Greece Felt Like Home to My Body 🇬🇷

2 days ago
4 min read

When I traveled to London, Paris, Italy, and Greece over the past several months, one of the most fascinating parts of the experience for me wasn’t just the architecture, the museums, or the scenery…

It was the food.

Not just how it tasted—but how it felt.

And surprisingly, each country felt completely different to my body.

🇬🇧 London

In London, I found so much of the food comforting and delicious, but often a little too rich for me. There were absolutely meals I loved and felt wonderful eating, but many dishes felt heavy in a way my body noticed quickly.

And the coffee? Whew. Strong. 😅

Delicious, yes. But I had to be careful because my stomach definitely let me know when I overdid it.

🇫🇷 Paris

Paris was magical. Truly magical.

But if I’m being honest, much of the food there also felt very heavy for me personally—rich cream sauces, lots of butter, decadent pastries, beautiful meals that I could appreciate… but not always tolerate in abundance.

And again, the coffee was intense.

I would have loved to leisurely drink cappuccinos all day long, but my body politely reminded me that perhaps one was enough. 😊

🇮🇹 Italy

And then there was Italy…

Oh my goodness.

Italy was pure joy.

I ate everything.

Pastas. Soups. Ribollita. Bread. Cappuccinos. Desserts. Gelato. Cantucci. More pasta. More cappuccinos. More desserts. 😂

And every single bite felt worth it.

I indulged so fully that I was absolutely convinced I would come home at least ten pounds heavier.

Instead?

I gained one pound.

One.

After all of that.

And honestly, I think part of the magic was how fresh and simple so much of the food actually was. Beautiful ingredients. Fresh preparation. Walking constantly. Lingering over meals instead of rushing through them.

Italy felt indulgent in the most wonderful way.

🇬🇷 And Then Came Greece…

But Greece?

Greece was where my body quietly said:

“Ohhh… THIS is me.”

Everything felt so fresh. So simple. So alive.

Desserts made from:

nuts
honey
yogurt
fruit

Coffee topped with thick, frothy whole milk instead of heavy cream.

Vegetables drizzled generously with olive oil and herbs.

Fresh fish.

Greek salads almost daily.

Simple ingredients somehow transformed into meals so flavorful and satisfying that it honestly felt magical.

Nothing complicated.

Just real food.

And somehow, despite indulging at every single meal, I came home from Greece a couple of pounds lighter than when I left.

Now yes… walking 25,000 steps a day and climbing the hills in Athens and the cliffs of Santorini probably helped a little. 😅

But I also walked constantly in:

London
Paris
Rome
Florence
Venice

And many days at home I naturally walk close to 20,000 steps anyway.

So I truly believe the biggest difference was the food itself.

Whole foods.

Plants.

Olive oil.

Fresh cheeses.

Seafood.

Herbs.

Simple ingredients.

Food in its purest form.

Even reading labels in Greece was eye-opening.

Tiny ingredient lists.

Three or four recognizable ingredients in packaged treats where similar foods in the U.S. might contain a long list of things I can barely pronounce.

And honestly?

Many Greek desserts are the exact kinds of things I would naturally make for myself at home:

Greek yogurt
berries
chia
nuts
honey

Simple. Satisfying. Delicious.

🌿 A Little Unsolicited Thought About Travel + Food

And perhaps this is mildly controversial… but here’s my gentle thought:

If possible, don’t use GLP-1 medications while traveling.

Because food is part of the experience.

Not in an unhealthy, excessive way—but in a deeply cultural, connective, joyful way.

And yes, as someone who does not use GLP-1 medications, that is easy for me to say. However, I am someone who never realized how much pure joy food brings to my life before I began traveling.

Food tells stories.

It carries tradition.

It creates memories.

And one of the greatest pleasures of travel is tasting where you are.

Order what sounds good.

Try the dessert.

Share the appetizers.

Or don’t share them at all. 😉

And if you only eat a few bites of each thing?

That’s okay too.

I often ordered three or four dishes, tasted everything I wanted, and happily left food behind without guilt.

Because for me, the experience mattered more than cleaning the plate.

And solo travelers, interestingly enough, are often treated with extraordinary kindness.

More than once, a server brought me a little extra treat “just because I had to try it.”

And truly… how could I possibly refuse a gift like that? 😊

✨ So Where Do I Stand Now?

At this point, Italy and Greece are absolutely my favorite countries so far.

Italy remains one of the most delicious places I’ve ever eaten in my life.

But Greece?

Greece may quietly hold first place for me in terms of food I feel I could happily eat every single day for the rest of my life.

Though thankfully… I still have so many more countries left to experience.

And perhaps one of the sweetest parts of this chapter is that I’m doing it in a way that feels completely aligned with who I am becoming.

I have someone in my life now who lovingly calls me “darling,” and tells me he loves me every day, yet instead of discouraging my solo adventures, he sits back confidently and happily watches me continue living out loud.

And I appreciate that more than I can explain.

Because right now, this season of my life is still very much about: