What do you do and how did you get into the industry?
I enjoy food a lot but when I was 17 years old, my passion for food became stronger. Then, I continued my bachelor degree in nutrition and dietetics. From there, I learned a lot about diseases, food, nutrition and management for diseases. I came to realise that I needed to change my lifestyle. And I did! I managed to lose 12 kg’s to be in my normal BMI. From my personal experiences, I was aware that people nowadays need to change their lifestyle to be much healthier. After completing my study, I got into food and beverage industry with this position (nutritionist) because I wanted to create awareness to increase the intake of fruits and vegetables in our everyday diet and living a healthy lifestyle.
Share with us an interesting story from behind the scenes.
La Juiceria logo is actually inspired by cauliflower! Haha we always create ad-hoc promo on the spot and my boss empowers me and trusts me in making decisions. Sometimes it gives me headache but the outcome is satisfying.
What’s the best/ worst part of your job?
I would say the worst part is I tend to sacrifice my personal time for family and myself as I am also involved in marketing and customer service. Of course the worst will be facing all kinds of problems and customers complaints. The best part is when customers say ‘thank you’, especially when they personally send me a thank you email and sometimes, a personalised thank you note! It makes me feel my time and dedication is being appreciated, of course feeling relief that I have used my expertise to help someone out! Answering all kinds of inquiries from customers (I receive a lot of interesting questions every other day) is also the best part of the job! This pushes me to do more research and buck up on my knowledge. In addition, receiving feedback from customers and building a good and healthy long term relationship with them makes me happy too!
What’s your favourite juices in the La Juiceria?
I like all of them! But if I have to choose one, I’m torn between Cilantro Celery Punch and Gold Glow. Both have just the right taste, being not too sweet nor too sour and of course because these ingredients provided benefits of many superfoods. They combine both fruits and vegetables and they are great ingredients such as ginger, celery and turmeric.
What’s one of the craziest things you’ve seen behind the scenes?
I recall one time at one of the malls we are in, we needed to film, but the security guard didn’t allow us to film in our own our shop! Apparently we needed some kind of management approval, which was ridiculous because it was within our store not outside or in public mall space. However, since we were already there we sneakily proceeded with the filming though the security warned us about three times but we try our very best to avoid any suspicion from the security guards who were patrolling the place.
The perfect day off would be…
… no calls, no emails regarding work, a workout in the gym with my favourite songs playing in my ear and having my own time to cook a special healthy balanced meal at home.
A day in the life of a nutritionist is…
Challenging. I need to have much information and a vast knowledge of nutrition at my fingertips because I receive many inquiries daily. At times the questions are beyond my field of nutrition and dietetics which requires me to do some reading and research. Other than that, I need to check and respond to emails to ensure the customers are happy with our products and services.
What do you do for fun?
Workout, do outdoor activities and go on new adventures! And not to forget, treat myself to good food, sometimes! Haha
What’s something you’d like guests to know about La Juiceria?
For our body to function at its best, it needs vital nutrients. La Juiceria provides a convenient way for you to meet those needs. At La Juiceria, we want you to have it all. Our juices are handcrafted and cold-pressed daily, providing you with the option to do a cleanse package or just enjoy individual juices (instead of vitamins or dietary supplements). Oh and yeah, our juices are raw, unpasteurised, no chemicals, additives or preservatives added! So it is like eating fruits and vegetables in their natural state! It is safe to consume for all ages. It is really yummy and healthy!
What’s your favourite (s) food and wine pairing?
Sorry I don’t consume alcohol. Instead, I’ll replace wine with juice and pair it with anything! Our cold-pressed juices is good with anything and everything. I love food and juices!
What’s your view on the food scene in Kuala Lumpur?
I must say, there is a great amount and variety of street food. You can get any type of food nearly anywhere and anytime, at your convenience and preference! That is why Kuala Lumpur is known as a food haven! All food is good but I wish people were more aware about food, lifestyle and physical activities.
What’s in store for you in the upcoming months?
For me? I’ll be focusing on launching a brand new ‘eat clean programme’ as an alternative to our famous juice cleanse. Stay tuned! In the meantime, check out some of the new items we have added on the menu at our healthy cafes: Goodness Greens Café and La Juiceria Superfoods!
Check out some delicious and nutritious dishes from La Juiceria Superfoods here.
What a lovely person, both inside and out, Monica! Great interview, thank you so much for sharing, and I love juices!