About this podcast
The Food Chain examines the business, science and cultural significance of food, and what it takes to put food on your plate.
Episodes
The newest 50 of 565 episodes
- Why is food so expensive? · 26 minIn Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Joanne Kwan is looking for a bargain at her local night market. She's finding that since the pandemic, the cost of food has been increasingly taking up…
- Why are people talking about food noise? · 26 minThe term 'food noise' has been used by some to describe thoughts about food that are unwelcome and intrusive. People who have used weight-loss medication have reported that the…
- The joy (and pain) of sharing food · 26 minDo you love to share food with friends and family? Or resent handing over even one french fry from your plate? Sharing food has a long and proud tradition in some cultures and is…
- How to eat well when travelling for work · 26 minWhat does a life on tour do to a stand-up comedian's eating habits? And how do you stay healthy if half of your working life is spent travelling? Ruth Alexander finds out. If you…
- Why do I feel hungry? · 26 minAre you hungry? How often do you stop to think about why that is and what sort of foods you are hungry for? In this programme Ruth Alexander explores the science of appetite –…
- How to eat for success on weight-loss drugs · 26 minWeight-loss medication, or GLP-1s as they are also known, are designed to suppress your appetite - so how do you make every mouthful count? Ruth Alexander looks into what happens…
- Culture shock · 26 minImagine not recognising the food in the shops, markets and restaurants around you. Moving to a new country to live and work can come with some culture shocks and food can be a…
- Is a healthy diet more expensive? · 26 minIs it more expensive to eat healthily? You might think the answer is simple: Yes of course, if you buy fruits, vegetables, beans and pulses and cook from scratch. But is it that…
- What do chefs eat? · 26 minEver wondered what the chef is eating? Snacking on the finest produce or surviving on thin air and caffeine? In this episode Ruth Alexander speaks to three chefs about how they…
- The regulars · 26 minDo you have a local cafe, restaurant or bar that you go to all the time? Maybe the staff recognise you or know you by name, perhaps you even get special treatment. In this…
- Leaving home · 26 minMoving out of the family home can be a big first step at whatever age you do it. Paying bills, budgeting, shopping, and importantly cooking for yourself. In this programme…
- What can food tell us about the past? · 26 minWhat can food reveal about the people who came before us? From ancient meals and family recipes to the chemical traces left behind in bones and teeth, food offers remarkable…
- Should I cut down on carbs? · 26 minHave you ever asked yourself: should I do Keto? Is white rice good for me? Am I eating too many carbohydrates? If so, then this episode of The Food Chain is for you…
- When should I eat my evening meal? · 26 minWhen should you eat your evening meal? Is it really better to eat earlier, or does it depend on when you go to bed? And if you do have to eat late, is there anything you can do…
- The rise of eating alone · 26 minListener Melanie wrote into The Food Chain to ask us to make a programme about the rising numbers of people who eat alone. She told us she often dines solo and sometimes finds…
- What do World Cup footballers eat? · 26 minElite footballers are among the world's most finely tuned athletes. Every meal is carefully planned to fuel training, maximise recovery and prepare for the next match. But it…
- How to order a restaurant meal like a pro · 26 minWith dining out becoming an increasingly expensive luxury, we find out how to order the perfect restaurant meal with top tips from a panel of seasoned pros. The Irish Times food…
- What to eat for a better night's sleep · 26 minMany of us have our own theories about sleep. Perhaps it's avoiding coffee after lunch, drinking chamomile tea before bed, or having a warm glass of milk. But what does the…
- Why do we love smoky flavours so much? · 26 minThe history of smoking foods stretches back many years, but when did what began purely for preservation become a highly sought-after flavour? In this episode of The Food Chain…
- Can music change the way food tastes? · 26 minMusic is part of the backdrop to millions of meals every day. But what if it is doing more than simply creating atmosphere? In this episode of The Food Chain, Rumella Dasgupta…
- Can I save the family restaurant? · 26 minRunning a restaurant is hard. Long hours, tight margins and constant stress. In this week's programme Rumella Dasgupta travels to Edinburgh, Scotland, to meet Lisa He and her mum…
- The business of food tours · 26 minFood tours are becoming one of the fastest-growing parts of the travel industry, with tourists increasingly choosing to explore cities and cultures through what they eat. In this…
- The craft of the cocktail · 26 minMaking cocktails isn't just about flair - bottles spinning through the air as the bartender puts on a show. It's about precision, perfectionism and people skills. Ruth Alexander…
- How to meal prep like a pro · 26 minMeal prepping is supposed to save us time, money and stress. It is a huge trend on social media, but how can we make it work in our own real, messy lives? Ruth Alexander meets…
