It's All About Eating

I grew up on the Island of Cyprus, where food was more than nourishment—it was a celebration of life itself. It was impossible to walk anywhere without being surrounded by the scents and colors of the island. I remember long summer afternoons when lambs roasted over open fires during our end-of-school celebrations, filling the air with a smoky, mouthwatering aroma. At my friends’ birthday parties, the buffet tables groaned under the weight of leaf pastries stuffed with feta and spinach, endless arrays of salads and dips, warm pita bread, and olives in every shade imaginable. In our garden, apricot trees sprouted like weeds, and my mother would bake apricot pies week after week, just to make sure the fruits didn’t go to waste. I truly grew up in a land of milk and honey, where food was not just eaten—it was lived.

And yet, for me, it was complicated. From as early as two years old, I was told I had to “watch what I eat.” Too much pie, and I would grow up to be fat. Sugar was a villain. Vegetables were a duty. I learned early that the act of eating came with rules—and shame. When we moved to Germany, those rules only multiplied. At school, I noticed how many girls were taught the same lessons: that women must monitor every bite, that bodies were something to be managed, measured, and controlled. I hated vegetables. But more than that, I hated my body. I learned to hide my hunger, to skip lunch, go to bed empty, and then secretly overeat in solitude where no one could see. Eating became a battlefield—a place where I fought both myself and the world’s expectations.

But this is not a story of despair. It is a story of discovery, healing, and joy. Over the years, I tried countless diets, each promising the elusive “perfect” body. None of them worked. They left me hungry, unsatisfied, and constantly chasing a number on the scale. The turning point came when I shifted my focus. Instead of chasing size zero, I began seeking food that nourishes. Food that made me feel alive, energized, and even radiant. Food that brought happiness to my meals and my life. Somewhere along that journey, I discovered that eating more plants—not out of restriction, but out of love for how they made me feel—helped me with my relationship with food.
Today, I follow a mainly plant-based diet, one that fills me with energy, supports my skin and gut health, and allows me to enjoy eating without guilt.

This blog is my invitation to you to rediscover the joy of eating. I want to share what I’ve learned about nurturing your body and soul through food, about falling in love with the act of eating without guilt, and about embracing a healthier, happier relationship with yourself. Food is not the enemy. It is a friend, a teacher, and a celebration. Stay with me. Let’s taste, savor, experiment, and most importantly, fall in love with eating all over again.