How many of you have read the book, French Women Don't Get Fat? Having spent a lot of time in France, I've been able to observe first hand why French women are not fat, despite eating pommes frites, bottles of fine wine, fois gras and brie cheese. On top of that, they don't exercise like fiends the way we Americans do. In fact, they believe that the muscular frames that we strive to develop are not feminine.

Here are my general observations:

1. French women do not snack or graze. They eat 3 meals.

2. When the sit for a meal, they SIT and chew their food. They don't get up and down, look at their cell phones every second, gulp their food or look at computer screens.

3. They savour their food. When you dine with a French person, you'll hear them make comments like, "ahh, I can taste the tarragon." "That must be the rosemary that brought out that flavor."

4. Their portion size is small.

5. They don't obsess about the calories or raw food or macrobiotic or any of the latest trends in diet. In fact, they really don't diet.

6. Most of the food they eat is not processed. It's fresh, whole foods. When you walk into a French supermarket, your tongue actually tingles from the fresh, sour smell of the lemons or the crimson, succulent strawberries. The only place I saw such strawberries were those that we freshly picked in the Berkshires.

7. The French cherish the dining experience. I have a close, elderly relative who lives in Paris. When I visit her in her very plain, one bedroom flat, I always marvel at the way she presents our lunch. Granted, it's simple. Perhaps some brie cheese or smoked salmon with some crackers and a salad, but the love and care she takes to prepare the food makes the meal feel like a celebration. First she places a perfectly ironed tablecloth over a very small round table in the middle of her closet sized kitchen. She sets the table with china and the food is presented carefully on serving plates.

The food industry wants us to believe that losing weight is all about the food. As we see in the French eating habits, although WHAT we eat is important, HOW we eat can actually lead to a healthier life style.

Coriander, a natural metal chelator and so much more!

Coriander, also known as cilantro, you may be interested to know, acts as an aphrodisiac. It also protects against the Salmonella bacteria, works as a natural chelator (remover of metals) from the body, aides in digestion and helps settle the stomach and prevent flatulence, acts as an anti-inflammatory that may alleviate symptoms of arthritis, protects against urinary tract infections (which are more prevalent during the winter), prevents nausea, relieves intestinal gas, lowers blood sugar, lowers bad cholesterol (LDL) and raises good cholesterol (HDL), good source of iron and magnesium and rich in phytonutrients and flavonoids.

Another Must Have Super Food - Collards

Collards are a staple in JOOS. Why? Because they are one of the food powerhouses. Some botanists say that collards are actually a form of kale, although both are considered a loose leaf cabbage. Collards have been around for thousands of years, but, with the exception of the southern part of the US, unfortunately have not been wildly popular in the US. Julius Caesar ate a hearty serving of collards as a preventive to indigestion after attending royal banquets, a testimony to their detoxifying abilities. They are also known as a cancer preventative, according to several studies. They are great for detoxification and cleansing and boosting the immune system. Collards are loaded with nutrients, including Vitamins A, C, E, B6, B2, calcium, magnesium, manganese and folate, to name a few.

Broccoli...My Kids vs. George Bush. Winner: My Kids

Well maybe George Bush didn't like his broccoli, but perhaps if he had just a little more information about how good broccoli is for us, he'd give it a second chance. My kids can't get enough of it and, from what I've seen in their friends, my kids are not alone.

Broccoli is a member of the cruciferous family of vegetables (so named because the petals have a cross shape). It is similar to cabbage and cauliflower and is highly nutritionally dense.

Studies are showing that the phytonutrients in broccoli can protect against many types of cancers, including breast, prostate, ovarian, bladder and skin cancer. Broccoli also can boost detoxification, support digestive health, promote cardio vascular health and prevent cataracts. Equally important, broccoli is so high in calcium (one cup of cooked broccoli contains 74 mg of calcium, plus 123 mg of vitamin C) that it is a great for bone protection and boosts our immune system. Broccoli is also high in folate and potassium.