Autumn Smith of Paleovalley: How Calling 200 Manufacturers and Prioritizing Integrity Built a Health-First Snack Brand

In today’s fast-paced world, snacking has become an essential part of our daily routine. However, not all snacks are created equal, and many options available are unhealthy. Fortunately, there are companies dedicated to creating and promoting healthy snacks and treats that are not only delicious but also nutritious. As a part of this series, I had the distinct pleasure of interviewing Autumn Smith.

Autumn Smith suffered from debilitating digestive issues and crippling anxiety for most of her life. Specialist after specialist told her nothing could be done, and she was ready to give up. But as one final attempt at a life free of health issues, Autumn decided to harness the power of whole foods. She cleaned up her diet and in just 30 days, her IBS was cured. But that was just the beginning. She also had less anxiety, was mentally sharper, and a bubbly side of her that she forgot existed came back. Since then, Autumn has dedicated her life to helping others harness the power of whole foods to live vibrant lives. In 2013, she and her husband Chas launched Paleovalley, a company dedicated to helping people get the essential nutrients they need, without added sugars, grains, and other harmful ingredients.

Thank you so much for joining us! Before we dive in, our readers would love to “get to know you” a bit better. Can you tell us a bit about your ‘backstory’?

I am a mother of an amazing ten-year-old boy, wife, Doctor of Holistic Nutrition, former celebrity fitness trainer, co-founder of Paleovalley and Wild Pastures, and someone who is deeply passionate about teaching others to use food as medicine, given that I healed my ten-year bout of IBS. I grew up in Montana, moved to LA to dance professionally after college, toured the world with Jennier Lopez in 2012 as her fitness trainer with the Tracy Anderson Method, and now I live with my family in Boulder, CO.

Can you share with us the most interesting story from your career? Can you tell us what lessons or ‘takeaways’ you learned from that?

During my time as a celebrity fitness trainer for the Tracy Anderson Method, I learned that “fit” is not always the same as “healthy.” I had what many people considered a great body — but inside, I was falling apart. I struggled with relentless digestive issues, painful skin breakouts, and crippling mental health challenges for over a decade. Despite working with top doctors, no one could give me answers. I was fit — but far from healthy.

Out of desperation, my husband began researching online and stumbled across stories of people healing chronic issues through diet — specifically, a paleo approach. Skeptical but out of options, we gave it thirty days. What happened next changed everything: my digestion normalized, my energy returned, and for the first time in years, I felt like myself again. I was stunned. How had no one mentioned this connection before?

That moment lit a fire in me. I left my job and went back to school to study holistic nutrition. I needed to understand what true health really meant — not just for me, but for the millions of others silently suffering and overlooked.

Together with my husband Chas, his brother, and a close friend, we founded Paleovalley with a mission: to make nutrient-dense, organic, and 100% grass-fed foods and supplements that help people reclaim their vitality — starting with real food.

The biggest lesson I learned? Never outsource your health. Learn your body better than your phone. Treat doctors as guides, not gods. And remember that creating vibrant health isn’t passive — it’s a daily act of empowerment. And it begins with what’s on your plate.

You are a successful leader. Which three character traits do you think were most instrumental to your success? Can you please share a story or example for each?

1. Tenacity. I called 200 beef stick manufacturers to find one that would ferment our sticks rather than use encapsulated citric acid, the industry standard that involves GMOs and ultra processed oils. When I really want something — I will do whatever it takes to make it happen.

2. Avid learner. I never stop learning and updating my knowledge on all things nutrition! In fact, I just finished my doctorate in holistic nutrition–we, Dr. van Vliet’s team at Utah State University in partnership with the Bionutrient Food Association, are about to publish a paper on the nutritional changes in beef from different production systems–and still wake up each morning with an insatiable desire to read journal articles and learn as much as I can!

3. Integrity. We will never cut corners because we know these products produce human and environmental health. We prioritize health over profit and are confronted daily with opportunities to make more money by watering down our ingredients or changing our processes. But we never will, because our products are what we feed to our friends and family and what we use to feel our best. Our mission is personal and integrity is our guiding principle.

Are you working on any exciting new projects now? How do you think that might help people?

