Every now and again the comments section at Tim Worstall’s blog gets taken over by a discussion of British restaurants and how they compare to their European counterparts. \u00a0I think it was Bloke in Spain (again) who said a major difference is that people in Britain go to a restaurant for a special occasion, hence when the food or service turns out to be crap nobody wants to make a fuss because it would “spoil the occasion”. \u00a0By contrast, people in France go to restaurants because they are hungry and want to eat, and if the food or service is awful then the very purpose of going there has been defeated, and therefore they will complain. \u00a0This goes part of the way to explain the difference in dining experience between\u00a0the two countries.<\/p>\n
This article<\/a> in The Telegraph<\/em>, via Mr Worstall<\/a>, would appear to support this theory:<\/p>\n Britain’s\u00a0booming restaurant culture is fuelling record levels of childhood obesity, with today\u2019s children spending at least twice as much time spent eating out as previous generations did, experts have warned.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n French provincial restaurants are full of kids, and yet they are not all a bunch of porkers. \u00a0In fact, trying to find a fat French kid requires considerable effort.<\/p>\n Health officials said families no longer behaved as though dining out was a \u201ctreat\u201d and have instead allowed restaurant meals and fast food to become a major part of youngsters’ weekly diet.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Dining out in Britain is often an endurance rather than a treat.<\/p>\n Today\u2019s families are spending at least twice as much time eating out as those who grew up in the 1970s, its report warns.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n People eating in restaurants generates\u00a0a warning? \u00a0In most places this is considered a good thing.<\/p>\n She said parents needed help – including calorie labelling on menus – to look after their children\u2019s health.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n At which point my French readers wonder why British parents are so thick.<\/p>\n \u201cEvery day we are bombarded by cheap, high calorie food and drinks; what we see in the media, in our shops and on the street encourages us to consume too much and gain weight,\u201d she said.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n If this has anything to do with eating in restaurants, they’re keeping it secret.<\/p>\n We need action from across society to help the nation to consume less,\u201d the senior official said.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n I wish these idiots in charge would make up their mind as to whether girls are anorexic because of unrealistically skinny bodies\u00a0displayed in adverts, or everyone is too fat because the media is promoting junk food. \u00a0And last time I heard, telling women they are too fat and ought to eat less was considered a no-no and big was beautiful. \u00a0Some consistency would be nice.<\/p>\n Research involving almost 2,000 people found 75 per cent had eaten out or had a takeaway in the last week, a rise from 68 per cent five years ago.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Only in Britain is eating at a restaurant considered the same as having a takeaway.<\/p>\n Last year, Harvard researchers discovered that people who eat out regularly are more likely to be overweight and to develop Type 2 diabetes compared to those who eat at home.<\/p>\n “We now buy a very large proportion of our food from the out of home sector. It is not a treat, it is an everyday event,\u201d Dr Tedstone said.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Note there is no consideration of the quality of restaurant here. \u00a0A family eating at a four star\u00a0brasserie is lumped in with somebody handing their kids a bucket of KFC.<\/p>\n “Children on average have three meals from the ‘out of home sector\u2019 [restaurants, takeaways and fast-food outlets] every week,\u201d she added. “That\u2019s a lot of calories.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n This is wonderful commentary on how the British view eating out, it really is. \u00a0But as an article warning of the dangers posed by frequent restaurant attendance, it’s not so good..<\/p>\n One in five families now has at least two takeaways a week, the official added.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n The headline of this article is “Britain’s booming restaurant culture fuels record childhood obesity levels”<\/em>. \u00a0Well, I guess McDonald’s refer to their premises as restaurants…<\/p>\n Dr Tedstone said making improvements to restaurants and fast food would be crucial to tackling Britain\u2019s obesity epidemic.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n You want to improve British restaurants? \u00a0Good luck.<\/p>\n The nutritionist welcomed efforts by some councils were trying to limit the number of fast food outlets near schools, but said restaurants needed to do far more to help customers make healthier choices.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n By\u00a0hiring a decent chef who can actually cook things?<\/p>\n The nutritionist welcomed efforts by some councils were trying to limit the number of fast food outlets near schools, but said restaurants needed to do far more to help customers make healthier choices.<\/p>\n “Restaurants, cafes and takeaways can contribute by reducing portion sizes, sugar, saturated fat and salt across their menus …\u201d she said.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Are British restaurants really\u00a0so bad they need external advice on what ingredients to use in their dishes?<\/p>\n Thank God I live in France.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Every now and again the comments section at Tim Worstall’s blog gets taken over by a discussion of British restaurants and how they compare to their European counterparts. \u00a0I think it was Bloke in Spain (again) who said a major … Continue reading