Iyla Monroe first came into the Mediterranean diet outside of a doctor’s advice or a popular health video.

Meals were unhurried, vibrant, and very satisfying on a summer excursion to a little Greek beach village. Locals laughed, ate fresh veggies, grilled fish, and toasty bread. Everything seemed straightforward and vibrantly alive.

Iyla wanted to bring that attitude home into her daily life. Recreating Mediterranean cuisine in a crowded, metropolitan setting was more difficult than it first seemed, though. The toughest obstacle is… grocery shopping.

She recalls, “I walked into the store thinking I would buy ‘Mediterranean’ food, but ended up staring at shelves, unsure what that even meant.”

Iyla finally understood that the Mediterranean way of life was not based on particular brands or unusual ingredients. It was about a perspective: selecting basic, natural meals, fresh, seasonal vegetables, and good fats. She started organising her weekly shopping trip around this idea: less boxes, more vegetable baskets. She moved over time towards basics such olive oil, tomatoes, leafy greens, legumes, and whole grains.

Rather than strict meal planning, she was flexible and learnt to mix and match foods depending on what appeared reasonably priced and fresh. “This manner of eating is so flexible,” she says, “which is beautiful. You only need to pay attention; you do not have to follow a chart.

Today, Iyla encourages a change in how people see food rather than imposing rigid lists to assist others begin their own Mediterranean travels. “Shopping for your health doesn’t have to be overwhelming,” she notes. “It begins with learning how to discern what is real.”