THE FOOD COACH ACADEMY
BY DR. DEB KENNEDY &
THE EXPERTISE OF 40 EXPERTS AND A DOZEN CHEFS
Where Culinary Medicine meets Community Health.
Rooted in Science
As a chef and PhD nutritionist, I combine nutrition science and the culinary arts to promote healing. Certified in value-based medicine, I help communities, health centers, and clinics build a bridge between the healthcare system and the food system to promote sustainable dietary change.
I'm passionate about culinary equity, recognizing that cooking is integral to culture and heritage. The concept of Food as Medicine isn't new—it's been part of human wisdom since we started gathering food and transforming it with heat and fermentation. Most indigenous mothers and healers knew this to be true from the beginning.
Over the past six years, I've had the privilege of collaborating with 40 experts and a dozen chefs worldwide, collectively culling over 2,500 articles, to develop culinary competencies for dietary guidelines. This groundbreaking work has resulted in our Culinary Medicine From Clinic to Kitchen book series and the creation of the Food Coach Academy.
The Food Coach Academy trains the workforce that makes Food as Medicine possible — equipping clinicians, dietitians, community health workers, and individuals to support others on their healing journey. We turn prescriptions into plates and improve community health. Built on decades of research, our mission is simple: to make food central to healing for individuals and families, while respecting that the individual is the expert in their own lives.
I invite you to join us in our mission to heal people, communities, and our planet through food, one delicious bite at a time. Together, we can make a difference in how the world eats and heals.
Train with us. Partner with us. Let's build a healthier future together. I'm waiting with my whisk in hand.
—Dr. Deb
FOOD AS MEDICINE
What happens when you combine a chef, a PhD in Public Health Nutrition, and an expert in value-based medicine? You get a recipe for an international leader in Food as Medicine (FAM)—Dr. Deb! FAM is the integration of nutrition into healthcare, and it uses interventions like medically tailored meals, produce prescriptions, and culinary skill-building to prevent, manage, and treat disease. By moving beyond advice, it turns food into a powerful, sustainable tool for better health outcomes and lower healthcare costs.
CULINARY MEDICINE
Dr. Deb is fighting to secure culinary medicine’s rightful place at the center of Food as Medicine—not as an afterthought, but as a foundational element. Too often sidelined, culinary medicine is key to sustainability. It builds the practical skills and confidence people need to make nourishing meals a lasting part of daily life—long after the food prescriptions run out. Without it, Food as Medicine risks being a short-term fix instead of a long-term solution.
FOOD COACH ACADEMY
Food Coaching = Motivational Interviewing + Modular Delivery of Nutrition Information + Culinary Skill Building
FOOD COACHING
Food Coaching transforms nutrition support by putting patients at the head of the table—empowered to choose the next step in their food journey. Rooted in Motivational Interviewing, it combines a modular approach that honors individual readiness, culture, and goals for sustainable, personalized change.
Developed from 15 years of research led by Dr. Deborah Kennedy with Yale, Dartmouth, UConn, and Tufts, this modular system allows for small, consistent wins. It blends clinical guidance with patient preference, creating a flexible, research-backed path to lasting dietary change.
Key Features of the Program:
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100% online
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Finish at your own pace
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Earn 510 CEHs from the American Culinary Federation
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Content based on a review of the science created by 40+ world experts in flavor, nutrition, and the culinary arts
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Pay $249 per month for a year
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Over 100 patient handouts that honor cultural diversity
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Built on the groundbreaking work - Culinary Medicine From Clinic to Kitchen
What's in it For You:
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Support sustainable dietary changes by training healthcare staff in food coaching
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Help change lives by teaching people to cook for their health
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Work in the field of Food as Medicine
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A 3 in 1 training – coaching, cooking, and nutrition
Why Enroll in the Program:
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Implement a closed-loop referral system for Food as Medicine in your institution
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Become a full-rounded coach by adding culinary medicine to your areas of expertise
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Create your own business, on your own time and in your own terms
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Become a pioneer and work in the rapidly growing field of Food as Medicine
DR. DEB
Dr. Deborah Kennedy, PhD and chef, blends nutrition science and culinary arts to foster healing on a global scale while honoring each individual’s food-story and palate. As CEO of The Food Coach Academy™, Build Healthy Kids®, and Culinary Rehab®, as well as a professor and the Director of Culinary Medicine she is at the forefront of the Culinary Medicine and Food is Medicine initiatives. With a PhD in Nutritional Biochemistry from Tufts University, Dr. Deb's mission is to help individuals, communities, businesses, and the healthcare sector to support equitable, diverse, and inclusive culinary skill building to strengthen individuals in their capacity to heal from the inside out.
WORK WITH DR. DEB
Transform health through food and cooking. Offering expert consultations in Culinary Medicine, comprehensive training to create the next generation of culinary medicine experts via the Food Coach Academy, dynamic keynote speaking, and innovative program development. From individuals to organizations to a state-wide level, Dr. Deb provides the tools, experience, and knowledge to harness the power of nutrition for better health. Elevate your understanding of food as medicine with a leader in the field.
THE BOOK SERIES
Culinary Medicine From Clinic to Kitchen: A Hands-on Guide to Transforming Nutrition Guidelines into Cooking Skills
Join Dr. Deb in her groundbreaking book series and embark on a journey to transform nutrition guidelines into delicious, healthy meals. This series offers essential culinary skills and practical tips to revolutionize how we approach food, from mastering cooking basics to creating teaching kitchens. Whether you're a clinician, chef, or food enthusiast, each volume provides comprehensive insights from leading experts, making it a must-read for anyone passionate about integrating nutritious foods into daily life. Discover how you can become a catalyst for positive change in health and well-being!
