FAQ
ABOUT THE PRACTICE
What is The Doctor's Apron?
The Doctor's Apron is a physician-led culinary medicine practice founded by Dr. Rachel Banach, MD, MPH, MS—a board-certified family medicine physician with professional culinary training from Ballymaloe Cookery School in Cork, Ireland. The practice bridges the gap between clinical medicine and the kitchen, helping clients connect their personal health picture to sustainable lifestyle change through education, hands-on experiences, and a deeper understanding of how food can be used to support lifelong health. The Doctor’s Apron is a direct-pay, supplemental private practice serving clients in Portland, OR, Vancouver, WA, and virtually across Oregon, Washington, and Wyoming.
What is culinary medicine?
Culinary medicine is an evidence-based field that combines the science of medicine, nutrition, and lifestyle health with the practical skills of cooking and food preparation. Rather than offering generic dietary advice, culinary medicine helps connect an individual's health history, goals, laboratory findings, and medical conditions to personalized, realistic strategies that can be applied in everyday life. At The Doctor's Apron, culinary medicine is delivered through a physician-led approach that bridges the gap between clinical medicine and the kitchen. Food is used as a supportive tool to help optimize health, reduce disease risk, and improve quality of life through sustainable changes in eating habits, cooking skills, and food choices. Culinary medicine is not intended to replace primary care, medications, or other medical treatments. Instead, it serves as an adjunctive and complementary approach that empowers individuals to use food with greater intention and confidence as part of their overall health plan. By combining medical expertise with practical cooking and nutrition strategies, The Doctor's Apron helps clients translate nutrition science into meaningful, lasting changes that fit real life. At The Doctor's Apron, every recommendation comes from a board-certified physician — not a health coach or nutritionist — which means it's grounded in your actual clinical picture. Culinary medicine is an emerging evidence-based field supported by educational and clinical programs at institutions including Tulane University School of Medicine and the American College of Culinary Medicine, the American College of Lifestyle Medicine, integrating food as medicine philosophy, nutrition science, medicine, education, and practical cooking skills to support health and chronic disease prevention.
What makes The Doctor’s Apron different from seeing my primary care doctor?
Most primary care visits are limited by time. While your physician may recommend eating healthier, there often isn’t enough time to explore exactly what that means for you. At The Doctor’s Apron, we spend dedicated time discussing your health goals, eating patterns, lifestyle, lab results, and barriers so you can leave with a clear, personalized plan.
Is The Doctor's Apron a replacement for my primary care doctor?
No — and that's intentional. The Doctor's Apron is designed to work alongside your existing primary care relationship, not replace it. Dr. Banach functions as a supplemental, direct-pay practice focused specifically on food, nutrition, and lifestyle. Your primary care physician remains your anchor for ongoing medical management. Think of this practice as giving you the depth and time around food and lifestyle that a standard clinical visit simply doesn't allow.
Have you ever wondered “why does my doctor tell me to eat better but not tell me how?”
If you’ve ever left a doctor’s appointment thinking this, you’re not alone. Nutrition is incredibly important and deserves more time than most healthcare systems today allow. Most physicians genuinely want to help patients improve their nutrition, but traditional primary care visits are often limited by time and pressure from competing priorities. For example, in a single visit, your primary care doctor may need to address medications, preventive screenings, chronic conditions, test results, and any of your acute concerns. At The Doctor’s Apron, we understand this and take a different approach. This is where dedicated space, time, and personalized guidance from a physician with a background in traditional family medicine and primary care, who also has training in culinary medicine, integrative medicine, and cooking can make all the difference in bridging the gap between medical advice and practical implementation. Rather than offering generic nutrition recommendations, we explore your health history, your unique goals, laboratory results, lifestyle, cultural preferences, cooking confidence, schedule, and your specific challenges.
Is Dr. Banach a real doctor?
Yes. Dr. Rachel Banach is a board-certified family medicine physician with an MD, MPH (Master of Public Health), and a Master of Science in Health Psychology. She also completed professional culinary training from Ballymaloe Cookery School in Cork, Ireland and is completing a Certified Culinary Medicine Specialist (CCMS) with the American College of Culinary Medicine. Dr. Banach has additional training in Integrative Medicine from the University of Arizona Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine. She founded The Doctor's Apron to offer physician-level guidance at the intersection of medicine and food.
WHAT TO EXPECT
What happens at the first appointment?
Your first appointment is a 75-minute initial consultation. Dr. Banach will review your complete health history, any relevant labs, your current eating patterns, and your health goals. From that, she builds a personalized culinary medicine roadmap that serves as the foundation for everything that follows. This initial consultation is required before enrolling in any program, and the $450 fee is fully creditable toward any package if you enroll within 30 days.
What programs does The Doctor's Apron offer?
There are two core programs. The Kitchen Reset: Foundations is an approximately 8-week program that includes physician-guided follow-up sessions, a personalized meal framework, a culinary medicine workbook, and tailored educational resources. The Health Rebuild: Transformation is a deeper, approximately 12-week program with additional sessions, dedicated check-ins, a small personalized custom meal plan, small recipe collection, and personalized or health-condition-specific guides. An optional advanced lab panel is also available in the The Health Rebuild: Transformation PLUS Labs option . Both programs are designed for clients ready to make meaningful, lasting change with physician-level support.
