Hello! I’m Cristina Maria Curp, Cuban-American, mother, food lover, and dreamer. Former restaurant chef, current Nutritional Therapy Practitioner, and cookbook author. I created this blog to share my passion for food as medicine. About to turn thirty, with a baby to care for I found myself at rock bottom. Emotionally and physically.
I was riddled with inflammation, pain, and fatigue. I didn’t feel at home in my body or comfortable in my skin. Hidradenitis Suppurativa was ragging all over my body. Something needed to change. So I looked at my food choices. As a lifelong binge eater and yo-yo dieter, I was ready to stop the vicious cycle of guilt and self-harm. That is to say… I get it. I’ve been there. I had my day one.
I wasn’t perfect about this healthy lifestyle from day one, and I still am not. But I strive every day to feel better and be better.
A mama with a history of disordered eating, autoimmune disease, and a whole lotta emotional baggage. If I can turn this my hot mess express around, so can you.
I KNOW, I know in my bones that real food is the key to health, and healthy, thriving life is the key to happiness. Here at The Castaway Kitchen, our mission is to spread the word that food does heal. That you can embrace the dietary and lifestyle changes that will change your life and enjoy the food you eat while you do it!
I want you to feel empowered and inspired to heal! By creating delicious resources, sharing information, and my own story, my goal is to help YOU find the nutritional path that is right for you. We’re all so unique and while I do share what has worked for me, it might not be what works for you, but I will help get you there!
What Next?
- Cook from the hundreds of free recipes on my blog, via the recipe index.
- Check out my Books: Made Whole + Made Whole Made Simple
- Read informative articles and inspirational stories here.
- Grab a meal plan here.
- You can take one of my courses.
- Book me for speaking events, private dinners, or brand deals.
10 Fun Facts About me:
- Left-handed middle child, and a Gemini!
- Made in Miami, with Cuban parts (first-generation American).
- Bilingual (hablo Español).
- I like to lift heavy things and dance salsa!
- I’m a big girl! 5’9 and toting size 11 feet!
- I’ve lived in Miami, San Diego, DC area, and Hawaii!
- Sociology and Anthropology Major with a background in market research.
- 6 years of commercial kitchen experience, 3 as executive chef.
- I’m hilarious.
- I’m also loud and I talk with my hands.
kat says
I have loved your website and reading your cookbook! There is so much valuable info included! So…does the fat in “butter coffee” break my fast on intermittent fasting? usually have my version 9:00ish but don’t eat anything until 12-1-2ish. Also, I might not be adding enough fat to mine: I just use coffee (or tea) w a tablespoon of MCT oil and marine collagen. I have no experience with beef gelatin but have read your info on page 55 indicating their similarity. My marine collagen (quite expensive, beneficial to joints) dissolves completely so does not thicken at all, even after beverage has cooled. Does you beef collagen thicken your coffee? or if it cools off?
I there any benefit to using beef gelatin inst of collagen? what brand do you use? Do I need to add more fat? butter is harder for me to drink so would it be just as beneficial to add 2 more T of MCT oil…although that might be more expensive than getting used to butter. I don’t ususally get my coffee drank while it is hot so the butter solidifies on top as it cools while the MCT oil stays liquid. Thank you so much for your help and sharing your journey and expertise with us!
Cristina says
Collagen and Gelatin are the same thing, but collagen is broken down further to make it water soluble. I use gelatin in my cooking and baking a lot, so it’s more cost effective to just use gelatin and stir it into hot beverages if that makes sense. You don’t need fatty coffee on keto, I often just drink coffee with almond milk in it 🙂 MCT’s create ketones, which is why ppl love em on keto, but not needed to get into ketosis or be keto at all.
Donna M Nugent says
Love your philosophy that real food is the key to health.
I love my fruits and veggies but am stammered with Keto’s lack of them. Hoping you can show me how to use the allowed ones creatively.
Gonna check you out on Facebook.
Cristina says
I use a ton of veggies in my keto cooking and use citrus and berries too. I stick to lots of cruciferous veggies and leafy greens and colorful root veg in small amounts
Cristina says
Hi Rob! Of the 151 recipes in the book, 5 or 6 are also on the blog, the rest are exclusive to the book!
