The French Women Don't Get Fat Spring Newsletter from Mireille Guiliano

From our dear friend Mireille, who is of course a Mover and Shaker and even has her own countdown:


Greetings,

Spring Fever has officially arrived with unusually warm temperatures spreading across the U.S., and here in New York as the Dogwood and Magnolia trees have burst into blossom and I feel the warm sunshine, see the markets slowly coming back to life with flowers and ramps, I want to be outside all the time, soaking it in. 

As the world springs to life again, I’ve been preparing for some busy months ahead. I’m thrilled to announce the release of The French Women Don’t Get Fat Cookbook, which will be in bookstores starting April 27. Organized around my three favorite pastimes (breakfast, lunch and dinner), it’s a compilation of 150 treasured recipes, from my childhood in France to my adult life in the U.S., all of them simple, healthy and quick to put together…perfect for today’s busy women. I’ve included anecdotes and stories and, bien sûr, some more of my tips and tricks for maintaining a healthy weight. One star recipe in the cookbook is my tante Berthe’s Magical Breakfast Cream (not actually cream, rest assured), an easy and delicious way to lose a few pounds in a week without starving or deprivation. And, not to worry, I’ve also included delicious and simple desserts. Plus the answers to some frequently-asked questions (for example, how do I keep my kids away from junk food?  How do I get my husband on board with the French Woman lifestyle?). 

My cookbook is also an homage to the art and importance of cooking. Recently lots of attention has been given to childhood obesity and school lunches, and while schools need to do their part, I believe that changes need to begin at home, with cooking. We’ve lost our connection with food and can only regain it in the markets, our kitchens and at the table. Contrary to popular opinion, it’s not necessary to have oodles of spare time, either. Most of the recipes in my cookbook can be prepared in less time than it would take for a takeout order to arrive. And will taste better, too, without the high levels of sugar, salt and fat. These are the meals that have kept me at a healthy weight for all of my life (well sans that brief period of my adolescence when I forgot the lessons contained in this cookbook…).

I hope to meet/reconnect with many of you on my month-and-a-half-long cookbook tour. I’ll be stopping in Boston, Toronto, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle and Chicago (plus quite a few appearances in the New York area). Please check my calendar for April and May for a list of all events. My publishing company is continuing to finalize details, so the calendar will be updated with more information as we receive it. 

I’ll also be posting updates throughout the tour on Twitter and in my Mireille’s Musings posts. Plus, keep an eye on FrenchWomenDontGetFat.com for more articles on cooking. There will also be an another online tool soon…more details to come.  It’s incredible how the process of publishing a book has changed just since 2005 when French Women Don’t Get Fat came out. I’m catching up with technology peu à peu, but it truly is a whole new world! 

I wish all of you a happy and healthy spring. Enjoy the pleasures of the season, visit the markets, have fun in the kitchen, savor the flavors, the aromas and the feelings. I’ll leave you with three of my favorite quotes from the “Cooking Manifesto”…

Cooking is conversation as a meal gathers values, tastes, rituals and words that are passed on for generations, and play an increasingly important social role not only over the holiday season.

Cooking is sexy—like a kiss, a physical emotion, a union between human beings, and an experience that is sensual, engaging all of one’s senses.

Cooking is nourishment for the body and soul.

Cookingly yours,


Mireille