From Pastries to Purpose: Michelle’s Real Food Journey

This week, we’re stepping away from headlines and diving into something more powerful: a personal story from within our movement.

Food is never just food — it’s tradition, identity, even survival. And sometimes, it’s the very thing that makes or breaks our health. That’s why we’re spotlighting Michelle Johnson (@glutenfreewithshelly), whose journey from pastry chef to health advocate captures exactly what this movement is about: reclaiming our well-being, one real-food swap at a time.

Meet Michelle — a former pastry chef turned health advocate. After battling celiac disease and lupus, she discovered the power of a real-food, seed-oil-free lifestyle. Today, she’s not only thriving but also building The Celiac Code, an organic, gluten-free, seed-oil-free brand born out of her mission to help others reclaim their health.

Michelle’s story shows how lived experience and resilience can be just as powerful as any headline or study in shifting the way we think about food.

Earlier this week on Instagram, we highlighted Dr. Cate Shanahan, one of the pioneers in rethinking fats and oils. Her work challenges decades of conventional nutrition advice, showing how deeply seed oils have infiltrated our diets — and why breaking free matters.

My name is Michelle Johnson, and my health journey began 11 years ago when I was diagnosed with celiac disease. Growing up, my family and I ate the standard American diet. My mom and grandmother were bakers, and they inspired me to become a pastry chef. I loved desserts, fast food, and all the classics from Taco Bell to Panda Express. At 17, I started culinary school to pursue baking, pastry, and business.

During my last year of school, I became very ill. At 5’9”, I dropped to just 105 pounds and was rushing to the bathroom constantly. That’s when I was diagnosed with celiac disease. Despite graduating in 2014 and opening my own bakery — making desserts for TV shows, actors, and events at Warner Brothers and Universal Studios — my health didn’t recover. Working with flour kept damaging my stomach.

Life shifted again when my special needs sister became ill, and I paused baking to care for her. After her passing, I was later diagnosed with lupus. The medications I was given came with awful side effects, so I decided to take control. I transitioned from a highly processed gluten-free diet to a ketogenic diet. Incredibly, I was able to reverse my lupus markers — something my doctors had never seen without medication.

In that process, I learned about the harmful effects of seed oils. I even went fully carnivore for five months and felt better than ever. Since then, I’ve managed my lupus with a mostly animal-based/ketovore, seed-oil-free diet. I’ve also made swaps for my kids’ favorite snacks and got back into baking — this time with a healthier approach.

In May 2025, I launched The Celiac Code, a certified organic brand offering paleo, keto, gluten-free, and seed-oil-free granola and granola bars. This project grew out of my own experience getting sick from “gluten-free” products that were cross-contaminated. That frustration inspired me to create a safe option and share practical tips for avoiding cross-contamination, along with merch for the Anti-Gluten Club.

Now, through my Instagram page @glutenfreewithshelly, I share real-food recipes, swaps, and stories to show how a seed-oil-free lifestyle can change your health. I’ve also just finished setting up a booth for The Celiac Code to join local farmers markets and continue spreading this message offline.

For me, this isn’t just about food — it’s about taking back control of our health, one swap at a time.

— Michelle Johnson

👉 Explore more of Michelle’s work:

A tiny swap can make a massive difference. This week, Michelle shares one of her go-to switches that keeps her kitchen seed-oil-free.

Michelle’s story reminds us that real change doesn’t come from labs or boardrooms — it begins in our kitchens.

🌱 Want to be part of the shift? Join the movement, discover more icons of real food, and take your first steps toward a seed-oil-free life at SeedOil.com.

📣 And don’t keep it to yourself — follow us: Instagram | TikTok | X (Twitter), repost any clip that challenges the mainstream narrative, and share this newsletter with one friend who deserves to know what’s really in their food.

Thanks for being part of this fight,
— The SeedOil.com Team