How the French eat

last updated 8 January 2015

Paris

French eating habits are becoming more “Americanized,” according to a government study released this week. Most French people now spend just 20 minutes cooking dinner, and more than half eat it in front of the TV. Just one-fifth of the population still bothers with the traditional four-course meal of appetizer, entrée, cheese, and dessert. But the French so far have avoided the U.S. practice of scarfing down meals on the run. Nine out of 10 sit down to three meals a day, with napkin and silverware.