Budget for food on France.

In the provinces, which is where you're going to be (as opposed to Paris), you can control the cost of food, within limits of course.
If you want a restaurant with table cloths, waiters, etc--it will cost more, more than here for the same meal (of course the meal won't be the same).
However, if you choose a cafe filled with locals, it will cost less.

So the cost mostly depends on what you want and how much you want to pay. You have a lot of control over your food budget.

If you're not careful, you may not get what you pay for; but it's also worth keeping in mind that you will definitely not get what you don't pay for. So my suggestion would be to not be too stingy on food, or you'll miss some of the gastronomic fun that many think should be part of the experience of being in France.

I was thinking 10-15€ per person for breakfast, €15 for lunch and €25 for DInner.......but I have no idea if this sounds like it can be doable? We don't expect Michelin Star meals,......we just want good, hearty food. We don't drink and have tap water with supper. Hubby and mom might have a glass of wine every couple of meals. We want to stop for pastries and maccarons if we feel like it.......I don't want to feel deprived cause we have been waiting for this trip too long. For hubby and i, we are thinking about 150 € a day including snacks, water, and the occasional splurge. I hope that will work.

Now if I could just budget souvenirs. LOL

You can get a croissant and espresso for breakfast for probably 6 or 7 euros, way less than what you mentioned in your last post. Some French add a cigarette for breakfast, but that's optional.
Don't expect traditional American breakfasts, the French don't seem to be too big on breakfasts.

But they eat big lunches. Some travelers make that their main meal of the day, and don't do a full dinner, saves some money.

But some of the best experiences in France can be at dinner in a good restaurant. You're not looking for Michelin star places, those are few and far between, where you will be, and will cost you a few hundred.

In general, food will be significantly more expensive in Paris, than the other places you're going to be that are in the "provinces."
There are ways to reduce food costs in Paris and if you use the Search function above, you'll find a couple of hundred discussions here of how to eat in Paris and not break the bank.
Although, again, you don't get what you don't pay for.

And yes, you'll pay more for mediocre food in Paris Disneyland. They've got you there.

Also, you're lucky you prefer water to soda. In general, drinks (especially sodas) cost disproportionately more than your food as part of the total cost of your meal, I find. Ask for un carafe d'eau, s'il vous plaît to get free (and just fine) tap water.

Rough pronunciation: uhn KAR-ahf d'o, sil voo play (maybe another Helpliner -- excuse me, Forum Member -- can provide a better pronunciation guide!!)

This is great advice. Oh and I speak fluent French so no problem there.

I would suggest not to stress about meal costs, because there's not a whole lot you can do about it except vote with your feet. Cut costs where it's easy to do so (like breakfast) and take the next 2 meals as they come. And skimp on lunch where possible by buying prefab sandwiches and eating on a bench. Every time you sit down in a restaurant, the wallet draining begins.

I was in Paris in April and Bourgogne, Beaujolais and Alsace in June this year, so prices are current.

I spent significantly more on food in Paris but I splurged a lot. And there are plenty of ways to keep costs down. Macarons are expensive - the good ones are €1.80-€2.00 each. Before you buy a dozen, buy one to try. I was often disappointed, and learned my lesson. My faves were Pierre Marcolini (there's a shop near the Opera) and Jean-Paul Hevin. If you keep store them in a ziplock bag, they'll keep for several days. French breads and pastries are great, but you need to buy them fresh every day. They won't be nearly as good the next morning. I shopped at one market for cheeses and fresh produce. The Monoprix had just as good and not more expensive. Also no one gets mad at you for choosing your own produce. You can taste the cheeses there too before you buy (probably the lunch meats too). Try going French for breakfast and have coffee and croissants at your neighborhood cafe, balance that by making sandwiches for picnic lunches. Monoprix sells ready-made salads too. 2 can split a 1/4 liter carafe of house wine (un quart de vin) for no more than any other drink would cost. Pick up a few 1/2 liter bottles of water at Monoprix and refill them - lots of water fountains in the little parks in every neighborhood.

In the "provinces" my most expensive dinners were no more than €28 with at least 2 glasses of wine and either a starter or dessert (or both) plus an entree, except for a splurge in Strasbourg. I couldn't resist buying a lot of cheese and fruit at the local markets and that was usually my lunch.

When comparing French restaurant prices to other countries, remember that the price on menu is your total cost. Tips are usually included, as are sales taxes (or value-added taxes, depending on where you live.)

This is what we found works for us.
1. First we stopped calculating dollars to euros and just work with euros. We budgeted 100 euros/day for the two of us. One day we would go over by 20, the next day we would be under by 20... balances itself out.
2. One thing about Paris, there is food EVERYWHERE! Every single block has a restaurant and a boulangerie.
There are also grocery markets everywhere too.
3. Breakfast was always in our apartment because there are almost no restaurants open for breakfast... one morning we walked for 30 minutes and found only one... an English pub at that. Although here's a quick link for a fantastic place for breakfast/meals! ( http://www.lepainquotidien.com/ )
4. Lunch was half the time on the go, half the time at a cafe. On the go, you can find on every corner food to go for 7 euros or under.
5. Dinners we searched for fixed price meals and were content to go with the almost cheapest meal on the menu, which all things considering are fabulous and include a glass of wine!
6.At cafes, you will be asked which type of expensive water you want to drink. "Un caraffe d'eau, s'il vous plait" is all you need to say... which is a caraffe of tap water for free.
7. When you go to a cafe/restaurant, the price you see is the price you pay. Taxes and gratuities are included. So the 12.00-24.00 euro meal will be 12.00-24.00
8. And of course you mentioned crepes/macarons/etc. Your spare change will cover these!
9. Last advice: use the toilette when you first get to the cafe/restaurant and before you leave... just like you tell your kids, go even if you don't have to cause it's 2 hours til you're stopping the car. Toilets are hard to find, and even harder to muster the courage to use if you're not sitting down for a meal. And because you're in a truely international metropolis, if you're not in the habit already, wash your hands before eating and before using the toilet to avoid introducing an illness to either end of your alimentary canal. That's the nurse and papa in me.