Jaclyn Albin, MD, CCMS, DipABLM, is a board-certified pediatrician and internist. Additionally, Dr. Albin is board-certified in lifestyle medicine and is a certified culinary medicine specialist (CCMS). She serves on the national advisory board for the CCMS program and on committees within Health Meets Food and the Teaching Kitchen Collaborative. Dr. Albin studies the impact of culinary medicine classes on a variety of disease states and has published her work in interprofessional education in culinary medicine and community engagement.

From the beauty of growing food to transforming it into delicious, nutritious meals, Dr. Albin's personal story intertwines with her professional mission. In this enlightening conversation, Dr. Albin discusses the intersection of food, health, and empowerment. Offering practical models for physicians seeking to integrate culinary medicine into their practice, she champions its potential to reshape the future of patient care as it pertains to nutrition and changing dietary habits. Dr. Albin shares insights from her approaches, including teaching kitchens and community partnerships. She showcases the power of interdisciplinary collaboration in crafting personalized treatment plans centered around culinary medicine. Dr. Albin inspires healthcare professionals to embrace culinary medicine as a catalyst for enhancing patient outcomes and reducing physician burnout.

Resources:

"Culinary Medicine programs aim to improve nutrition education for doctors”: https://www.utsouthwestern.edu/newsroom/articles/year-2022/september-culinary-medicine-programs.html

Follow Dr. Jaclyn Albin on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaclyn-albin-mp-doc

Diana Guevara is a dedicated Registered Dietitian committed to improving the health and well-being of underserved populations through innovative nutrition programs. Currently serving at UTHealth School of Public Health in Houston, TX, Diana implements community-facing, grant-funded culinary nutrition programming addressing nutritional literacy in underserved communities. Diana aims to impact the field of nutrition and public health through culinary medicine, health promotion, and disease prevention. Diana is bilingual in both English and Spanish.

Join us as Diana shares her journey from a childhood fascination with cooking and health, to her current role as a dietitian at UT Health Houston where she spearheads culinary nutrition training programs. Olivia and Diana explore the intersection of food, health, and community, highlighting initiatives like "Nourishing the Community Through Culinary Medicine," which empowers patients with diabetes to cook nutritious meals at home with a focus on hands-on learning and practical skills; And the “Nourish” program at UT Health Houston which takes a “seed to plate to prevention” approach to training dietetic interns, medical students, and other healthcare professionals on culinary medicine practices. Diana discusses the transformative impact of culinary medicine in healthcare settings and beyond, envisioning a future where food becomes a powerful tool for healing and wellness.

Resources:

Nourish UT Health Houston: https://sph.uth.edu/research/centers/dell/nourish/why-nourish

Nourish Instagram Page: https://www.instagram.com/nourishprogram?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==

UT Health Houston Dietetic Internship Program: https://sph.uth.edu/research/centers/dell/dietetic-internship-program/

Follow Diana on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/diana-guevara-mph-rd/

UT Health House Faculty Page: https://sph.uth.edu/research/centers/dell/faculty-member.htm?member=59bae12b-5e48-42bd-a538-3bad198ade8d

Christina Badaracco, MPH, RDN, LDN, is a healthcare consultant specializing in evidence-based nutrition and its integration into healthcare. She regularly writes, teaches, and presents about nutrition, culinary medicine, and sustainable agriculture. Her diverse roles include presidency at DC Metro Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and board membership in Slow Food DC. She holds an MPH from UC Berkeley and an AB in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from Princeton University. She completed her dietetic internship at Massachusetts General Hospital and was selected as 2023 Emerging Dietetic Leader by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

In this podcast episode, Christina provides insights into the intersection of agriculture, nutrition, and health. Drawing from her background in environmental science and biology, she emphasizes the importance of improving the food system to enhance human health and environmental sustainability. Christina highlights the connection between the farm bill and healthcare, particularly through programs like produce prescriptions, which enable physicians to prescribe healthy food to patients. The discussion extends to culinary medicine and ways healthcare providers can support local food systems at the same time that they promote healthy eating habits. Christina encourages listeners to engage in learning, teaching, researching, and advocacy to support positive changes in food policy and healthcare practices. Additionally, she mentions her book, The Farm Bill: A Citizen's Guide, as a resource for diverse audiences interested in better understanding the complexities of agricultural policy and its impacts throughout our food system and society more broadly.

Resources:

www.christinabadaracco.com

The Farm Bill: A Citizen's Guide: https://islandpress.org/books/farm-bill#desc

“Six Health-Focused Fixes for SNAP”: https://thehealthcareblog.com/blog/2019/04/11/six-health-focused-fixes-for-snap/

Congressional Research Service farm bill reports: https://crsreports.congress.gov/search/#/?termsToSearch=farm%20bill&orderBy=Relevance

National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition: https://sustainableagriculture.net/publications/

Farm Action: https://farmaction.us/

USDA Farm Service Agency: https://www.fsa.usda.gov/programs-and-services/farm-bill/index

Environmental Working Group Farm Subsidy Database: https://farm.ewg.org/