How do Europeans consume food differently than Americans?
FaroMia was founded with a dream to bring European, specifically Mediterranean, snacking and eating to the US. Caroline, a FaroMia founder, spent a lot of time in Europe growing up. Even as a child, she recognized that a lot of the behaviors around food in Europe seemed much healthier than at home in the USA.
See below for her 5 biggest takeaways:
- Portions sizes - most things in the US tend to be bigger than in Europe, and portion sizes are no exception. A small Starbucks in America would likely be considered a medium or large coffee at an Italian cafe. Croissants in America are double the size of a traditional French croissant. Europeans eat way smaller portions than in the US - it's just a fact.
- Cost - fresh produce in the US is far more expensive than fast food. In Europe, however, fast food doesn’t exist and fresh produce is not overly expensive. It is accessible to all.
- Meal speed - in the US, it’s normal to be on your phone, multi-tasking, or rushed while eating a meal. The pace of life is much faster. Europeans, on the other hand, spend hours at the dinner table, seated without distraction, savoring every last bite and conversation with loved ones. Eating is a social event, and one to be savored and appreciated.
- Food quality - it’s almost impossible to find Splenda for your coffee in Europe. The trendy low-calorie options that fill US grocery stores and restaurants simply don’t exist in Europe. Why? Because Europeans eat the real thing. That’s right - butter, whole milk, sugar, etc. Even so, many European countries have lower rates of obesity and cardiovascular issues compared to the US.
To summarize, in order to adopt a more European & Mediterranean approach to food, follow these simple steps: take care in food preparation, eat slowly and mindfully, enjoy sociably, and keep portion sizes modest.
Bon Appetit! Salute! (Cheers!)