I am sure everybody knows about Socrates, a famous Greek philosopher. When he was asked about the reason behind his good health at his age when his peers or even younger generation had health issues, he simply replied, “The reason is that I eat to live, while others live to eat.”

Have you ever asked yourself, “What is my attitude toward food?” Do you eat to live or do you live to eat?

I have the impression that many consider “healthy” as something that does not taste good or does not taste at all – which is not true. We need to keep in mind that our health is inextricably linked to what we eat. All nations have had their own eating habits that are proven by experience of many generations. However, we do not follow most of those traditions anymore.

I was listening to the radio the other day. They were talking about healthy products, and they announced that scientists have proven that dark chocolate, salt and butter are good for you.

I feel like, nowadays, even the experts cannot always agree on which foods are really good for one’s health and which ones are detrimental.

Whenever you travel abroad, you are going to have a food shock, to some extent. Food is so different in each country. Your favorite Caesar salad might not taste the same as it did back home; it might even have lamb instead of chicken.

In my home country, everybody cooks from scratch every single day. We have supermarkets, open or outside markets and small kiosks where you can purchase freshly made bread and other products.

We should also take into account the fact that the lifestyle is also different in each country. For example, in Ukraine, people walk a lot; they are constantly moving. One of the reasons is that we have a good transportation system. The other reason – you might want to save your nerves and not deal with fast and furious drivers.

When I came here, I noticed that people prefer buying pre-prepared food or food on the go. I think it is also due to the way the culture perceives time. For example, the phrase “time is money” perfectly suits the U.S. culture. It is people’s way saving time.

In addition, a lot of people are spending the majority of time driving a car rather than walking.

I like to try and experience new recipes, foods and cuisines. I find it very fascinating. Besides, your taste buds need some thrills sometimes, but not from one extreme to another.

Just remember that not only our health, but also our appearance – such as skin, hair, nails, etc. – depend on what we consume. Proper nutrition affects our health, energy and vitality. And who does not dream about prolonging his or her youth, beauty and power?

So, watch what you eat; however, do not limit yourself. My personal opinion is that everything has to be in moderation, small portions and finalized with a nice work out.