Nutrition chef Alay Bowker's goal is simple: to create delicious food that leaves you feeling good. Continuously learning and describing herself as a perpetual student of the culinary arts, it's no surprise that her infectious dedication and love for food have garnered her a substantial following on social media.
From her upbringing in the town of Schitt's Creek (quite literally – the town outside Toronto where the show was filmed in), to attending Le Cordon Bleu cooking school in Paris, she now has made her way to sunny Los Angeles, working for individual clients that range from top models to actors. For Bowker, her culinary odyssey began with childhood curiosity and has evolved into a mission to empower individuals through personalised approaches to food, firmly believing in the adage that "food is medicine".
Bowker advocates for a holistic culinary philosophy that transcends passing fads, instead embracing sustainable practices and cherishing the pleasure of high-quality ingredients tailored to each person's unique needs. Drawing upon her recent experience attending Le Cordon Bleu cooking school, she discerns the nuanced differences between the Parisian respect for fine cuisine and the dynamic wellness landscape of Los Angeles.
Below we speak with Bowker on how she developed her passion for nutrition, that has propelled her to the pinnacle of her career, while providing insight into her current and next projects.
Tell me about your career as a Nutrition Chef and how you got there?
I was raised by my mum, along with my sister, and I inherited my mum’s love for cooking early on. As a kid, I would spend hours watching cooking shows and trying to recreate the dishes, often making multi-course dinners for my family. I remember watching the documentary Super Size Me with my mum when I was about 12, which sparked my interest in how food affects our health, both mentally and physically. I dove into various documentaries and spent hours at the library learning everything I could. I even consolidated this information and gave presentations to my elementary school class to share what I was learning.
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What motivates you to share your knowledge and experiences with social media?
It’s absolutely crazy to me how much you can impact someone else’s life without ever meeting them in person. Social media is so powerful. The thought that I could help someone and potentially guide them through a difficult time is what motivates me to share on social media. When I was in the beginning of my wellness journey I would search the internet for answers, finding none or looking in the wrong places. What I typically share on social media is driven by what I was once looking for, hoping to help anyone else on a similar journey.
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Can you talk about how you develop a nutrition plan with a client?
Doing what I do, I’ve been able to work with some really cool people ranging from professional athletes, to top models and award-winning actors. As well as their incredible medical teams, in which we dive into deeper levels of understanding their health. Using things like insightful blood tests, hormone testing, and so on.
Nutrition should be highly customised, varying from person to person due to a multitude of factors that influence individual dietary needs and responses to different foods. These factors include genetic makeup, how our bodies metabolise nutrients and respond to different diets. Additionally, age, gender, and activity level play crucial roles in determining nutritional requirements. Health conditions like allergies and intolerances further necessitate personalised dietary adjustments.
Lifestyle choices like stress levels, sleep patterns, and physical activity also impact nutritional needs. Cultural background and personal preferences influence dietary habits and food choices, making nutrition a deeply personal matter. Furthermore, individual goals, such as weight loss, muscle gain, or managing a specific health condition require tailored dietary plans. This intricate interplay of biological, lifestyle and personal factors underscores the need for a customized approach to nutrition, ensuring that each person can achieve optimal health and well being.
Can you tell us about your Paris Le Cordon Bleu cooking school experience. Have you found a difference between Paris and LA as a city for health and nutrition in youth culture?
I came to Paris to study at Cordon Bleu culinary school, and it was one of the most impactful experiences I’ve ever had. I came with the intention to get a deeper insight into the discipline of cooking and the level of professionality. My experience was incredible and intense, fundamentally transforming my approach to cooking. Having been self-taught, I initially found the structured environment challenging yet profoundly rewarding.
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The rigorous curriculum demanded a high level of discipline, precision, and dedication, pushing me to refind my skills and techniques far beyond my previous capabilities. The professional atmosphere at Le Cordon Bleu instilled in me a deep respect for culinary traditions and the importance of meticulous attention to detail. This experience not only honed my technical skills but also elevated my understanding of kitchen professionalism, teamwork, and the relentless pursuit of culinary excellence. I am beyond excited to take these new skills and combine them with my nutrition focused approach to cooking, and start recipe testing for clients of mine.
The comparison between Paris and LA is so interesting, both cities have such different approaches to health and wellness. In Paris, there is a strong cultural emphasis on enjoying balanced, high-quality meals. The French approach to nutrition values moderation, seasonal produce, and the social aspect of dining – fostering a mindful eating culture that encourages savouring meals without excess. Youth in Paris often inherit these attitudes, viewing food as a pleasure to be enjoyed with attention to balance and intuitive eating.
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Meanwhile, Los Angeles embodies a health-conscious, trend-driven mindset that prioritizes innovation in nutrition and fitness. Los Angeles youth culture is heavily influenced by wellness trends, superfoods, and specialized diets. Fitness culture in LA is pervasive, with a significant focus on diverse physical activities like yoga, hiking, and boutique fitness classes. This results in a proactive approach to health, where movement and nutrition are integral parts of one’s daily routines, driven by a desire for optimal health and aesthetic goals.
Both cities prioritise health, just in different ways. Paris tends to lean towards traditional, balanced practices, whereas Los Angeles is characterised by its dynamic, trend-focused approach to wellness.
What will you take from Paris back to your work/clients in LA?
I’ve always adored the Parisian lifestyle and profound appreciation for balance, quality, and mindful eating – spending time in Paris this time around has reaffirmed these beliefs. I plan to remind my clients of this appreciation and approach to nutrition and food, encouraging them to adopt a more holistic approach to nutrition that focuses on the joy of eating well without excess. Rather than focusing on the health-conscious trends that come and go in Los Angeles, I aim to offer my clients a well-rounded and sustainable path to wellness focused on what works best for them and allows them to feel like their best self.
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What are you currently working on that you're excited to share with your audience?
I’ve been working on a lot of exciting projects that I haven’t shared with my audience just yet, including my nutrition and meal prep services in Los Angeles to a nutrient-dense product I’ve been working on for the past year and a half. I’m excited to share more of my life and work outside of social media, the things I’ve been working on day to day that I haven’t yet shared with my community. Lots of things to come.
