Dr. J will kick off with insights on how Lifestyle Medicine EMPOWERS you to optimize health and wellness. Dr. J will show how plant-based nutrition supports women’s health by boosting energy, easing arthritis, strengthening bones and managing weight.

Next, Mei brings these principles to life in the kitchen with a live cooking demo using the Essential, Accessible, Sustainable and Enjoyable (EASE) approach. She’ll transform everyday ingredients into healing, joyful meals that are simple to prepare and share. Together, Dr. J and Mei will bridge the gap between prescribing produce and creating delicious, doable recipes that nourish from the inside out.

Learning Objectives:

1. Understand the foundational principles of Lifestyle Medicine and its role in whole-person health and wellness.
2. Identify how a whole food, plant-based, nutrition-forward lifestyle can support arthritis, bone health, energy levels and weight management.
3. Apply the concept of “Produce Prescription” and “Food as Medicine” using the EASE framework: Essential, Accessible, Sustainable and Enjoyable.
4. Gain practical cooking tips and simple recipes that integrate healing foods into everyday family meals.
5. Connect the dots between clinical recommendations and real-life kitchen practices—from garden to table.

Bios

Mei Liu is the founder of Lotus Health Foundation and CFO of Rochester Clinic. With degrees in Health Care Administration and Business, she champions lifestyle medicine to prevent chronic disease and promote health equity. Mei introduced CHIP to Rochester in 2015 and founded Lotus to expand community wellness. She leads healthy “Happy Meal” cooking at Ronald McDonald House and co-hosts health talks and demos with Dr. Jengyu Lai at 125 LIVE and on Midwest Access. Through the FarmacyRx Community Garden, she brings Food as Medicine and produce prescriptions to life, empowering others to live healthier, more vibrant lives.

Dr. Lai is passionate about applying a whole-person, lifestyle medicine approach in his patient care. He is a certified physician wound specialist of the Council for Medical Education and Training and a Diplomate of the American Board of Lifestyle Medicine. Beside medical care, he helps promote community wellness through Lotus Health Foundation, a non-profit organization founded by his wife, Mei Liu.

Full Biography

Mei Liu is the founder of Lotus Health Foundation and Chief Financial Officer of Rochester Clinic. She holds a Master’s degree in Health Care Administration from Des Moines University and an MBA from Drake University. A passionate advocate for lifestyle medicine, Mei believes it is the most effective strategy to reduce chronic disease and address a global crisis affecting human health, financial systems, and the environment.

As a certified facilitator of the Complete Health Improvement Program (CHIP), Mei and the Rochester Clinic physician team introduced this evidence-based lifestyle medicine program to the Rochester community in 2015. After witnessing life-changing results in over 100 CHIP participants, Mei recognized a broader need for lifestyle interventions and founded Lotus Health Foundation—the nonprofit arm of Rochester Clinic—in 2016.

Mei transforms her passion for cooking into practical healing by leading volunteer group cooking sessions at the Ronald McDonald House, preparing healthy “Happy Meals” as part of their monthly House Meal Program. She also teams up with Dr. Jengyu Lai to deliver regular health talks and cooking demonstrations at 125 LIVE and on Midwest Access by KTTC, making lifestyle medicine accessible and engaging for the broader community.

She actively promotes the concept of Food as Medicine and applies Produce Prescription programs through the FarmacyRx Community Garden—a central hub for practicing lifestyle medicine. This garden initiative connects people with fresh, local produce and empowers them to take charge of their health through hands-on learning and community engagement.

Mei believes healthcare providers should lead by example and promote healthy lifestyles centered on nutrient-dense, plant-based whole foods. “If I am able to save one person’s life, that person may turn around to save a community,” she says. “Together, we can make this a healthy world for us and for our next generation.”

Deeply committed to health equity, Mei is actively involved in outreach to underserved neighborhoods and collaborates with local businesses and partners to expand wellness initiatives across the region. Outside of her professional work, Mei enjoys cooking and gardening.

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