Jennifer Alvey says
Hi, Cristina:
I bought your cookbook a while back and me and my husband are really enjoying your recipes. We had the sheet pan Pad Thai last night and it was so delicious. I’m making the braised short ribs tonight with the yummy Greek marinade. I’m using mustard greens from our garden instead of cabbage. I’m making your pumpkin chili for my lunch this week. I initially bought your book “Made Whole” because of all your salad dressing and condiment recipes. We’re enjoying everything. Thanks for sharing! This new style of cooking is challenging and you make it easier. I’m living the keto lifestyle to manage blood glucose without medications. I’ve been successful thanks to your delicious recipes. I appreciate your willingness to share your kitchen. Oh, and your chocolate chip cookie recipe is the one I prefer of all the recipes I’ve tried. I always have a stash in the freezer.
Cristina says
Thank you so much Jennifer that means a lot!
lisa says
Cristina, On instagram you talked about a research textbook you were using in your program to understand research studies. Can you tell me the name of this?
Cristina says
It’s titled “how to read a paper”
Jamie Kovacs says
Are there any carb/calorie/fat breakdown of the meal plans?
Cristina says
All the meal plans except the AIP keto reset and Autoimmune Paleo have macros.
Gail Grasso says
HI Cristine, Just to let you know–I downloaded the AIP keto reset–your produce list doesn’t include avocados. Gail
Cristina says
thanks Gail
Michael says
Hi Cristina. Love your “made whole” book. It is so great how you have incorporated variations!
I live with a vegan and wonder if you have some favorites which can be converted easily to vegan, or half /half cooking approach? By that, I mean something I can cook for all, adding the proteins at the end, half for the vegans and half for the omnivores. By the way, our vegan does not care about surface or utensils shared in the preparation process.
I think there is a good market out there for a book which can help the families which have both types of eaters in the house. Living in Marin, I have a lot of friends who struggle to pull together a meal for the family when trying to accommodate vegans and keto Omni or others. But i think YOU could do it. Your book is obvious testament to your skills and insight around flavor.
Thanks for giving this some thought.
Cristina says
Thanks so much, Michael! I’m definitely incorporating more vegetarian options into my next book 🙂 I think stir-frys or soups are the best for that kind of thing. Lots of veggies sauces and flavors. Cook the animal protein separately and add in at the end.
Michael Vasquez says
I just read a book, Deep Nutrition by Catherine Shanahan, MD. She writes about the human diet, which includes the Four Pillars of the Human Diet, which she coined. This includes:
1.Fresh (umbrella term for variety, local, and seasonal)
2.Fermented & Sprouted
3.Meat On Bone
4.Organs
She is against vegetable oils and sugar. I have stopped the vegetable oils and went with the good fat and meat. Nothing process. Just had my lab done and my HDL was 91 and the radio between my HDL and LDL is 2.2, which is great. And by the way, the cholesterol fear was created by bad science. It’s only been a theory and it’s never been proven by good science.
I will be visiting your page more frequently.
Cristina says
Awesome! Glad you’re here, welcome!
Susan G. says
Hey Christina! I’ve just recently found you and I am so excited to have many more recipes and information at my fingertips. I live with RA and had been on strict AIP in 2017 for 7 months before reintros. I lost 30 pounds. Socially it was hard but I managed daily through meal prep on Sundays. It wasn’t easy but it is doable. I just stayed focused on healing. I wouldn’t put anything in my mouth that would sabotage that. My body had reduced some inflammation but not all. I’m not perfect either. I fell off in 2018 but started seeing an integrative medicine physician who performed blood allergy testing. None of the usual suspects came up i.e. gluten, soy, corn, dairy. Many of the foods I enjoyed on AIP, i.e. garlic, squash, cucumber, salmon, showed an allergic reaction. Maybe that’s why I didn’t see the reduction in inflammation that I hoped for. So now I eliminate these foods but still stay away from gluten, soy, corn and limit dairy to grass-fed on occasion. I have recently adopted a Keto lifestyle and changed my supplementation after micro nutrient testing. Maybe I’ll get some energy back. It will be a lifelong journey and I hope to one day find the right mix to rid my body of the inflammation. I bought MadeWhole and already found some yummy recipes. I can’t wait to make more. Thank you for sharing.
Cristina says
Thank you Susan! Welcome!
Susan Steinert says
I really like your new website. Love your recipes in your cookbook. We are going to make the meatless chili for dinner tomorrow. Thanks for sharing it!!
Cristina says
Thank you so much Susan!
