Vault: We Pick This Author's Brain About Her Diet Book

Summary

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Podcast Summary: The Bert Show – "Vault: We Pick This Author's Brain About Her Diet Book"

Date: January 6, 2026
Host: The Bert Show Cast (Bert, Kristin, Abby, Cassie, Tommy)
Guest: Mireille Guiliano, author of Why French Women Don't Get Fat

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Episode Overview

This episode features Mireille Guiliano, celebrated author of Why French Women Don't Get Fat, a book famously endorsed by Oprah Winfrey. The Bert Show hosts use their signature light-hearted, authentic tone to dig into the philosophies behind Mireille’s "ultimate non-diet book" and explore the cultural climate around food, especially comparing French and American attitudes. The discussion moves beyond dieting, focusing on mindful eating, traditional rituals, and lifestyle choices.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

Mireille's Background & the Book's Premise

• [01:32–02:13] Mireille introduces her book, emphasizing that it’s not a typical diet book but instead a guide to French lifestyle and rituals surrounding food. She shares her personal journey with weight gain after moving to America, propelling her to revisit lessons from her French upbringing.
  • Quote:
    "No, no, it’s actually the ultimate non-diet book. It’s a lifestyle book, really."
    — Mireille Guiliano [02:18]
• She describes suffering from low self-esteem related to weight gain and credits her family doctor for guiding her back to mindful eating habits taught by her mother.

The French Relationship With Food

• [03:29–04:11] The core difference? The French "eat with their head," respecting traditional mealtime rituals, savoring food, and eating more slowly.
  • Quote:
    "We eat with our head... We eat in a very common sense way by having three meals a day and not snacking. We have smaller portions, we eat much, much, much more slowly."
    — Mireille Guiliano [03:29]
• Mireille illustrates how taking time with meals and fully engaging the senses brings both satisfaction and natural portion control.

Contrasts in American Eating Habits

• [04:23–04:49] Mireille credits her American weight gain to exposure to snacks, sweets, and the habit of eating anytime, anywhere—even standing up or in front of the TV. This approach led to overeating and poor food choices.
  • Quote:
    "I probably was having seven meals a day, and most of them were bad."
    — Mireille Guiliano [04:49]

Enjoying Rich Foods Without Deprivation

• [04:49–06:26] French women don’t deprive themselves of pastries or chocolate, but enjoy them in moderation and much smaller portions than typically found in America.
  • Quote:
    "A croissant is not a croissant is not a croissant. And now we even have mini croissants."
    — Mireille Guiliano [05:27]
  • Quote:
    "You can eat quality food in small portions, and then you can eat anything you want. If you want to have chocolate, you shouldn't deprive your chocolate… Just don't have a loaf."
    — Mireille Guiliano [05:38]
• American portions are highlighted as often being 3x the French standard, especially when it comes to pastries and fast food staples.

Content of the Book: More Than Advice

• [06:39–08:03] Mireille describes her book as part memoir, part lifestyle guide, and recipe collection, focusing on seasonal produce and simple cooking.
  • She wants to inspire Americans, especially young people, to cook and enjoy vegetables—highlighting overlooked staples like leeks.
  • Quote:
    "I have a lot of recipes in the book, simple recipes. Because I wanted to encourage young people to cook… Another difference is that I've noticed for many American women, cooking is a chore. And for us... we cook because we like to prepare something for the people we love."
    — Mireille Guiliano [06:52]
  • Discussion of her "magical leek soup": a gentle, vegetable-based detox and diuretic.

The Power of Slowing Down

• [08:03–10:59] Mireille stresses that slowing down is the most important step; eating mindfully, with respect for food, reduces stress-driven overeating and fosters genuine satisfaction.
  • Quote:
    "Slowing down is probably the most important thing because... we have a great respect for food and we pay much more attention to what we put into our body."
    — Mireille Guiliano [08:10]
  • She notes "eating on the go" is a major obstacle: multitasking meals is linked to overeating and diminished pleasure.
  • Mireille encourages listeners to adopt a food journal to raise awareness of their habits as a first step.
    • Quote:
      "Keeping a journal is a very nice little way to do, to start. Because a lot of women write me and say, my God, I didn’t realize what I was eating every day."
      — Mireille Guiliano [09:08]
  • Mindful reduction is key; she warns against drastic cuts, promoting a gradual approach (e.g., cutting from 6 slices of bread to 5, not zero overnight).

