Culinary Medicine Recipe | Food as Medicine & Physician-Led Health Conversations

How are clinicians on both sides of the border integrating nutrition into the healthcare system? In this episode of the Culinary Medicine Recipe podcast, Dr. Falquier chats with registered dietitian, Julia MacLaren, to explore the evolution of food skills programs across Canada and the US.

Whether you are a healthcare professional looking to improve patient outcomes through lifestyle medicine or an individual focused on preventive nutrition, this conversation offers a cross-border perspective.

In this episode, we explore:
Bridging the Gap: How clinicians can move beyond "prescribing" a diet to teaching the food skills necessary for long-term adherence.
National Agency Funding of Healthcare Innovation: Is there interest in culinary medicine?
Systems Innovation: A look at food skills initiatives in Canada.
Culinary Medicine in Public Healthcare: Can it be done?
Timecodes:
·      Culinary medicine program success stories [1:40]
·      Are healthcare systems recognizing the benefits of food skills programs? [6:30]
·      Julia MacLaren’s path into culinary medicine [9:30]
·      Collaboration in culinary medicine [13:10]
·      Food skills in Canada’s food guide [15:15]
·      How culinary medicine will evolve in Canada’s public healthcare system? [17:00]
·      Culinary medicine in Canada vs. the U.S. [19:20]
·      One of Julia’s favourite food skills intervention programs [20:00]
·      Terminology in culinary medicine [22:20]
·      Culinary medicine as part of healthcare innovation in Canada, U.S. & globally [24:00]  

Connect with the Show:
·       Instagram: @alternativefoodnetwork 
·       Website: alternativefoodnetwork.com

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a 5-star review - it helps us reach more listeners looking to take control of their health through food!

Credits:
Host – Dr. Sabrina Falquier, MD, CCMS, DipABLM
Sound and Editing – Will Crann
Executive Producer – Esther Garfin

©2026 Alternative Food Network Inc.

To help support the podcast, please go to Buy Me a Coffee.

Dr. Sabrina Falquier is a board-certified physician and a leader in Culinary Medicine. She specializes in bridging the gap between scientific evidence and the actual food on your plate, empowering listeners to use the kitchen as a place of wellness and healing.

Show Topics Include: Nutrition, Food as Medicine, Health and Wellness Podcasting, Microbiome, Metabolism, Weight loss, Gut health, Healthy recipes, Health, Inflammation, Longevity, Blood sugar, Protein, Magnesium, Sleep quality, Immunity, Hormone balance, Sunday meal prep, Medically tailored meals (MTM), Produce Prescription (PRx), Prevention, Teaching kitchen, Health equity, Evidence-based nutrition, food podcast insights

(00:00:00) Not Eating Enough Fiber? | Dr. Falquier to the Rescue

(00:01:25) What happens if you eat too little fiber?

(00:02:39) How do you tell if you need more fiber?

(00:03:07) What are good sources of fiber?

(00:03:59) Fiber supplements vs. food

(00:04:21) How much fiber do you actually need?

(00:04:42) Fiber-rich meal examples without the bloat or gas

(00:05:02) Can you eat too much fiber?

(00:05:52) If you do one thing to improve your fiber intake, do this…

“Fiber is one of the most powerful tools we have of improving our health and it’s entirely within our reach,” asserts Dr. Sabrina Falquier. Yet, most of us are only getting half the fiber we need for optimal gut health and long term metabolic health. In this episode, Dr. Falquier shares great fiber-rich meal examples and easy ways to sneak extra fiber into your favorite foods, all through the lens of culinary medicine.  

In this episode we cover:
1:25 – What happens if you eat too little fiber?
2:40 – How do you tell if you need more fiber?
3:10 – What are good sources of fiber?
4:00 – Fiber supplements vs. food
4:20 – How much fiber do you actually need?
4:45 – Fiber-rich meal examples without the bloat or gas
5:00 – Can you eat too much fiber?
5:55 – If you do one thing to improve your fiber intake, do this…

Credits:
Host – Dr. Sabrina Falquier, MD, CCMS, DipABLM
Sound and Editing – Will Crann
Executive Producer – Esther Garfin

©2026 Alternative Food Network Inc.