- Don't underestimate the potato · 26 minPotatoes are having a moment. Once dismissed as dull, stodgy or even unhealthy, they’re now back, appearing on restaurant menus, in food magazines and across social media feeds…
- The food writers · 26 minEver wondered how anyone gets a job writing about food? Ruth Alexander talks to Melissa Clark, recipe columnist and newsletter host for the New York Times; Laura Rowe food…
- Can we eat for exam success? · 26 minIt's exam season in many parts of the world and with her own daughter studying hard, Rumella Dasgupta began wondering how much food matters during this difficult and stressful…
- How to eat more fibre and why you should! · 26 minFood Chain presenter Ruth Alexander was confident that she was eating a healthy diet, in particular, a diet that included enough fibre. But it turns out, like many of us, her…
- So you think you can't cook? · 26 minMany people feel they can’t cook, or don’t know where to start. Studies suggest that in some countries, fewer people are preparing meals from scratch, and a lack of confidence in…
- Is kitchen culture changing? · 26 minIs the culture of professional kitchens shifting? In recent weeks, one of the restaurant world’s most influential figures stepped down amid allegations about his conduct at work…
- How to have a stress-free family meal · 26 minAre your family meals calm and connected? Or have they become dominated by battles with fussy kids or awkward teens? Mum-of-one Ruth Alexander gets advice from experts who share…
- What to eat to run a marathon · 26 minWhat should runners should eat to train for, and complete, a marathon? With major races like the London and Boston marathons approaching, more people than ever are taking on the…
- Following my food dream · 26 minRuth Alexander meets three people who gave up well-paid, high-flying careers to start all over again in the world of food. Nisha Katona left a career as a child protection…
- The story of the sandwich · 26 minShattering the myth of its aristocratic origins and exploring some of the boldest creations; Ruth Alexander finds out about the history, culture and family ties wrapped up in the…
- Small kitchens · 26 minFrom Michelin starred kitchens to Hong Kong’s high rise tower blocks, via informal settlements in the Kenyan capital Nairobi. Ruth Alexander hears from people making the best out…
- The risk takers · 26 minEvery food company starts with a gamble - and not all of them pay off. In this episode Ruth Alexander speaks to business owners about the risks they’ve taken to get where they…
- How to write a recipe · 27 minWe all have recipes we turn to again and again, perhaps from the stained pages of our favourite cookbooks, or handed down through families. But have you ever wondered about the…
- Can you learn to love the foods you hate? · 26 minMost of us have foods we refuse to eat - think coriander, or maybe olives. But where do those strong dislikes come from, and is it possible to change them? In this episode of The…
- Fermented foods: A beginner's guide · 31 minFermented foods are fashionable – kimchi, kefir, kombucha – they're all having a moment, many thousands of years on from where they were first produced. But how much do you know…
- Dinner unboxed · 26 minMeal kits have become a familiar part of food shopping in many countries, offering pre-portioned ingredients and recipes delivered to the door. But how widespread are they, and…
- Should we all eat the Mediterranean way? · 26 minThe Mediterranean diet is rich in vegetables, pulses and olive oil and traditionally includes small amounts of fish and very little red meat. Thousands of studies back its health…
- Tweaks for 2026: How to eat better · 26 minRuth Alexander gathers the most useful, actionable nutrition advice from our episodes of 2025 to help set you up for 2026. Things like how to nourish your brain, keep an eye on…
- Family ties · 26 minFood is at the centre of family life – on ordinary days, in the everyday rush, during the dramas, and the quieter moments too. In this episode, Ruth Alexander looks back at some…
- What is the ultimate hangover cure? · 26 minWith the festive season approaching in parts of the world, Ruth Alexander explores what’s actually happening in the body during a hangover, why some people suffer more than…
- Food heroes and villains · 26 min***This programme contains conversations about disordered eating which some listeners may find upsetting*** Social media is awash with nutritional misinformation with foods often…
- How to eat well in the cold · 26 minHow do you eat well in freezing the cold? When you live in some of the coldest places on earth, what you eat, and how much, really matters. Ruth Alexander hears advice from a…
- To tip or not to tip? · 26 minRuth Alexander explores the art and etiquette of tipping and how it varies around the world. She hears from staff and customers in countries where tipping is essential and in…
- The servers: The highs and lows of waiting on tables · 26 minWhat are the highs and lows of waiting on tables? Ruth Alexander speaks to restaurateurs from London, New York and Mumbai to find out about the inner workings of one of the…
- Food by drones? · 31 minFrom pizza delivery to emergency aid, are autonomous aircraft the future? Ruth Alexander looks into whether drones are a feasible alternative to delivery drivers and traditional…
- Turmeric: The golden spice · 26 minTurmeric has been revered for thousands of years, not just for its mellow taste but for its golden colour and its supposed health giving properties. Rumella Dasgupta looks at its…