Do you offer in-person services?
Yes, Dr. Banach offers in-person services for clients in the Portland Metro area. In-person add-ons include guided farmers market walkthroughs, grocery store walkthroughs, and an in-home kitchen audit. Culinary skills assessments are available both in-person and virtually. All clinical consultations are conducted via a HIPAA-compliant tele-health platform.
Can I work with you virtually if I don't live in Portland?
Yes. Dr. Banach sees clients virtually throughout Oregon, Washington, and Wyoming. All consultations are conducted through a secure, HIPAA-compliant video platform with a private client portal for video visits, forms & documents, educational materials, and messaging.
What is the Apron Membership?
The Apron Membership is a monthly continuity option available to clients who have completed a program with The Doctor's Apron. It includes one 60-minute physician session per month, up to three secure messaging check-ins in the patient portal, and access to any live virtual group culinary medicine educational or small group sessions that may occur. It's designed for clients who want ongoing physician support as they continue building on the foundation from their program.
Do you offer a free consultation before I commit?
Yes. The Doctor's Apron offers a free 15-minute discovery call so you can learn more about the practice, ask questions, and determine whether it's the right fit — before any financial commitment. You can book directly here.
COST & INSURANCE
Does insurance cover culinary medicine?
The Doctor's Apron is a direct-pay practice, which means it does not bill insurance. Clients pay directly for services. This allows Dr. Banach to spend the time and depth your health actually requires, without the constraints of insurance-driven visit limits. Some clients use HSA or FSA funds — check with your plan administrator to confirm eligibility.
How much does the initial consultation cost?
The Initial Consultation is $450 for a 75-minute appointment. If you enroll in a program within 30 days, that full amount is credited toward your package.
Can I use my HSA or FSA to pay for services at The Doctor’s Apron?
Possibly. As a board-certified physician, Dr. Banach may be able to provide a Letter of Medical Necessity when appropriate based on your individual circumstances. Some Health Savings Accounts (HSA) and Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) may allow reimbursement for certain health-related services when accompanied by appropriate documentation. However, eligibility requirements vary by plan and administrator. Please note that Dr. Banach cannot guarantee that a Letter of Medical Necessity will be approved by your HSA or FSA administrator, nor can she guarantee reimbursement. The final determination is made solely by your benefits provider or plan administrator. We encourage clients to contact their HSA or FSA administrator directly to verify eligibility requirements before scheduling services if reimbursement is important to them.
Who is a good fit for The Doctor's Apron?
The Doctor's Apron is a strong fit for people who are motivated to work more intentionally with food and their health — whether they're managing a chronic condition, trying to improve their energy and nutrition, navigating a health transition, or simply looking for structured, physician-guided support they haven't been able to find in a standard clinical setting. The Doctor’s Apron is particularly well-suited for people who want more than a list of foods to avoid — who want to understand the why behind their recommendations and build skills that last. Every person is different. If you’re looking for a personalized approach to nutrition and lifestyle medicine, schedule a consultation with The Doctor’s Apron to explore what may be contributing to your unique situation.
Do I need to already know how to cook?
Not at all. Clients come in with every level of cooking experience, from total beginner to experienced home cook. Part of the work is meeting you exactly where you are in the kitchen, assessing your current skills, your relationship with food, and what realistic changes look and feel like in your daily life.
What happens during a consultation?
We will discuss your health goals, current eating habits, lifestyle, medical history, challenges, and opportunities for improvement. Together, we’ll create realistic strategies tailored to your needs and preferences.
LOCATION & LOGISTICS
Where is The Doctor's Apron located?
The Doctor's Apron is based in the Portland, OR and Vancouver, WA area. In-person services are available for clients in the Portland Metro. Virtual services are available to clients across Oregon, Washington, and Wyoming. Most is virtual but some in-person local services are available in the Portland Metro area. You can learn more and book here.
How do I book an appointment?
The recommended first step is the free 15-minute discovery call. Or, if you're ready to begin, book your Initial Consultation.
Is my health information kept private and secure?
Yes. All consultations are conducted through a HIPAA-compliant platform with secure video, encrypted messaging, and a private client portal. Your health information is never transmitted through unsecured channels.
PHYSICIAN
VS.
NUTRITIONIST OR HEALTH COACH
Why work with a physician for nutrition guidance instead of a dietitian or health coach?
A physician brings a clinical lens that most nutrition professionals aren't trained to apply. Dr. Banach can interpret your labs, account for your medications and medical history, and contextualize food recommendations within your broader health picture — not just general dietary guidelines. That level of integration matters when food recommendations have real clinical stakes, such as managing blood sugar, addressing gut health, or supporting cardiovascular health. The Doctor's Apron is designed specifically for clients who want physician-level accountability alongside their culinary and lifestyle guidance.
What makes The Doctor's Apron different from other nutrition or wellness practices?
The Doctor's Apron is believed to be the only independent physician-led culinary medicine practice in the Pacific Northwest. Dr. Banach holds dual credentials — as a board-certified family physician and as a professionally trained culinary school graduate — which means the guidance you receive is both clinically grounded and practically oriented. This isn't a meal plan service or a generic wellness program. It's a personalized, physician-led practice where food and lifestyle is the medium and your health is the mission.