We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Shauna Helton Smarty Plants Recipes a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Shauna Helton, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Let’s start with the story of your mission. What should we know?
At almost 44, I nearly lost my life just two days after giving birth. I was a solo mom, physically broken, terrified, and completely alone. That moment changed everything.
Before my unexpected pregnancy at 43, I was already living with chronic illness, managing autoimmune symptoms, and struggling to feel well. I had just begun learning about clean eating, but I wasn’t fully committed yet. Then came a life-altering moment: severe postpartum preeclampsia that left me facing a long road to recovery.
Those first two years after birth were about more than surviving. They were about reclaiming my health so I could be present for my child. I knew I didn’t want to live in fear of another flare-up, another hospitalization, or another day too sick to show up as a parent. I committed fully to a clean, anti-inflammatory diet and found myself healing in ways I never thought possible.
But it wasn’t just physical healing. I began the deep work of trauma recovery: rebuilding my sense of self-worth, creating boundaries, and learning how to feel safe in my own body again. Having survived childhood abuse and years of emotional pain, this season became a turning point. I started practicing emotional intelligence, living with genuine gratitude, and reconnecting with who I really am.
Today, I use my platform, Smarty Plants Recipes, to empower others navigating chronic illness, burnout, or trauma recovery – especially those who feel unseen. Through clean, gluten-free, dairy-free, and minimally processed recipes, I show that healing is possible, starting with what we put on our plates.
Shauna Helton, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
I’m Shauna, the creator of Smarty Plants Recipes, a clean eating blog born from my journey to heal physically, emotionally, and spiritually. I didn’t come from a culinary background or business school. I came from chronic illness, trauma, and years of pushing through pain that no one could see.
As a former nurse, I had a basic understanding of health, but I wanted more. I began reading food labels, studying ingredients, and learning how food impacts inflammation and energy. Everything I share now came from trial and error in my own kitchen – simple meals made with real, minimally processed ingredients that helped me feel better.
Over time, I committed fully to clean eating and began healing not just my body, but also my relationship with myself. I worked through trauma, rebuilt my self-worth, created boundaries, and found joy in nourishing both my soul and my plate of food.
Smarty Plants Recipes is where I share what I’ve learned. From clean eating, gluten and dairy-free meals to low-carb ideas, sensory-friendly dishes, and healthy griddle recipes made for real life. Everything is created to be simple, healing, and supportive for anyone navigating chronic illness, burnout, or solo parenting.
What sets my blog apart is the heart behind it. No perfection – just lived experience, honesty, and love. You don’t have to be perfect to start. Sometimes the first step is simply putting something colorful and beautiful on your plate.
We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?
I started sharing online because I wanted to help others feel less alone in their healing journey.
After navigating chronic illness, solo motherhood, and trauma recovery, real-food, anti-inflammatory clean eating became one of the biggest tools that helped me take back my life. I began posting less minimally processed meals from my kitchen and sharing from real-life experience.
What helped me grow was using my voice with intention. I opened up about things like inflammation, fatigue, emotional burnout, and parenting through hard seasons. I kept my content authentic – no perfection, just lived experience and love. I believe that began to resonate with people going through similar struggles.
Over time, these connections grew. I was featured in multiple Local 12 News health segments, which then helped more people discover my blog and trust what I share. But the growth I value most is hearing from someone who says, “This made me feel seen.” I deeply enjoy helping others heal – it’s what inspires everything I do.
My advice? Be yourself. Thats’s what people connect with most.
Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?
Behind the content I share is a deeper story. I grew up experiencing childhood trauma that left me feeling invisible and unworthy.
For years, I sought validation through people-pleasing and unhealthy relationships, all while carrying the weight of pain I hadn’t fully processed. My healing didn’t happen all at once – it came in at different layers.
It truly started with clean eating – giving my body real nourishment and love – then moved into setting boundaries, trusting my voice, and reclaiming my self-worth.
Today, I use my platform to help others do the same – to find healing through food, truth, and self-love. That resilience didn’t come from pretending to be strong – it came from intentionally choosing to love myself when no one else had. That’s my truth and my story for anyone who needs to hear it.
Healing is possible, and it often begins with one small step toward showing yourself true love.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.smartyplantsrecipes.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smartyplantsrecipes?igsh=MXVkMHVjdWF4MGd3Nw%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1AuNtggaR9/?mibextid=wwXIfr
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@smartyplantsrecipes?si=GOfCJowL7Lfu091u
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@smartyplantsrecipes?_t=ZT-8xYnu6b3E7i&_r=1
Image Credits
Kristy Leann Photography (All portraits and cooking photos)
Smarty Plants Recipes (Selfie with pineapple upside-down cake)