How come the French can eat so much rich food and stay fit?

There is substantial evidence that the French have fewer problems with heart disease and obesity than do Americans. The superficial answer is that olive oil and red wine are some French tricks. The truth is a complex relationship between attention to what is eaten, when, and with whom. The French consider the act of eating as a social, emotional and thoughtful act. Read more about the French Paradox in Pace of Provence cookbook.

Our kids don't want to spend time at the table, what can we do?

Mealtime is family time. If children are involved in planning and preparation, that makes their contribution a valuable, necessary part of the event. These become skills which last for a lifetime and are a source of self-esteem and confidence in other areas of their lives. That pride and respect carries over to table manners too. Harmonie workshops help families renew with the tradition of eating meals together and have children participate in the preparation of the meal. This is a powerful tool against the problem of obesity and malnutrition that sets children up for misery at school, attention deficit, sickness with missed days and serious health problems later.

How do you respond to : "Cooking is a waste of time"?

Do you feel that you don't have the luxury of adding more activities in your life? What if you realized that your productivity would actually increase with better nutrition and more exercise? Saying that you don't have time - the fact is you can't afford not to. Even by slowly adding some habits to your daily routine, you will start to notice the difference. Plus, when you spend time shopping and cooking you are teaching your kids valuable skills. The trick is to change your activities from have-tos into want-tos by connecting them to one of your bigger goals in life. Flipping that switch in your mind will alter forever the relationship to the tasks in question, making each one restorative in its own way. Managing time more effectively is an important topic of our Harmonie class part 1.

What are the advantages of sharing family meals?

Sharing a meal nourishes the soul as well as the body. Tradition says families eat together, but often that's not true. The benefits of eating together make family mealtime a tradition worth pursuing.

• It improves nutrition. Studies show that families are more likely to eat a nutritious meal when all of the family eats together. They also indicate that families that eat together are twice as likely to have five servings of fruit and vegetable a day.
• It educates the palate. The capacity to fully appreciate the complexity of food is refined by daily practice, or savoring. Little by little, the liking for sugar and fat diminishes and is replaced by the desire for fresh, high-quality food.
• It creates a family bond. Family mealtime is a chance for everyone to be together. It encourages shared learning. Parents can teach children table manners, social skills, family values, sense of community, and basic cooking skills.
• It increases communication. It is a way to really listen and respect what is going on with school, jobs, and friends.

How to get the family back to the dinner table?

Make it a priority, make it fun, serve a variety of foods, keep meals simple but tasty, involve everyone, turn off the television, let the answering machine take the calls, encourage table manners, keep the conversation pleasant, and make it an event.

I often realize there is no food left in the fridge.

Shopping is as important as cooking. Harmonie class part 2 gives you tips on how to make it fun and educative, without wasting any food.

How important is meal planning?

Without a plan you will have no clue what to buy when you are at the store, you will forget what to eat even if you have the right food, you will buy and eat impulsively, and get bored with the few recipes you can remember how to shop for and cook.

How can I learn more about meal planning?

Harmonie class part 2, teaches you with interactive exercises how to build weekly menus, and constantly vary your choices of protein, starches, fibers, and vitamins.

How important is it to eliminate fat from our diet?

We need some fat in our diet, but saturated fat can be dangerous. Substituting butter with stock, nonfat sour cream and fresh herbs compliments the natural flavor of the other ingredients. My grandfather used to say, "moderation in all things, but by all means, all things". In my Harmonie program I am following the 2005 Dietary Guidelines based on the latest scientific information.

How to start improving our eating habits?

Change happens one step a day towards the ideal. Begin planning one "French dinner" during the weekend. There is no TV but music to compliment the table. The phone is unplugged, candles are lit and the sound of the cork popping signals time to sit down. It's appealing in every way. That's the beginning, make it appealing in every way. Your kids will love it! Check our Harmonie class part 1 for more ideas and strategies.

Why did you title your cookbook, Pace of Provence?

For the Provençal, the slow pace of life, the time spent eating, talking and enjoying the passing hour is more important than the food itself. This book is as much a recipe for contentment as it is a collection of healthy, tasty concoctions.

Can you tell us what's special about  Pace of Provence recipes?

I created a balance between the kind of Grande cuisine that Julia Child promotes, and the boring "Lite" recipes for dieters. These are day-to-day family meals. Some are classic, some new, all were modified to make meals simpler and healthier with the goal to get the most taste. No recipe takes longer than 20 minutes to make. Even beginners in my cooking classes master them quickly.