While not strictly one meal, many Parisians have a similar approach. A very light breakfast - jokingly a coffee and a cigarette but may include a croissant. L

While not strictly one meal, many Parisians have a similar approach. A very light breakfast - jokingly a coffee and a cigarette but may include a croissant. Lunch is large, may involve multiple dishes/courses over an hour. After lunch is "coffee" which may take another hour (essentially to allow proper digestion before trying to concentrate on work again). The evening meal is often light. Many people have a snack with drinks while catching up with friends at a brasserie. Having spent three months working in Paris, I adopted the above pattern (minus the cigarettes). I gained no weight while there, despite eating delightful pastries for breakfast and not doing the 200-300kms per week of cycling I normally would do at home.