Judice Gu

“Trust your ancestors’ wisdom, you are what you eat.” These are the words my family reminded me of every time we ate together. Destiny has guided me to explore healthy food solutions rooted in traditional culinary cultures worldwide, beginning with China.

I first recognized the importance of diet and lifestyle in high school when I faced an eating disorder caused by a strict diet. Many other girls at my high school faced the same challenges.

“We need a solution! We need guilt-free yet delicious food concepts and products.” I thought.

This aspiration led me to attend business school in college, where I gained skills for future entrepreneurship while gaining access to case studies in the food industry.

After graduating, I began working as a strategy consultant, focusing on the food and beverage sector. I advised clients from various areas, including pre-prepared food, craft and bottled beer, baby formula, health supplements, and more. My services ranged from market entry planning to strategic planning, product and menu optimization, and more.

The concept of food as medicine in Chinese traditional dietary culture has had a profound impact on me. My mother would incorporate diverse grains into porridge when I had stomach discomfort, brew Pu'er tea after indulgent meals, and enrich chicken soup with red dates, among other practices. These dietary adjustments positively impacted both my body and mind.

Now, as I pursue my master’s degree in food studies at NYU, I’m eager to explore different ingredients and nutritious recipes from around the world. My goal is to apply the concept of Chinese food as medicine to different culinary traditions.