Final Thoughts

• Mireille’s overarching message:
  • Don’t treat eating as a punishment or a mindless act—approach it with respect, pleasure, and balance.
  • Focus less on rigid diet rules and more on quality, localized foods, and enjoying the act of eating.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Book’s Intent:
  "It’s actually the ultimate non-diet book. It’s a lifestyle book, really."
  — Mireille Guiliano [02:18]

• On American Snacking:
  "I probably was having seven meals a day, and most of them were bad."
  — Mireille Guiliano [04:49]

• On French Moderation:
  "You can eat quality food in small portions, and then you can eat anything you want."
  — Mireille Guiliano [05:38]

• On Cooking as Love:
  "For many American women, cooking is a chore. And for us… we cook because we like to prepare something for the people we love."
  — Mireille Guiliano [06:52]

• On Food Journaling:
  "Keeping a journal is a very nice little way to start. Because a lot of women write me and say, my God, I didn’t realize what I was eating every day."
  — Mireille Guiliano [09:08]

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• [01:32–02:13]: Mireille introduces herself and the book’s purpose
• [03:29–04:11]: The French philosophy of eating: slowing down, savoring
• [04:23–04:49]: Mireille’s personal account of gaining weight in America
• [04:49–06:26]: How French people enjoy rich foods sensibly; portion differences
• [06:39–08:03]: Content of the book: memoir, recipes, love of produce and cooking
• [08:03–10:59]: Practical advice: slowing down, journaling, and gradual change

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Conclusion

This episode provides a warm, engaging exploration of Mireille Guiliano's philosophy—a celebration of food, cultural ritual, and mindful living. The discussion demystifies the "French paradox," showing how simple changes like slowing down, cooking at home, and choosing quality over quantity can reshape our relationship with food. The hosts offer listeners a taste of Mireille’s wit and wisdom, making this episode a valuable resource for anyone curious about healthier, happier eating—not just dieting.

Transcript

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[Show Host (The Birch Show)]

Hey, the Birch Show. The name of the book is why French Women Don't Get Fat. It's by Mireille Giuliano and it's been endorsed by Oprah Winfrey. And if it's been endorsed by Oprah Winfrey, you kind of have to listen to what's going on. We have Mireille on the phone with us this morning. Good morning, Mirei.

[Mireille Giuliano]

Good morning.

[Show Host (The Birch Show)]

How are you this morning?

[Mireille Giuliano]

Very well. On my way to Atlanta.

[Show Host (The Birch Show)]

Oh, are you really?

[Mireille Giuliano]

Yes.

[Show Host (The Birch Show)]

You're gonna be here?

[Mireille Giuliano]

I'm going to be here this afternoon.

[Show Host (The Birch Show)]

You got like a book? Sign in here.

[Mireille Giuliano]

Oh, I'm down there. For the museum auction weekend.

[Show Host (The Birch Show)]

Oh, very cool.

[Mireille Giuliano]

And lots of events.

[Show Host (The Birch Show)]

Oh, we'll have to get some information and stick it up on our website for you.

[Mireille Giuliano]

Okay. If we'd known that, we would have.

[Show Host (The Birch Show)]

Had you come in studio tomorrow.

[Mireille Giuliano]

Yeah, well, I didn't know that either. I was traveling and I'm sort of working a day at a time.

[Show Host (The Birch Show)]

Hey, mirei, I'm a little confused exactly what to call your book because it's not really a diet book. Is it a wrong.

[Mireille Giuliano]

No, no, it's actually the ultimate non diet book. Okay, so it's, it's a lifestyle book, really? Explain that to us because it's about, you know, I wrote it because I was a typical French girl when I was thin. And then I came to America as a student and I gained 20 pounds. And then I went back to Paris and I gained another 10 pounds and I was in this horrible vicious circle when you're heavy. And with my little frame, I was more than heavy. I was fat and I was unhappy and low self esteem and grumpy and couldn't stand see myself, couldn't look at myself. And my little family doctor put me back on track by basically, you know, teaching me, reteaching me what my mother had taught me. And so when I came to America and I've been lecturing on food and wine for the past 15 years and people see me always say, well, you're so passionate about food and wine and we see you in restaurant and you entertain a lot and how come you're not fat? And you know, I couldn't say, been there, done that, but I just gave them the French rug and said, well, French women don't get fat.

[Show Host (The Birch Show)]

And why is that?

[Mireille Giuliano]

Because we have a different relationship with food. We eat with our head, we fool ourselves. We eat in a very common sense way by having three meals a day and not snacking. We have smaller portions, we eat much, much, much more slowly. Actually, right now in my life, I still go back and forth to France every six weeks and I'm always stunned to see how out there we take time to eat. And when you take time to eat and you eat slowly and you chew well and you put your knife and fork down and you eat with your senses, you eat with pleasure, you eat less because your taste buds get satisfied after three bites, basically.

[Interviewer]

Now Mira, you said, you know, you were raised in France and you had this lifestyle, then you came to America. I'm curious, specifically when you came to America, what made you change your routine and how did that routine change?

[Mireille Giuliano]

Well, I discovered chocolate chip cookies and brownies and ice cream and eating, being able to, you know, I was living with families and being able to go to the fridge and pick whatever I wanted when I wanted and eating in front of the TV and standing up and between meals. And I probably was having seven meals a day, and most of them were bad.

[Interviewer]

Now, Mire, I have seen you on Dateline before when they featured your book and got to see that program and thought it was interesting when you talked about how French women don't deprive themselves of some of these things. Like, you guys have wonderful pastries. And I mean, the French are famous for their wonderful desserts and that sort of thing. How do you, you know, have your eclairs but still not get fat?