We are working on many new projects but one of my favorites is a strawberries and cream, nighttime Bone Broth that includes research-backed ingredients for restful sleep. Just like food, sleep is another critical ingredient for vibrant health that many people struggle with today and many foods can improve it naturally, including bone broth. Not everyone loves the taste of bone broth so we created the most delicious drink that promotes deep, restorative sleep. We cannot wait to share it!

Ok, thank you for all that. Now let’s shift to the main focus of our interview. What inspired you to focus on promoting healthy snacks and treats?

My inspiration came from lived experience — from hitting rock bottom in my own health journey and discovering the power of real food to heal. For over a decade, I struggled with digestive issues, skin breakouts, and mental health challenges, even while working in the fitness industry and doing “everything right” by conventional standards.

It wasn’t until I stripped away the processed foods, refined sugars, and additives — and embraced a whole-food, nutrient-dense diet — that everything changed. It was a radical transformation. My symptoms disappeared. My energy returned. And for the first time in years, I felt truly alive.

That moment didn’t just heal me — it ignited something in me. I knew I had to pay it forward.

We started Paleovalley to create snacks and supplements made from real, healing ingredients that are as convenient and delicious as they are nourishing. Because I believe everyone deserves to experience vibrant health — not just the absence of illness, but the presence of vitality, joy, and resilience.

My mission is to change the way people think about food — to prove that healthy food can be delicious and that healing can start with a single bite. I want people to feel empowered, not overwhelmed — and to realize that what we put on our plate has the power to transform our lives.

How do you ensure that your products remain both healthy and delicious?

At Paleovalley, we don’t just make products — we make a promise: to never compromise your health for profit, convenience, or trends. Every product we create begins with a bold commitment: no refined sugar, no seed oils, no grains, no gluten, no GMOs, no artificial sweeteners, and no unnecessary or harmful ingredients. Ever.

Sourcing the highest quality organic ingredients, like 100% grass fed and finished, regenerative, pasture-raised animal products from American family farms, is our top priority. We only use ingredients we’d proudly serve our own families — and we obsess over sourcing the best.

When we become inspired by a new concept, product, or cutting-edge science, we work with our incredible team of in-house food scientists, Michelle and Jim, to source ingredients that meet our standards and make it taste amazing. We taste test over and OVER with our family, friends, and team, until we know it’s perfect.

For example, most meat sticks are made from factory farmed meat treated with antibiotics and growth promotants, fed copious amounts of grains, and include questionable and unnecessary additives like sugar and encapsulated citric acid which often includes ultra processed oils and GMOs. Instead, we source 100% grass-fed and finished beef, and truly pasture-raised pork and chicken, from American family farms, season with organic spices and naturally ferment them which makes for a clean, juicy, and delicious snack stick that is high in protein and gut friendly.

We love to take fan favorites and upgrade the quality and health-promoting properties.

What are some things you have done to educate consumers about the nutritional benefits of your products?

As I mentioned, I’m always hungry to learn more and continue my own education. In return, I like to share that knowledge with our loyal customers. I wrote a dissertation. I have a podcast (Optimize Paleo Podcast) where I regularly discuss similar topics. I’m about to publish a paper on the variations in beef’s nutritional profile based on how it is produced (feedlots vs. grass fed vs. regenerative). I spent two years creating an educational docuseries called ‘ReThink Meat,’ which you can find on our Wild Pastures YouTube channel. And, lastly, I’m constantly communicating to my audience across our social channels.

Education is a huge part of every day, both professionally and personally.

Have you experienced any challenges in changing consumer perceptions about healthy snacks? How did you approach that?

Absolutely — and changing perceptions about healthy snacks, especially those made with meat, has been one of the biggest uphill battles we’ve faced. For decades, people were taught to fear meat — believing it caused heart disease, cancer, and environmental destruction. As a result, snacks made from grass-fed beef were often seen as fringe, unhealthy, or even irresponsible.

But I knew the truth was more nuanced — and far more powerful.

That’s why I spent over two years creating a docuseries called ‘ReThink Meat.’ It dives deep into the surprising historical, political, and financial forces that taught us to fear meat in the first place. We explore the science behind saturated fat, cholesterol, and heart disease, the often-overlooked nutrient gaps in plant-based diets, and how regenerative agriculture — not factory farming — can actually heal our soil, support biodiversity, and sequester carbon. We even expose the misleading nature of meat labels that confuse and mislead well-intentioned consumers.

