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Featured Chef / February 2018

Carley Smith

Nutritional Therapist and Certified GAPS Practitioner, Fairy Gutmother
Grand Junction, Colorado

Carley is a Nutritional Therapist and Certified GAPS Practitioner with a passion for helping others improve their gut & immune health.

IN THE KITCHEN WITH CARLEY SMITH

Tell us about yourself:

Hi! My name is Carley Smith, I am a Nutritional Therapist and Certified GAPS Practitioner. I became interested in health and nutrition after being diagnosed with Lyme disease and using food as medicine emphasizing gut health to help heal. I became so empowered in the progress in my healing just based on diet and lifestyle changes and focusing on gut health that I started Fairy Gutmother® so I could help other people heal. When I am not working or cooking up something delicious, I love spending time in the mountains, hiking, yoga, reading and being with my family and friends and of course my dog Marty.

How did you get involved in cooking?

I have always enjoyed cooking but after being diagnosed with Lyme disease and using food as medicine to heal, I discovered a new appreciation and passion for cooking. I adopted a different approach in the kitchen where I incorporated foods that help support gut health. I began cooking with unique ingredients like knuckle bones to make bone broth which nourished my body and healed my gut.

Describe your cooking style:

My cooking style is less is more. I feel that when you use good quality, premium ingredients like humanely raised meats, organic or locally raised produce, grass-fed ghee and a natural sea salt that everything will taste delicious!

How did you learn about grass-fed meats?

Using food as medicine to heal from Lyme disease really pushed me to question the origins of our food and ensure everything I was eating was of the best quality. Unfortunately, a majority of the meat served in the United States is contaminated with hormones and antibiotics which wreak havoc on our gut. Nearly 80 percent of the immune system is located in the gut so it is incredibly important to eat clean food as any additives can impair the gut leading to a decline in overall health.

What is your favorite recipe featuring grass-fed meat?

My favorite recipe featuring US Wellness Meats’ grass-fed meat is definitely my Bison Bacon Burger!

You’re stranded on a desert island; luckily, you’re stranded with your top 5 ingredients and one must-have kitchen tool:

My top 5 ingredients would be: grass-fed ghee, sea salt, bone broth, red pepper flakes and avocado. You can make absolutely anything with these ingredients!

My must have kitchen tool is definitely my cast iron skillet because you can prepare virtually any dish with only one of these! Plus, they hold up nicely and last forever!

Best cooking secret/tip/piece of advice you’ve learned:

The best cooking tip I have ever learned is anything cooked in a good quality fat and seasoned with a premium sea salt will taste delicious! Also, leave the onion skins on when you make a broth, it creates a much more flavorful and colorful broth!

What’s your favorite quote/song for culinary inspiration (if any)?

“The food you eat can be either the safest and most powerful form of medicine or the slowest form of poison.” Anne Wigmore

“You can’t expect to look like a million bucks if you eat from the dollar menu.” –Unknown

Anything else you want to share?

I truly believe gut health should be the forefront our health system. With nearly 80 percent of the immune system located in the gut, it is important to incorporate foods that help nourish the gut. Consuming bone broth as well as humanely raised meat and plenty of fiber rich and nutrient dense produce all aid in supporting the health of the gut!

Check out my 70/30 Plan where I teach you how to transition towards eating healthier by learning how to meal prep and incorporate foods that help support optimal gut health!

 

ENTER TO WIN our February 2018 Fairy Gutmother Featured Chef Prize Pack!

 

 

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CARLEY'S U.S. WELLNESS MEATS FAVORITES