More on the virtue of moderation, as practiced by the French. Tonight, I took the girls out to a small restaurant in the Latin Quarter. I was struck again by the size of the portions, just enough to satisfy our appetite, and not so much that we got too full. We all finished our plates, and no food went to waste. It makes so much sense, both from a personal health and environmental perspectives. Yet, it seems like a habit, that is difficult to embrace for Americans. Bigger is better permeates much of the American life, from cars, to houses, to food, to spending. I am no exception. With this trip to France, I have become even more aware of the power of one’s environment on personal decisions.
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La Marguerite 
our fair city just banned smoking in any inside space — wish they could have done that while I was growing up — were talking they both smoked while eating dinner – oh how I despised that environment
It took a lot of lives lost and some pretty horrific illness, plus a whole lot of political posturing to accomplish the oh so bold act of not allowing smoking in restraunts and other inside places.
I look forward to the day when greenness and obesity makes strides in public awareness that actually offer solutions vs excuses – why is all the harm not enough??
Because I am always on a budget …getting two ( or 4 ) servings out of one american meal has been my strategy for some time. Plus if you have some layer of portion control then you can do the same for dessert!
Oooo La La !!
Mother Earth
Suppose americans started eating smaller portions and by the same token stopped being fat: everyone would live healthier happier lifes, yet the food industry would collapse (it needs to feed an average of 3000 calories per day to each american when 2000 would be enough) and the health care industry would also be in trouble because overweight causes many illnesses that would not need to be taken care of any longer. Of course, long term economic restructuring is possible and job creation may steem from new industries. yet for the foreseeable future americans need to continue eating big portions if they don’t want to be unemployed!
Mother Earth, I agree with you, it should be so simple. If people all started eating less and exercising, we would all be better off, and the earth would not be in so much trouble. Like you, I also think there is a lot to learn from the progress made with banning public smoking. Similar steps can be taken with anti obesity campaign, and green measures.
Michel, very funny . . .