Bill says
My Daughter, Katie, gave me your book for Christmas. I teared up just reading your story and the intro. Finally, a book about living with healthy foods. I quickly identified with your methods and the science behind your food choices. Having followed the work done by Dr. Loren Cordain, it was an easy reach to understanding the link to paleo in your recipe creations. I love the photos you included. I’m excited about inviting your book into my kitchen. Thank you.
Cristina says
thank you so much Bill!
Serena says
I am starting low carb for the 5th or 6th time. It’s the ONLY thing that truly works for me, but in the past, I’ve found it hard to stick to over the long haul, especially with a husband and son who love carbs and have no weight problems! ? I truly realize now that I have to commit to a lifestyle change, particularly since my daughter also has food challenges. I love all food and love cooking. Yours is the FIRST of MANY low carb websites I’ve seen where the food truly excites me. Thanks so much for providing such an amazing resource. I will definitely be purchasing your book, as well!
Cristina says
Thank you so so much
Sharyn Ross says
I have been on Keto for 3 mo with very little weight loss. (<8's) I follow it to a T. I also have the auto-immune disorder, Hashimoto's. Will the AIP plan give me better results? I'm frustrated that there is very little info out there for weight loss plans if you have AI disorders or Low Functioning thyroid.
Cristina says
The reason there is very little info on that is that weight gain is a symptoms of the autoimmune disease, so essentially you need to heal to lose weight. Hang in there! You might need to try AIP for hashi’s. I can’t promise weightloss results but you might feel a lot better 🙂
Emily says
Sharon, I was also diagnosed with Hashimoto’s and my ND said it could actually be leaky gut and can be reversed. Look into it. Also recommend going Paleo/AIP
Faye says
Sharyn, often when diagnosed with Hashimotos you have to be put on thyroid hormone replacement. Hashimotos is an autoimmune disease that attacks the thyroid and slowly destroys it. Thyroid hormone ((Free T3) is what regulates your metabolism so if you are “borderline” in what is acceptable for a doctor to diagnose you with a thyroid deficiency you may be too low in hormone and may have a harder time in losing weight.
Heather Woodberry says
Hi! I’m the same as Sharyn! Ive been on Keto for 2 months! The 1rst month I lost 12lbs, second month gained 2lbs ..didnt change a thing! Logged all my foods and tracked all macros! I have Hashimotos, PCOS and blood sugar issues..Insulin resistance? I’m a Fu**** hot mess lol! Ive tried every type of Doctor, every diet. NOTHING WORKS! I give my to working on my diet/lifestyle but it gives very little back to me. I really Don’t know where to turn anymore! Am I broken within? ??
Breanna Wellington says
I just heard you on the podcast with Leanne Vogel. I CANT NOT believe you said you have Hidradenitis! You give me faith that I can be healed. I have had such a hard time sticking to Keto but you have given me renewed faith!
Cristina says
Breanna! You can do this! Look into dairy and nightshade free. They tend to be a common trigger for this with HS although we are all different 🙂
Crystal Lucio says
I too have HS and have stalled in using food as medicine for it, even though I know it’s the answer. Trying to stay on a strict diet is so hard for me. I’m so glad you’re out here though!
Cristina says
It is hard, but it does work. I’m always working to finding flexibility with my diet and hoping that one day I won’t have to be so strict.
Sukina Johnson says
I love that you are hilarious!! I found you through your avocado brownie recipe and I can’t wait to try it. I love that the part where you said Avocado Brownies bitch! I fell out my chair laughing cause I think toddlers are terrorists too and sometimes you do want to cuss and fuss!
Cristina says
I’m glad you get my humor 🙂
John G. says
Hot
Jodie Greenlee says
Christina,
I absolutely love your book MadeWhole!! Finally easy recipes that are full of flavor and color!! Your recipes make me excited about cooking and food again!! Thanks for sharing your journey with us!!
I have a quick question about the classes you are taking on nutrition. I was wondering how you choose the school you are attending and how you made your choice?
Thanks for any insights you may have, I am considering the program myself.
You rock!!!
Jodie
Beverly DiCarlo says
Jodie
Good question. I have the same Christina, how did you decide on your training?
Thank you
Beverly
Cristina says
I wrote a blog post about it 🙂 https://thecastawaykitchen.com/what-is-a-nutritional-therapy-practitioner/