To support the podcast, please go to Buy Me a Coffee.

Connect with the Show:
·       Instagram: @alternativefoodnetwork – Send us a DM with your biggest "fiber win" this week!
·       Website: alternativefoodnetwork.com

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a 5-star review - it helps us reach more listeners looking to take control of their health through food!

Dr. Sabrina Falquier is a board-certified physician and a leader in Culinary Medicine. She specializes in bridging the gap between scientific evidence and the actual food on your plate, empowering listeners to use the kitchen as a place of wellness and healing.

Show Topics Include: Nutrition, Food as Medicine, Health and Wellness Podcasting, Microbiome, Metabolism, Weight loss, Gut health, Healthy recipes, Health, Inflammation, Longevity, Blood sugar, Protein, Magnesium, Sleep quality, Immunity, Hormone balance, Sunday meal prep, Medically tailored meals (MTM), Produce Prescription (PRx), Prevention, Teaching kitchen, Health equity, Evidence-based nutrition, food podcast insights

How do you achieve healthy GLP-1 weight loss while preserving muscle mass, energy, and sufficient nutrient intake? Do you have GLP-1 maintenance strategies in place? In this episode, Dr. Falquier bridges the gap between medication and the power of “Food as Medicine”. She provides useful food tips to help support GLP-1 users and their healthcare providers.

In this episode you’ll hear:
1:15 - About GLP-1 agonists.
2:30 - The risks of undereating when on GLP-1 medication.
3:15 - How to have long-term success on GLP-1 medication.
3:45 - Why Culinary Medicine is especially helpful when on GLP-1.
4:10 - What to eat when on GLP-1 medication?
5:00 - How to prevent muscle loss on GLP-1?
5:10 - What is a good breakfast, lunch and dinner for GLP-1?

Credits:
Host – Dr. Sabrina Falquier, MD, CCMS, DipABLM
Sound and Editing – Will Crann
Executive Producer – Esther Garfin

©2026 Alternative Food Network Inc.

Dr. Sabrina Falquier is a board-certified physician and a leader in Culinary Medicine. She specializes in bridging the gap between scientific evidence and the actual food on your plate, empowering listeners to use the kitchen as a place of wellness and healing.

Show Topics Include: Nutrition, Food as Medicine, Health and Wellness Podcasting, Microbiome, Metabolism, Weight loss, Gut health, Healthy recipes, Health, Inflammation, Longevity, Blood sugar, Protein, Magnesium, Sleep quality, Immunity, Hormone balance, Sunday meal prep, Medically tailored meals (MTM), Produce Prescription (PRx), Prevention, Teaching kitchen, Health equity, Evidence-based nutrition, food podcast insights

What does the new 10g sugar limit per meal actually mean for your daily routine, your energy level and your metabolic health? In this Q&A episode, Dr. Sabrina Falquier answers 9 of the most-asked questions about sugar to help you navigate the gap between the new Dietary Guidelines and your dinner plate.  

In this episode you’ll hear:  
1:20 – The 10g Rule: What exactly does the new “added sugar limit” mean?
2:40 – Natural vs. Added: Is sugar from fruit the same as sugar from soda?
3:40 - Glucose vs. fructose metabolism
5:10 - Can I lose weight if I still eat fruit?
5:45 - Does sugar affect inflammation in joints and skin?
6:20 - Are “natural” sugars like honey or maple syrup better than white sugar?
6:45 - Real Food Solutions: Dr. Falquier’s strategies to reduce added sugar
7:15 - Are zero-calorie sweeteners safe for the gut microbiome?
8:15 - The Palate Reset: How do you “detox” from sugar without getting a massive headache?
9:50 - How long does it take for taste buds to change?

