Toujours Chic, Win One For The French

So if America won in the last round, I think the French win in the diet round. I don't know if the French are truly healthier- they do seem to be slimmer. We are comparing, though a whole country the size of Texas, who live in a much cooler Northern latitude (I believe closer to Maine) to an extremely diverse population who lives in a much hotter (hello, Kansas in the summer) area. It's hard to be chic if you are totally wilted, after all. Anne Barrone also points out that American culture also has a religious and pioneer type handicap- lots of America was on the frontier, where you routinely had to do without, and a lot of American attitudes towards appearance and food are driven by the Puritans: if it's fun, it's probably a sin.
French are driven by enjoying the moment, and even if it may not be totally good for you, enjoy it in moderation, and without guilt. I certainly enjoyed Disneyland much more that way.
Americans overall seem to be driven to exercise hard, diet hard...hard, hard, hard. We end up with weekend warrior injuries and insane diets we can't keep up with.

I like the moderate path- enjoy in a fair amount. In food, clothing, exercise. Way more chic.