Eat Like the French

From two acclaimed French behavioral scientists, a science-backed guide to eating what you love, enjoying it more, and finding a healthier, happier way to live.

Chocolate cake or fruit? Burger or salad? Food choices can feel like a test: pleasure or health. But what if the secret to eating better isn’t resisting pleasure but learning to enjoy food more?

In Eat Like the French, behavioral scientists Pierre Chandon and Yann Cornil draw on twenty years of cutting-edge research to reveal a surprising truth: enjoying food more doesn’t necessarily mean eating more, but can mean developing healthier habits, and avoiding overeating. Yes, you can have the chocolate cake. The key is to savor every bite of a moderate portion.

Inspired by French eating culture, where pleasure and health go hand in hand, Chandon and Cornil introduce Epicurean eating: the art of finding more pleasure in food by appreciating its flavors, aromas, textures, beauty, and the people we share it with. It replaces guilt, restriction, and calorie counting with savoring. They explain why a bigger portion doesn’t always bring more pleasure—and why eating in front of a screen can make it difficult to notice when that pleasure has faded. You’ll also learn:

- Why the first bites are the best, and how to recognize when another bite no longer adds pleasure.

- How restaurants, supermarkets, and delivery apps trick you into eating beyond pleasure, and how to outsmart them while staying on budget.

- How simple rituals and shared meals can make eating healthier and more enjoyable.

And more!

With surprising behavioral science and practical advice for navigating everyday food choices, Eat Like the French offers a welcome way out of food guilt and a new path to enjoying food and your life more.