I’m Christina Feindel

Name a symptom and I’ve probably had it at some point. Growing up, my doctors wrote my complaints off as “growing pains”, “puberty”, or “just wanting attention”. But my pain and problems were real. Sometimes my legs would give out. My daily migraines were so bad I’d wake up screaming. I had terrible brain fog and mood swings. Desperate for answers, I read everything I could get my hands on and pushed my doctors for every test I could think of. When I was finally diagnosed with a bunch of autoimmune diseases in my mid-twenties, it was vindication at last… and a new beginning.

A Clean Plate was born in 2012 when I was diagnosed with a slew of autoimmune diseases. Now, I’m healthier than ever. I hope my food helps others feel the same way!

I’m very fortunate that most of my problems stemmed from eating foods my body couldn’t handle, like gluten as a Celiac. At the time I was diagnosed, there were only a handful of people writing about the autoimmune protocol–an elimination diet specifically tailored to help people with autoimmune disease identify dietary triggers for their symptoms. Here, I hope to provide the kinds of resources I wish I’d had when I was diagnosed, including recipes, meal plans, and articles.

At its core, A Clean Plate is about nourishing food that’s simple, satisfying, and budget-friendly. Meals I could be proud to serve my family, using ingredients that wouldn’t leave me bogged down with joint pain, headaches, brain fog, or indigestion. Most of the recipes on this site follow the autoimmune protocol or are at least free of grains and dairy, while all of them are gluten free. So go ahead and explore. I hope you find better health too, or at least something delicious!

My Favorite Recipes

A Few Fun Facts

I play Dungeons and Dragons almost every week. Since 2020, I’ve been a half-elf, half-fey Bard. I love the excuse to goof around with my friends.

I’m LGBTQIA+! I didn’t fully figure that out until my 30s because there wasn’t much representation of my particular letters when I was younger.

I did theatre in high school and fell for my partner when we were cast as a couple in an Arthur Miller play. His talent and creativity have always inspired me.