France

Location:

Western Europe

Climate Description:

Varies around the country. Generally hot summers, some areas get cold winters (especially the alps regions and the North) whereas southern France (near the Mediteranean) tends to have a milder winter.

Is it likely that residents in this country will speak English?

In larger cities such as Paris, many will understand basic English, but as a whole it is easier if you speak enough French to get by.

What are the staple foods of the country?

Cheese, bread, wine, croissants. Depending on the region of France, there are other specialities such as duck (in the South East) and seafood on the Mediteranean coast.

What is a typical daily intake and timing for each meal in this country?

Breakfast is generally not a big meal, often consisting of coffee and a croissant or sweet pastry or some bread and cheese.
Lunch is the main meal of the day, and is associated with a large 'siesta' time (around 12-12.30) where most businesses will shut down for two hours.
Dinner is a lighter meal usually consumed later at night (restaurants often won't open till 8pm).

What food items are readily available?

Breads and Cereals: Bread (Pane) is predominantly white and readily available especially from bakeries (patisseries). Sliced bread however is more difficult to come by and is usually only found in supermarkets. Breakfast cereals are easy to find in supermarkets but are mostly low fibre and sweetened other than muesli.

Fruit andVegetables: Fruit and vegetables are fresh and readily available, especially from the markets which are generally held at least once a week in all areas of France.

Dairyproducts: Readily available, including low fat products. A huge variety of cheese and yoghurts. Milk is usually available in long-life containers only.

Meat: readily available but can be expensive. Canned seafood also readily available and eggs are popular.

Snack foods such as cereal bars, yoghurts, crackers are readily available at supermarkets. Generally there is an excellent selection of cereal bars with "Granny Bars" voted as the athletes most popular choice.

What food products are not readily available (E.g. meat, fresh fruit, vegetables etc)?

You may have trouble getting low fat milk in drinks (e.g. café au lait) and "diet" soft drinks in restaurants / cafés.
If your vegetarian you may struggle finding something to eat outside of a pasta/pizza restaurant. Supermarkets usually offer a small, yet good range of vegetarian meat alternatives such as patties and vegetarian luncheon meats.

What are typical methods of preparation of foods in this country (e.g. smoked meats, fried foods, rich sauces etc)

The food preparation methods can vary quite substantially, from rich creamy / cheese sauces to grilled / barbecued seafood with fresh salads, including Tabouleh. There should always be something suitable to choose.

Is food reasonably priced in this country? Which items are costly? Which items are cheap? What is the best (i.e. freshest/safest) and most economical way to purchase foods?

Markets are definitely the way to go for well-priced fresh produce, and most places in France will have a market at least once a week.
The supermarkets tend to be larger chain ones so have a good range of 'home brand' varieties of foods.

Are there any food safety concerns? (E.g. methods of Food Preparation and safety of local water to drink)

No, tap water is generally safe with most small towns having drinking fountains in the centre square.

Can you see any likely issues/concerns regarding nutrition for athletes traveling to this country?

If you are self-catering, no problems provided you're aware of the opening hours of the supermarket and are organized at lunch time. However, if you're being catered for, many local dishes will contain a fair bit of cream and/or cheese and breakfast may only consist of pastries.

Can you recommend any restaurants (please supply if they prepare foods that are suitable for athletes?)

There are usually good pizza / pasta places available. In some regions, the local specialties are well worth trying but be careful to if you don't understand the French terms.
If you're in Marseille, you MUST try the Bouillabaisse (fresh seafood 'stew / soup' - it's definitely worth waiting for!), and in Paris definitely try a chocolate crepe from the street stalls!
Although Italy is more known for Gelati, the French do a pretty good job also. Most Gelati stores offer a huge range of flavours, so the hardest decision is narrowing down your selection to two or three.

What are the customs requirements for this country regarding food? That is, what food items can athletes safely and legally bring into the country?

No major problems bringing any types of food in - if you follow Australian customs requirements you'll be fine

What sports supplements foods are available in this country? Where available, please supply nutritional details as well as purchasing details.

If you can find a specialist sports store such as Decathlon or a cycling store, you will be able to source suitable products. Supermarkets however only carry a limited supply of sports drinks and in more regional towns you may not be able to find anything, so it is much better to bring your own.