At the same time, consumer awareness has been evolving. People today are more intentional than ever — reading ingredient labels, rejecting seed oils, synthetic additives, and refined sugar, and seeking out nutrient-dense, minimally processed foods. They’re no longer just looking for “low fat” — they’re looking for real nourishment.

That’s where Paleovalley comes in. We don’t just make snacks — we offer peace of mind. Our products are made with 100% grass-fed beef, organic ingredients, and no junk — ever. They support your health, your family’s well-being, and the health of the planet.

In short, we’re helping people remember what real food feels like.

Here is our main question. What are your “5 Things I Wish I Knew Before I Started”? (Please share a story or an example for each)

1. Relationships drive and save your business. We are a family-owned business and you’d think that would be difficult, but we all work together well and are able to hold one another accountable. We also have a motto to find rockstars and bring them into our business. We have the most talented, passionate, and incredible team that feels like family and this is the foundation of our success.

2. Weird is good. We were one of the first brands to bring an Organ Complex to market and in the beginning, most people just did not get it. But we knew this was a product that our nutrient-depleted population needed and so we kept educating and today it’s no longer fringe and the market has exploded.

3. Clarity comes from action. We have a ready, fire, aim policy meaning that we act before things are perfect. If you just try something, the answers will come from failure. So many of the most valuable successes and wins come right after failure. So, we are not afraid to press play on something that’s not perfect, because it never will be. Execution and action bring all of your next steps into full view.

4. Customer feedback is the best copywriter. I used to try writing our ads from my point of view, but soon realized I am too close to the products and know way too much about them to communicate with potential new customers. The feedback you receive from your customers should be the bedrock of your marketing. They tell you exactly what they like, don’t like and need you to change. Use testimonials as ads, distribute customer surveys, call your best customers for their feedback and use it all for fodder for ad campaigns. It gets to the heart of why people value your products and will save you so much time.

5. No one knows what they are doing. My job transformation was from celebrity fitness training JLo to beef sticks manufacturer. Zero experience in food manufacturing. Zero connections. Just pure passion. Passion that still drives me today. When something excites you, and fills a need in the world, you will figure it out. Don’t let inexperience be the thing that keeps you from following your joy. The world needs more people who are truly lit up by what they are doing.

In a constantly evolving industry, how do you stay ahead of trends to keep your offerings innovative and appealing?

We are our customers and we develop the products we want for our own lives. We also listen closely to, and often survey, our customers and are constantly shopping and scouring the shelves for the latest food products that we can improve upon. We are so passionate and excited about our work, and so dialed into the nutrition scene that every trip to the store and scroll on IG or TikTok, is research.

You are a person of enormous influence. If you could start a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. :-)

If I could start a movement to bring the greatest good to the greatest number of people, I would make regeneratively grown, whole food available and accessible to everyone. Because real health begins with real food. And right now, far too many people are fed by a system that depletes their bodies and the land. It’s not just unsustainable — it’s unjust.

My dream is to create a national network of local, regenerative farm-to-table systems — woven into the fabric of our schools, hospitals, and communities. A system that reconnects people to their food, their farmers, and their land. A system where nourishing others also means nourishing the soil, restoring ecosystems, and preserving culture and biodiversity.

Can you imagine how powerful we could be if every child grew up eating food that made them feel vibrant and alive — while learning why that food matters? If every patient in a hospital was offered meals that supported healing? If every community had a hand in growing, preparing, and sharing food that gave back more than it took?

It’s a vision I work toward every single day. Because once we understand how to use food as medicine — not just for our bodies, but for the planet — we can heal ourselves and leave a thriving world for future generations. That’s the kind of ripple effect I want to be part of.

What is the best way for our readers to continue to follow your work online?

Everyone should go to www.paleovalley.com to check out and shop our products. Also, follow us on social media — @paleovalley — to learn more. And, if you want to get in touch with me directly email me autumn@paleovalley.com.

This was very inspiring. Thank you so much for the time you spent on this. We wish you only continued success.