French women make staying thin seem effortless. Take Mireille Guiliano, the author of this book: now la femme d'un certain âge, she has been svelte most of her life. How does she do it, especially considering that she's the CEO of Clicquot and enjoys a glass or two of champagne on a daily basis? Guiliano tells all in this book, and those who take her good advice to heart will never have to diet again.

Guiliano actually learned how to stay thin the hard way: as an exchange student in the 1960s, she went to America and a few months later, returned to France overweight. Back home things did not improve, and finally the family doctor instructed Guiliano in the finer points of eating, French style. It was a lesson she never forgot, and even though she now calls America home (she is even married to an American), Guiliano has held onto the habits that keep her thin.

So what's her secret? Actually, Guiliano doesn't do anything we don't already know. She eats lots of fruits and vegetables. She uses portion control. She drinks a lot of water. She's active. What's different is her approach, and it's a bit of wisdom that we Americans really should take from the French: it's all done with a certain amount of enjoyment and appreciation. Yes, she enjoys treats, but the occasional pastry or chocolate is of the highest quality and finest flavor. Fruits are consumed in season, when they are at their tastiest. Guiliano doesn't need to spend hours at the gym — she walks everywhere she can and always takes the stairs. (In fact, she only suggests weight training for women starting when they are forty-ish, to stave off muscle loss and hang onto bone density.) She also points out that a woman shouldn't eat the same way at 50 that she did at 20, and notes that small adjustments through the years should help keep away extra pounds.

Included in the book are a lot of recipes, mostly from Guiliano's family. But they aren't your usual Spartan diet fare. In fact, there's even a recipe for croissants! The whole point of the recipes is to create good, wholesome dishes that are both filling and pleasurable, and that won't leave you scrounging around the refrigerator an hour later.

Keep in mind that French Women Don't Get Fat isn't strictly a how-to book — it's a journey through Guiliano's life and experiences, and along the way you learn how she manages to stay slim. You also discover that the methods can be applied to your own life. Guiliano's writing approach actually makes this book a lot more enjoyable than your typical how-to book. But you wouldn't expect anything less from a woman who understands that occasional indulgence is a necessary part of life.

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