French Children Don't Throw Food is an account of the parenting experiences of an Anglophone raising a family in Paris: Druckerman herself is an American former journalist married to an Englishman; their children a daughter and twin boys.

Initially, Druckerman assumes her life as a parent will reflect much of what she refers to as "Anglophone", though she soon discovers that her Parisian peers are not so keen to form friendships among other mothers, let alone choose to be stay-at-home parents who frequent local playgroups and gossip while "over-parenting" their children!

Instead, she discovers that French mothers are equally more strict and relaxed, well groomed women in their own right whose children seem incredibly well behaved and almost never throw food at the tables of the haughty restaurants they frequent.

Her journalist background combined with the experience of motherhood aroused her curiosity as to what creates the "invisible, civilising force" enabling French mothers to seem as though they can have it all. French Children Don't Throw Food is an account of her discoveries and experiences in finding out.