Culinary Medicine

Abstract

The use of food as medicine to treat illness and maintain health has ancient roots across various cultures. Despite significant scientific progress during the past 2 centuries linking diet, the microbiome, and overall health, modern challenges persist due to sociocultural factors, aggressive food marketing, and insufficient nutritional education. However, there is increasing support from health systems, insurers, nonprofits, philanthropic organizations, and government bodies to develop health policies that promote access to high-quality meals for disease prevention and management. Culinary medicine is now incorporated into undergraduate and postgraduate medical education through electives, certifications in culinary and lifestyle medicine, and continuing medical education conferences. There is substantial potential for culinary medicine to enhance patient care across diverse populations and settings, including individual consultations, group visits, schools, farms, and community gardens. Collaborative efforts among stakeholders can advance practical solutions to translate scientific knowledge into effective policy and practice. [Pediatr Ann. 2025;54(3):e83-e87.].