Do the French really eat well 5 minutes of French

Hello everyone and welcome to 5 Minutes of French Today I'm with Sébastien Hi Sébastien how are you Hi Judith I'm doing very well thank you and you Very well especially since today we're going to talk about a super appetizing topic We'll start wondering whether the French actually eat well It's a stereotype but is it true Yes we'll see if we live up to our reputation or if we're just full of hot air But before discussing all that let's start with a little riddle What product is consumed on average once a day by a French person A Cheese B A baguette C A yogurt I'm torn between the cheese and the baguette Come on I'll go with the baguette—it's still a classic Noted The answer at the end of this episode Indeed French cuisine does have an incredible reputation abroad Just mention cheese wine baguette or croissant and everyone immediately knows which country you're talking about Yes France is often associated with refined almost artistic cuisine There is even a specific term for it—gastronomy In 2010 French gastronomic meals were furthermore inscribed on UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage list That underscores just how deeply food is woven into the country's cultural identity But does that mean all French people eat well every day Well not necessarily On one hand we maintain traditional habits meals eaten at the table Often enjoyed with family at a set time featuring an appetizer main course and dessert Yes it's true that the meal schedule is quite structured Lunch is often seen as a proper full meal not just a sandwich hastily eaten Yet on the other hand as in many countries habits are changing More and more meals are being prepared eaten on the go and delivered to homes Not to mention the younger generations eating in front of a series or scrolling through their phones I first and foremost must admit it myself And you're not the only one I think it's something that extends to our generation and maybe even to our parents' generation And then there are inequalities—eating well can sometimes cost more especially if you're looking for fresh organic or locally sourced products That's true but despite that there is genuine food awareness in France People talk a lot about quality seasonality and short supply chains And cooking is part of everyday life People are constantly talking about food—whether to comment on a dish share a recipe or critique the cafeteria It's clear Then there's also the entire regional diversity Alsatian sauerkraut Marseille’s bouillabaisse Toulouse’s cassoulet Savoyard raclette Mmm delicious You're right every region has its own specialties Often tied to climate history and local produce it's an incredible wealth Even abroad French cuisine remains highly influential Many top chefs are trained in French culinary schools And some starred restaurants around the world follow techniques originating from France That's true but it doesn't mean all French people cook like chefs There are also many people who eat buttered pasta or frozen nuggets Ah yes the famous legend of gourmet dinners every single night In reality we do just like everyone else When improvising you keep things simple and make do with what's available—otherwise known as making do with whatever is on hand Well we can say that the French really enjoy eating that cooking is part of their culture but that they don't always eat well all the time There you go you've summarized it perfectly Well then would you like to know the answer to my question from the beginning Yes I did say the baguette So what And you were exactly right According to multiple studies On average French people consume nearly one per day It's truly the symbol of French bread And you did you get the correct answer And now as always we'll explain a few words or expressions we used today At the beginning of the episode I used the expression "être à la hauteur " This means "to be able to meet the requirements " And right after that you used another very interesting expression— “raconter des salades ” That means “to lie” or “to make stuff up ” You could also say "telling lies " And finally Judith used the word "food " It's a very informal synonym used when talking about food Be careful not to use it in every situation That's all for today And you do you think the French eat well And in your country what are your eating habits Share them in the comments and don’t forget to download the PDF worksheet with transcription and vocabulary It's in the description or on our French website francaisavecpierre com Thank you all and see you very soon Hi everyone Subtitles created by the Amara org community