Native America Calling: Traditional diet success and the first Indigenous ‘Chopped’ champion

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Native America Calling: Traditional diet success and the first Indigenous ‘Chopped’ champion

Wednesday, April 29, 2026

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The Menu: Traditional diet success and the first Indigenous ‘Chopped’ champion

An intensive traditional foods program aimed at curbing diabetes is credited with major weight loss and health benefits for some of its participants.

Native Food for Life is a collaboration between tribal health officials and the Physicians Committee on Responsible Medicine. Native America Calling had an inadvertent role in the program’s inception on the Navajo Nation almost two decades ago. It has since expanded beyond the Southwest.

Native Healthy Can Be Tasty

What to eat? This fun 4-minute video was created with and for citizens of the Navajo Nation of all ages. Knowledge about food is powerful, and can be used to…

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Physicians Committee: Native Healthy Can Be Tasty

And did pemmican bread pudding sway the judges who awarded Diné chef Justin Pioche champion of the “Indigenous Inspiration” episode of the Food Network’s “Chopped” cooking competition? Pioche is busy back to work at his Fruitland, New Mexico-based Pioche Food Group business, but is taking time out to reach out to his fans, both new and old, after his high-profile success.

Native Chef Justin Pioche Wins Food Network’s Chopped

Food Network’s first-ever Indigenous-themed Chopped competition brought together four celebrated Native chefs: Justin Piochi (Navajo), Mariah Gladstone (Blac…

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ICT: Native Chef Justin Pioche Wins Food Network’s Chopped

Guests on Native America Calling

Justin Pioche (Diné), chef and owner of Pioche Food Group and James Beard Award Best Chef semi-finalist in 2023

Jenson Yazzie (Diné), photographer

Dr. Josie Howard (Cherokee), psychiatrist

Dr. Neal Barnard, adjunct professor of medicine at the George Washington University School of Medicine in Washington, D.C. and president of the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine