I have just returned from a week in Paris. After spending a week eating, drinking and consuming mass quantities of art and culture, I returned to the States slimmer, clear-skinned, and brimming with a sense of history, proportion and an inner calm I haven't attained without meditation in years. What is this magic? What is it that makes French (and most of European) society so balanced, so reasonable, so healthy?

Gallons of ink have been spilled on the miracle of how the French citizenry remain so slim and chic on a diet that consists mostly of bread, cheese, butter and meat. The subject has been specifically addressed in books such as The French Don't Get Fat: The Secret of Eating for Pleasure, by Mereille Guilliano and French Diet: Why French Women Don't Get Fat by Michel Montingnac and a slew of other similarly-themed books. We can learn the "secret:" don't eat processed foods, don't snack, eat slowly, and walk a lot.

A stroll down any street in Paris (and yes, people actually do stroll there) will demonstrate how closely the French are living to the food chain. Markets display gorgeous vegetables, glorious cuts of meat, rainbows of seafood, and arrays of glistening olives. Farmer's markets sprout up all over the city and people can easily pick up ingredients for dinner. 75% of French meals are prepared and eaten at home. Nobody is counting calories or drinking skim milk. A healthy repast is at everyone's fingertips. Need to eat on the go? Pick up a baguette sandwich from any bakery, and eat it as you continue your stroll. For a great breakdown of the French lifestyle read this excellent article from The Observer.

Pleasure is an essential part of French culture. They embrace it in the sensible manner that comes from being comfortable with it. There is no such thing as "guilty pleasure" in Paris; they don't need to scarf down a container of Chunky Monkey in the middle of the night when no one is looking.

The end result is a country with an 18% obesity rate in comparison with our grotesque 30%. The magic is simply balance. The French take time to enjoy all of life's pleasures when and where they find them. The overall effect: feeling good and looking tres chic.

Photo: The Luxembourg Gardens, Paris.fr