Resource:   2025-2030 Dietary Guidelines: https://www.dietaryguidelines.gov/

Do you love Culinary Medicine Recipe? Please consider supporting the podcast at Buy Me a Coffee.

Credits:
Host – Dr. Sabrina Falquier, MD, CCMS, DipABLM
Sound and Editing – Will Crann
Executive Producer – Esther Garfin

©2026 Alternative Food Network Inc.

Dr. Sabrina Falquier is a board-certified physician and a leader in Culinary Medicine. She specializes in bridging the gap between scientific evidence and the actual food on your plate, empowering listeners to use the kitchen as a place of wellness and healing.

Show Topics Include: Nutrition, Food as Medicine, Health and Wellness Podcasting, Microbiome, Metabolism, Weight loss, Gut health, Healthy recipes, Health, Inflammation, Longevity, Blood sugar, Protein, Magnesium, Sleep quality, Immunity, Hormone balance, Sunday meal prep, Medically tailored meals (MTM), Produce Prescription (PRx), Prevention, Teaching kitchen, Health equity, Evidence-based nutrition, food podcast insights

The new 2025-2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans are finally here. In this episode, Dr. Sabrina Falquier breaks down what they actually mean for real kitchens, real lives and metabolic health.

Are the new guidelines a win for real food and nutrient density, or do they leave us with more questions than clarity? Join Dr. Sabrina Falquier on Culinary Medicine Recipe as she shares her expert perspective on what’s helpful, what’s missing and what deserves a closer look in the federal government’s latest nutrition guidance.

Rather than rehashing food pyramids or plate graphics, this episode looks at how topics like Ultra-Processed Foods (UPF), protein prioritization, added sugars, and full-fat dairy are showing up in the conversation, and where confusion often creeps in.

Dr. Falquier offers a practical, evidence-based take on the good, the bad and the messy realities of translating national guidelines into everyday eating.

In this episode you’ll hear:
01:50 - When were the first dietary guidelines for Americans?
03:50 - 2025-2030 Dietary Guidelines
04:30 - Why are dietary guidelines important?
05:15 - What Dr. Falquier likes about the new Dietary Guidelines.
06:10 - Dr. Falquier’s concerns about the new Dietary Guidelines.
06:35 - Protein prioritization and the fiber gap concern
09:40 - What are the Dietary Guidelines for full-fat dairy?
10:10 - Gut health and the microbiome 
11:15 - Why are whole grains at the bottom of the food pyramid?
11:45 - Sugar, alcohol and sodium recommendations
13:30 - Sustainability and planetary health
14:35 - Do the new Dietary Guidelines actually empower people to use Food as Medicine?

Resources & Links:
Official 2025-2030 Dietary Guidelines Document: https://www.dietaryguidelines.gov/
Why It's Important for Your Body to be Hydrated, Episode 5, Culinary Medicine Recipe
Everything You Need to Know About Electrolytes, Episode 33, Culinary Medicine Recipe
Three Easy Mocktail Recipes from Dr. Falquier, Episode 35, Culinary Medicine Recipe
Credits:
Host – Dr. Sabrina Falquier, MD, CCMS, DipABLM
Sound and Editing – Will Crann
Executive Producer – Esther Garfin

©2026 Alternative Food Network Inc.

Dr. Sabrina Falquier is a board-certified physician and a leader in Culinary Medicine. She specializes in bridging the gap between scientific evidence and the actual food on your plate, empowering listeners to use the kitchen as a place of wellness and healing.

Show Topics Include: Nutrition, Food as Medicine, Health and Wellness Podcasting, Microbiome, Metabolism, Weight loss, Gut health, Healthy recipes, Health, Inflammation, Longevity, Blood sugar, Protein, Magnesium, Sleep quality, Immunity, Hormone balance, Sunday meal prep, Medically tailored meals (MTM), Produce Prescription (PRx), Prevention, Teaching kitchen, Health equity, Evidence-based nutrition, food podcast insights