When I started my journey as a therapist, I carried a mix of excitement and uncertainty. I knew why I was here. I wanted to become the kind of person I didn’t have supporting me while growing up. As an Asian American man, therapy wasn’t something we talked about in my community or in my family. There was a strong message, spoken and unspoken: push through, don’t complain, keep the family in mind. Emotions were often seen as distractions, even threats to harmony. So when I first found the language to describe my own internal experience in college, it was like a dam breaking.

Food is everywhere. It’s not just about nutrition or fuel. It’s tied to memory, family, culture, identity, and control. It can be a source of joy, or it can be a place of shame and guilt. For many people, it’s both.