Don't you think your friend had drinks, cheese, and other rich foods while in Europe?

For one thing, the food in Europe is much healthier because it's better regulated. American foods are WAY too high in sugar for their standards. Also, their cities and towns are all very walkable and bikeable, so people get more exercise just doing their daily lives. Plus, workers get more time off - including long lunches - so they have time to prepare and enjoy healthy meals (as opposed to pounding down some microwaved, processed crap in 30 minutes). There's a lesson here, if we are only willing to learn it.