By Josie Gulliksen, Florida Keys News Bureau

An adventurous spirit and a healthy lifestyle fuel kite boarder and paddle surfer Paul Menta, and he hopes his latest venture will spread the message of health to others.

Menta has partnered with British-trained chef Charlie Wilson to open Help Yourself Foods in Key West, presenting a veritable smorgasbord of healthy foods. The restaurant opened in October to rave reviews and features an ever-evolving menu.

Cooking with organic ingredients, Menta and Wilson adjust flavors and recipes according to customer comments.

“People have been very open to making suggestions to us and we let them build their own meal, which makes it easier to discover their different tastes,” Menta said. “This allows us enough options to keep everyone happy, be it organic, vegetarian, raw or someone who enjoys organic chicken or fish.”

Wilson and Menta met in Key West about 12 years ago and continued crossing paths in the interim. Trained in and passionate about organic cooking, Wilson formulated what Menta calls “some unreal recipes, from raw to vegetarian.”

About four years ago, when Menta began thinking about opening a place, the two decided to go into business together, and their loyal patrons’ enthusiasm proved the decision was right on target.

“To see someone get excited over our food, have a big smile and know they will feel better is a great reward to us every day,” said Menta. “I can only hope that with education about eating healthy, we can make a difference in how people eat, enjoy each other’s company and treat the world.”

Menta’s healthy lifestyle began early, thanks to a grandmother who believed in serving “good-for-you food” that tasted good. When he chose to become a chef, he honed his skills at various vegetarian restaurants where creativity was a necessary ingredient.

“I learned to cook by using what was available locally, which is much healthier,” he said.

Menta and Wilson believe healthy eating is relatively easy to do if people just eat “real food” — unprocessed food free of pesticides, chemicals, preservatives, hormones and antibiotics.

Despite the burgeoning growth of the organic sector, Charlie Wilson believes healthy eating is not easy in today’s fast-paced world.

“Restaurants serving organic, healthy choices are in the minority,” she said. “We aim to fill this gap by providing natural, organic, healthy food that tastes great, is fun, easily accessible and appeals to everyone.”

Help Yourself’s menu ranges from wraps and salads to smoothies, energizing breakfasts and main meals such as meatless lasagna and Korean barbecued organic chicken. Diners can even satisfy their sweet tooth with homemade sugar-free and dairy-free “no moo ice cream.”

Menta and Wilson hope the restaurant will set an example of reducing waste as well as eating organic cuisine. Take-out customers are served their organic goodies in biodegradable containers, and 90 percent of the restaurant’s trash is composted or recycled.

Help Yourself Foods also offers a weekly farmer’s market with vegetables, fruits and other items.

“Each week the market grows bigger with additions of homemade breads, fresh herbs, honeys, local coconut water and much more,” Menta said.

Help Yourself Foods is located at 829 Fleming St. For more information and a complete menu, visit helpyourselffoods.com.