Ari Katz, M.D., isn't your average doctor. When he’s not treating patients at Banner Peak Health, you'll probably find him doing something active, like camping with his three young boys, jamming on the drums, or patiently persuading a picky kid that broccoli isn’t the enemy.
For Katz, nutrition isn’t just part of leading a healthy lifestyle. It comes first and is a non-negotiable medicine.
"Most doctors don't get much nutrition training," he admits, while championing a simple truth. "We need to focus on nutrition because it's just that important."
This kind of thinking has shaped his practice at Banner Peak Health, where he focuses on what he believes are the four pillars of health: nutrition, exercise, sleep, and stress management.
He teaches his patients to think differently. "Let's say you had an exotic sports car. You wouldn't just put in unleaded fuel," he says.
The problem for most people? The SAD diet – standard American diet.
"It is just not good for you. Period,” he says. “It’s very low in fiber and high in ultra-processed foods."
His solution focuses on plants. "We need to consume a lot,” he says. “That's what our gut bacteria want us to do."
It's this transformation - from seeing food as fuel rather than just flavor - that drives his work.
Katz says people who prepare their own food and control what goes in it start having a different relationship with food.
“Your palate changes,” he says.
At home, mealtime with the family involves experimentation. Take the Great Broccoli Standoff with his oldest son, who would “literally just take it, look at it, and chuck it across the room," says Katz.
But weeks of persistence paid off.
"One day, he took a bite. It's like, ‘this stuff is good,’" he chuckled.
With repetition, the lessons stick. "My kids know that when they eat protein, it helps them build muscle and get them stronger," he says.
So what’s his strategy for getting kids to eat healthy?
"Never force it,” Katz says. “Just keep serving the good stuff."
He applies the same patience to fellow patients. His wellness philosophy rejects extremes.
"Start low and go slow,” he says. “Your body's just not used to it."
Katz cuts through the noise of fad diets and quick fixes with a reframing of how to think about wellness.
"If exercise and nutrition were combined into a pill, it would far and away be the most potent drug on the planet," he said.
But he's no purist.
P"Let's shoot for 90% good,” he says. “That other 10%? When you're at that fancy burger shop, have at it."
Whether convincing a child to try vegetables or explaining gut health to adults, Katz’s message remains consistent: small, sustainable changes create lasting health.
The problem for most people? "The SAD diet – standard American diet. "It is just not good for you. Period,” he says. “It’s very low in fiber and high in ultra-processed foods."