Great importance in France is placed on the pleasurable and convivial aspects of eating, as well as more traditional practices, such as cooking meals from basic ingredients and having structured meal times. The data from several studies reviewed suggest that the “French paradox” can be partly explained by eating habits (what is eaten, when, how, and with whom), but also how food is bought, cooked, and celebrated, rather than by specific nutrients or foods that afford protection against coronary heart disease and obesity. As there appears to be nothing exceptional about the nutrient content of the French diet, compared with other European countries, “l’exception française” would seem to reside instead in the positive attitudes and culture of eating...