How do they eat that way?

As many of you know, (my four loyal readers, thank you by the way) this is my second time living overseas in Europe. The first time around we lived in Frankfurt, and I was in awe of the whole experience. I was a little less ambitious back then, quite a bit younger, not nearly as worldly and a little overwhelmed by the whole amazing opportunity. I guess age changes things. I remember very well while living in Frankfurt, the question of the day was always--How in the world do these European women stay so thin while eating the way they do? This question consumed many a conversation back then. I would even call my mother back in the States hoping to find the magic answer.

I remember being mesmerized by European women walking cobblestone streets in 5 inch Gucci boots through cities like Prague, Rome and of course Paris. I remember thinking how can I be like these sophisticated women. They seemed to eat what they want, while wearing the most magnificent clothes and money seemed to be no object.

I see things a little differently this time around. I still love good food, beautiful clothes and nice things but I'm not as ready to look to someone else for answers that I now know are within me.  I suppose it must be that age thing again.

This time around, I'm not as interested in the answer to---How do they eat that way and stay so thin question. Yes, European diets are filled with beer, wine, meat, cheese, eggs, tons of dairy and I do not dare forget the Holy Grail of all items BREAD!!! Nothing here is low fat, they don't even have fat free milk in their grocery stores. Seriously. Oh, and by the way the German tradition of cake everyday in the afternoon, that's a real tradition. Or the consumption of ice cream? I've never seen more ice cream consumed in my life than the amount I've seen eaten while traveling Europe. Oh, and I better not leave off pizza, it seems that is all they really do eat in Italy. I do believe every single restaurant in Italy serves pizza, pizza, and more pizza. After our last trip to Italy I didn't want to see another pizza for quite some time. This is all less of a question to me now that needs an answer and more of an amusement to me now. However, I still find the European diet an interesting subject, but because I'm older this time around I guess I'm less in awe.

If you are reading this and are really in need of an answer to the million dollar question, the only one I can come up with for you is--Europeans don't eat preservatives. Simply stated, they eat real food. They eat a lot of vegetables mixed in with all the aforementioned yummy stuff. They generally don't eat fast food probably because fast food is not readily available here and as convenient as it is in the states. Bakeries, pizza, Turkish donner's and bratwurst is Europe's fast food in that it is convenient, relatively cheap and always available. Lastly, Europeans walk everywhere they go, sometimes even in 5 inch Gucci boots. 

I guess what I'm saying is I've seen both sides of the fence; the extreme calorie counting, hold the cream, hold the bread mindset and on the opposite side; no preservatives, cream, pork, beer and add the bread please.
This time around I don't notice the skinny women that much, I guess that's the age thing again. I'm not interested in finding the answer to the million dollar question but I do think I've found an answer for my life, which is to simply to Let it Be (thanks John Lennon) eat what you want, when you want; that piece of bread isn't going to kill you, lose the preservatives if you can and enjoy what you do whatever that may be.