[Mireille Giuliano]

Well, first of all, I should say that, you know, and because pastry is one of my, what I call in the book, offenders, pastries in France is much less sweet than here. And the portions are about a third.

[Interviewer]

A third of it.

[Mireille Giuliano]

I mean, a croissant is not a croissant is not a croissant. And now we even have mini croissants. But the reason we can eat it all, in a way, and sometimes I have to be careful when I say that because, you know, some journalists would write, you can eat everything and not gain weight. Well, it's not quite that way. You can eat quality food in small portions, and then you can eat anything you want. If you want to have chocolate, you shouldn't deprive your chocolate. If you like bread, you can have a nice piece of bread with your meal. Just don't have a loaf. Or yesterday I was on a TV show and they brought the size of what people order downstairs on Broadway at a diner as a hamburger. And then they asked me what the portion would be and it would be about a third between the hamburger, the bun and the French fries. I mean, the fries was enough for a family of three.

[Show Host (The Birch Show)]

Mirei, I still can't get a really good sense about what your entire book is about. I mean, obviously you're talking about some pretty basic stuff here, but obviously your book is also probably more than 100 pages. So what are you filling those pages with?

[Mireille Giuliano]

Oh, it's also, you know, it's a memoir and it has a lot of anecdotes about. About produce. Because when I grew up and still now, I mean, a lot of French women go to markets, you know, at least once or twice a week. And we like fresh food. We like to cook. I have a lot of recipes in the book, simple recipes. Because I wanted to encourage young people to cook. Because another difference is that I've noticed for many American women, cooking is a chore. And for us is a. We cook because we like to prepare something for the people we love, whether it's our spouse or children or family or friends. And so I wanted to make easy. And so I talk a lot about produce, and I'm amazed that a lot of Americans have not discovered some basic produce, like my favorite, which is a leek. And I talk about a magical leek soup that is like a vegetarian weekend broth with vegetables and a nice way to detox you because it's a mild diuretic. And I think Americans are discovering because it's from the onion family, but it's much milder and sweeter and nuttier, and people who taste it love it. So I'm hoping to make people discover how to cook vegetable, how to like vegetables. A lot of people think they don't like vegetable. It's because they don't know what to do with it.

[Show Host (The Birch Show)]

So what I'm hearing here is like, if you're talking about fruits and vegetables, smaller portions, slowing down. Slowing down.

[Mireille Giuliano]

Slowing down is probably the most important thing because, well, first of all, it's for people to become more aware of. You see, the difference between France and the US is like, we have 300 years of ritual and gastronomy culture. So we have a great respect for food and we pay much more attention to what we put into our body. And I would like to help, you know, people here to realize that a lot of the food they eat is really, really bad food. It's preserved, it has a lot of chemicals in it, and it's over salted and over sweetened. It makes them eat more. And once you become aware of what you eat, and that's why keeping a journal is a very nice little way to do, to start. Because a lot of women write me and say, my God, I didn't realize what I was eating every day. It's crazy. And. And that's the first step. But then you really have to eat with your senses. And to do that, you need to take 20 minutes. Now, I'm not saying you can do it three times a day and seven days a week, but start on the weekend, start a couple of days for dinner if you can, and you will see the difference when you sit down and you eat slowly, which means in a relaxed fashion, you will eat less. You see people eat on the go and multitasking, and in that situation, you are stressed. So when you're stressed, you tend to eat more to start with and you don't pay any attention. Have you ever watched people in the airport eating in those fast food places between they catch a plane, sure. You don't see a sign of pleasure on their face. It makes me so sad to see that this relationship with food has to change. I mean, there's a difference between eating for living and living for eating. Food is something very, you know, it's one of our basic three basic needs with love and security. And we have to respect the food we eat. We have to eat it with respect. And we also have to know what our body can take. And that's why my book does not like a diet book. Give you one size fits all, you know, do this, do that, don't eat this, don't eat that. All I'm saying is that, listen, if you eat good food, you can eat everything. But try to as a base, assume that most of us, because in our life today, you know, we are not like our parents and grandparents, working hard in the field, in a mine or walking a lot. Most of us, we sit, you know, whether it's in the office, in the car, in the subway, in a bus, and we don't need all that food. So assume that you eat probably between 10 and 30% more of what you really need and start reducing, you know, slowly. Don't hit your body with, you know, from six slices of bread to zero.

[Show Host (The Birch Show)]

Right.

[Mireille Giuliano]

Go from six to five. Because if you do that, which the diets tell you to do, and of course, if you do that, you're going to lose a lot of weight fast.

[Show Host (The Birch Show)]

But then what if what Mire is saying here makes sense to you? Pick up the book. It's called why French Women Don't Get Fat. And you can pick it up just about anywhere. I got all the information on Amazon.com yesterday also. Mire, thanks a lot for joining us. Thank you and have a great time in Atlanta when you get here, too.

[Mireille Giuliano]

I will. I love the South.

[Show Host (The Birch Show)]

All right, bye bye.

[Mireille Giuliano]

Bye bye.

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