten for breakfast, but only on occasional. A coffee, juice, and pastry is the most typical morning fare.
French lunches are the biggest meals of the day. These typically begin with an appetizer such as a mixed salad, soup, or pate, a savory, spreadable paste of ground meat, seafood, poultry, or vegetable. Then comes the main course which consists of a meat (beef, chicken, pork, veal, or fish), an array of vegetables, and a carb such as pasta, rice, frites (fries), or au gratin potatoes. Salad Niçoise and pizza is also a popular option for lunch. French lunches wouldn’t be complete without a sweet dessert such as a chocolate, caramel, or fruit mouse, a fruit tart, or a gelato. And most French people end their meals with a cappuccino or café au lait. The French drink either water or wine with their meals, not sodas. They drink carbonated beverages only as a treat after a meal, or separate from their meal, but rarely with.
Dinners in French Martinique are a special time for families and friends, especially on Sundays. They usually begin around 7:30-8:30pm since most are so full from their big lunches. We quickly learned that restaurants all over the island close from around 2pm-7pm every day, so dinnertimes are a late affair. Dinners typically begin with an appetizer such as foie gras on toast or escargot (both of which neither of us care for), followed by a main dish consisting of meat, fish, or seafood and vegetables. Some typical French dishes include chicken confit (tender chicken cooked with herbs and olive oil), steak frites, boeuf bourguignon, or cassoulet (a hearty meat and vegetable stew). Again, the French love their desserts, but it will usually be light after dinner such as a pot du creme, crème brûlée, or fruit.
We have come to admire the balanced diet and focus on good health that we see in the French people of Martinique. Very few people are obese, even though they eat rich food. We have discovered that one of the main reasons is that they eat good quality, fresh, organic, unprocessed food, in much smaller portions, and in moderation. We don’t see gyms and health clubs all over Martinique; instead, we see people walking more, which is another contributing factor to them staying healthy and fit. From what we’ve observed, the French lifestyle is very balanced, and we’ve come to emulate and applaud it!