A 1:1 client of mine (we’ll call her Erin because, well that's her name LOL) came to me a few months ago feeling tired, inflamed, and totally overwhelmed. She was eating “healthy,” working out a few times a week, doing all the right things... but still felt stuck. Puffy. Off.
One day shortly into our time together, she sent me a message that just said: “I opened my pantry today and wanted to cry. I didn’t even know where to start.”
Not because it was empty. But because it was full of stuff that didn’t support her anymore. Old diet snacks from past attempts. Protein bars that had 7g of protein, 28g of carbs and 23 ingredients. Things that made her bloated. A weird granola she bought because some influencer said it was clean. Crackers for her kids that she always ended up stress-eating. A graveyard of powders, teas, and expired intentions.
Here’s what we realized: the pantry wasn’t just a mess. It was a reflection of how long she’d been trying to “fix” her body instead of fuel it.
So we started with one shelf. She tossed what was expired or didn’t feel good. Then we added back a few simple things that did — like a protein source she actually liked, electrolytes to help her feel more energized and less snacky, high-fiber carbs that didn’t spike her blood sugar so dramatically, and one treat that felt fun, not forbidden.
That one shift changed how she started her mornings. It changed her blood sugar. Her cravings. Her mindset. Because your pantry isn’t just storage. It’s a system. And your metabolism is listening to what you stock on autopilot.
If you want a place to start today: pick one shelf. Remove anything that is expired. Put a sticker on anything you'd like to replace with a different choice once it's empty. Then add one thing to the panty or your grocery list that makes your future self proud. It doesn’t have to be perfect. It just has to support where you’re going.
And if you want a go-to combo when time and patience are running low, here's one I love: lupini bean pasta (we have this one - 20g protein, 15g fiber and 6g net carbs per serving ... taste + texture is just like Banza to me), a simple jarred tomato sauce, and a bag of frozen veggies. Throw it all together in 10 minutes with some salt or spices + herbs, and maybe a sprinkle of cheese and you’ve got a balanced, metabolism-friendly meal that saves you from another night of DoorDash regret.
Tomorrow night inside The Metabolic Edge, I’m teaching a live workshop on exactly this. We’re doing a full pantry and kitchen spring clean-out together and building a metabolism-boosting setup from the inside out.
We’ll cover what to actually keep and what to toss, the why behind ingredients that mess with energy, hormones, and cravings, what I always keep stocked and what’s not worth the hype, and how to lower food decision fatigue so your habits can run themselves.
If you’re already inside, I’ll see you there! If not and this hit, you’re always welcome to come hang out. It's $59 / month, cancel anytime. More details + apply here.
Happy Spring declutter + refresh mode!
XO,
Tara