Adapting To French Life – Food and Shopping

I would like to share how my adjustment to life in France has been going. It’s been a cultural shift adapting to French life – food and shopping. Each of the next few posts will address a certain area, such as food and shopping, transportation, the local culture, life with dogs in France and of course communicating in a whole new language. I will begin with food and food shopping. My experiences are solely based on my personal observations and experiences. 

The aspects I have had to adjust to here in France have been a delightful mix of challenges. It’s interesting how something as simple as buying groceries can take on a whole new dimension when you’re in a different country. 

Shopping in Menton, France

I live in a charming little city on the Mediterranean Sea. Luckily, most of the essential food stores, bakeries, the pharmacy and even the dog food shop are just a short walk away. One of the things I love about smaller towns in France in general is that they tend to favor local independent shops over big chain supermarkets. When it comes to food culture there is a strong emphasis on fresh ingredients. The French philosophy seems to be why buy a week’s worth of groceries when you can shop every couple of days and enjoy the best of what’s in season. 

Adapting To French Life – Food and Shopping: Grocery Stores

This of course means that I have had to adjust my shopping habits. In the U.S. I was used to hauling home a week’s worth of groceries in my SUV. Impulse buying was never an issue, I never gave it a thought, how heavy or what size a package was. Well, now everything I buy I need to carry back to the apartment. The apartment is about a 20 minute walk from the closest grocery store, which is not bad. Most people walk or use public transport and it is common to bring your own shopping bags. 

The grocery store  however does have bags available if one is needed. A simple trip for a few days worth of food is manageable, but when I tried to cart home a bulky, heavier item like a container of soup, it didn’t make the cut. One needs not only to plan what you are needing but how the weight will be distributed in two bags. 

Beautiful Fresh Produce

Here is the upside to shopping more frequently: it means the produce is always fresh, and I believe for me personally there is less food waste. There’s also something incredibly delicious about picking up a freshly baked baguette from one of my favorite bakeries, the freshly baked smell is just the best! I have discovered one of the best croissants I have ever had, a pistachio filled croissant. I highly recommend it! They are so flaky and filled with such flavor I have not gotten tired of them yet. 

The local markets are also a dream come true, especially for fruits, vegetables, seafood and meats. I’ve learned that eggs are stacked in aisles like a proud tower of breakfast potential. Unlike in the U.S. they don’t need to be refrigerated. The chickens in France and most European countries are vaccinated for salmonella in addition the eggs are not washed so the protective cuticle stays on the shell. As a result they do not need to be refrigerated; the cartons do have expiration dates on them. 

 Adapting To French Life – Food and Shopping has take very little time. It has completely captivated me.

Thanks for being here,

-Soraya

You can find more about my journey here: A Little About Me