Chef Note
Hi, I’m Chef Patricia Cashion, and I’ve been on a delicious mission to redefine clean eating for the past 14 years. As a proud graduate of Le Cordon Bleu in Austin, TX, and the first professionally trained Paleo chef, I’ve had the privilege of merging my culinary expertise with a passion for nutrition to create something truly transformative.
My journey into clean eating began through an exploration of integrative medicine, where I collaborated with early pioneers to uncover how ingredients can either trigger inflammation or promote healing within the body. This transformative knowledge laid the groundwork for my cookbook, Shoot for Healthy: Clean-Ingredient Nutrition, co-authored with Heather Taylor, RDN, LDN, of Eat Well and Beyond and published in 2015. Together, we created a resource designed to empower individuals to make informed, health-conscious choices—without ever sacrificing flavor.
When clean food was harder to come by, I didn’t just wait for the solution—I grew it. On my 1/8-acre garden, I cultivated fresh produce to ensure my clients were eating the cleanest, most nutrient-dense foods possible. From local families to patients across the U.S., I’ve had the honor of cooking for people who trusted me to nourish them with care and intention.
Listening to my clients opened my eyes to valuable insights. It was necessary that I worked with each client individually because, in most cases, we were addressing an autoimmune disorder. This required an in-depth knowledge of ingredients specific to each autoimmune condition—focusing on foods that healed the body and avoiding those that triggered inflammatory responses. Additionally, I needed to consider each client’s personal preferences, likes, and dislikes. When preparing meals for the many patients we cared for, we meticulously managed all these variables to create individualized plans. This hands-on experience gave me an intimate understanding of autoimmune disorders, which were just beginning to gain attention at the time. By tailoring clean food plans, we were able to decrease symptoms, eliminate them entirely, and, in some cases, resolve health issues over time.
Removing foods that inflame the body allows healing to begin. Of course, a client-patient could often have additional protocols in place, however, clean food played a transformative role in changing the host’s environment to support recovery. Through this work, I’ve seen firsthand the power of clean eating to unlock the body’s natural ability to heal.
I’m excited to share what I’ve learned, experimented with, and refined through my research. Whether you’re a seasoned chef or a curious beginner, I’m here to help you discover the joy of cooking with clean ingredients. Let’s create delicious food together!
Chef Patricia Cashion
