Vera Prokopieva, a nutrition scientist from Bulgaria, brings a unique perspective to the study of food, informed by her experience as an anthropologist, a cook in Copenhagen, and a researcher at Stanford University. Her work at Stanford focuses on clinical trials of food as medicine and the impact of fermented foods on the gut microbiome. Prokopieva notes that Albania is currently experiencing dietary changes similar to those previously seen in Bulgaria, including rising obesity rates and the introduction of new weight-loss drugs. She highlights that much of current nutritional knowledge stems from Western population studies, suggesting a need for focused research in the Balkans. Her insights aim to apply nutrition science effectively within the region. The expert was interviewed regarding the significance of nutrition science and its application to the unique context of the Balkans.