The Fresh Face Around Here

“Who's the New Kid Here?”

Fresh Face Alert: Hey there! My name is Tatum, the girl eating the cassava burrito above, a transformed health foodie and the “New Kid” at Civilized Caveman.

A little about myself

I’m 23, currently living in Sunny SoCal (where all my 714’s at?), and enjoy getting down with a good boxing session and time in the kitchen. My passions for creating, serving others, and health are what have led to pursue a career within Nutrition.

Nutrition, to me, is the foundation and ultimately the driving force behind the health of our mind, body, and soul. Nutrition is holistic: what we feed our bodies feeds our well-being. This was not always my view though.

Macro-wha?

Back in 2016, I was introduced to MyFitnessPal, an online app that allows users to track macro ratios and calorie consumption. Macros? Macronutrients: carbohydrates, proteins, and fats. Anyway, I become fascinated with the science of the inner workings of macros. However, I also became fascinated, and fixated, on maintaining those numbers.

Every day, I would push myself a little more to hit that 40-30-30 ratio with the least amount of calories. My diet, then, included low-carb yogurts, sandwich slims, and a distaste for excess avocado and olive oil. My heart, and stomach, both emotionally and physically deprived… WHO TURNS AWAY AVOCADO?!

During that time, it didn’t matter what I was putting in my body, just as long as everything checked green. That is how adopting a Paleo lifestyle saved my relationship with food.

Happiness Refed

Becoming Paleo, I began to transition away from overly processed foods, realizing how many hidden nasties were literally ingrained in “Whole Grain” bread. Instead, Paleo reintroduced fresh, whole, real foods; foods that didn’t require tracking because they provide what is necessary: nutrients.

Becoming Paleo became more than just a trendy diet; it became a lifestyle. A lifestyle about balance and inclusion, no longer fearing food groups. Becoming Paleo literally saved my life, freeing me from the harmful, subconscious cycle of restriction. Living Paleo has allowed me to truly experience all that life has to offer, more than the mere satisfaction of achieving a certain body type ever would.

A Fresh Chapter

I am so beyond grateful for my journey with food and health. It has led me here: happily writing this blog post, shedding what I can about Nutrition and Health, constantly learning. Paleo to me now means eating whole, real foods, as nature intended, as people were meant to eat. The food that best fits your lifestyle should also nourish and foster optimal health.

Food is worth celebrating. For me, cooking and creating recipes that are both rooted in nature and deliciousness is my version of partying. I am eager to share my knowledge and hope to instill the foundations of proper nutrition generations to come so they too can live long, prosperous lives.

About the Author

Want to learn which ingredients are the best to cook with?

Check out our friends over at Wellness Force Radio and learn about how good nutrition impacts your health with Udo Erasmus: