Why Can't My Doctor Prescribe Groceries? The Payment Barrier in Food as Medicine

About this episode

Dr. Deborah Kennedy joins Dr. Falquier to discuss the financial barriers in food as medicine programs and necessary systemic changes for better accessibility.

Chef and PhD Public Health Nutritionist, Dr. Deborah Kennedy, joins Dr. Falquier to explore the evolving role of food as medicine programs in healthcare, what current financial structures support these programs and what funding mechanisms need to change. Whether you’re a healthcare professional, policymaker, or simply passionate about nutrition and wellness, this episode offers valuable insights into what systemic shifts are necessary to make nutrition-based healthcare more accessible and sustainable. In this episode you’ll hear: 2:50 – Difference between food as medicine and culinary medicine 5:45 – What happens when medically tailored meals or produce prescriptions come to an end? 6:45 – How can culinary medicine outcomes be measured to show clinical and cost effectiveness? 11:00 – Who’s funding food prescriptions, medically tailored meals and nutrition education? 16:45 – Are there food as medicine programs outside the U.S.? 23:00 – Who pays for culinary medicine coaching? 24:30 – The future of culinary medicine 28:00 – Book series: Culinary Medicine From Clinic to Kitchen 31:00 – Dr. Kennedy’s Food Coach Academy Resource Health Affairs Journal, April 2025 I Food, Nutrition…

People in this episode

Host: Sabrina Falquier

Guest: Dr Deborah Kennedy

Topics covered

• food as medicine
• culinary medicine
• healthcare
• nutrition
• policy

Keywords

• nutrition-based healthcare
• medically tailored meals
• produce prescriptions
• culinary medicine coaching

Mentioned in this episode

Products: Culinary Medicine From Clinic to Kitchen, Food Coach Academy

Books & works: Culinary Medicine From Clinic to Kitchen

Places: U.S.

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

• Healthcare Innovation & Culinary Medicine: Food Skills Programs in Canada & the US · June 3, 2026 · 30 min
• Not Eating Enough Fiber? | Dr. Falquier to the Rescue · May 6, 2026 · 8 min
• GLP-1 Menu: A Physician's Guide on What to Eat & How to Prevent Muscle Loss · April 1, 2026 · 8 min
• The Sugar Reset: 9 Top Sugar Questions with Dr. Sabrina Falquier · March 4, 2026 · 12 min
• New Dietary Guidelines: A Culinary Medicine Perspective with Dr. Sabrina Falquier · February 4, 2026 · 17 min
• Fix Your Metabolism: The Reset Guide to Sustainable Fat Loss and Increased Energy · January 7, 2026 · 17 min