11 Questions With … Blue Goji CEO Coleman Fung
Editor’s Note: 11 Questions with … is a regular series profiling some of our favorite bloggers, athletes, celebrities and real moms and dads.
Coleman Fung is the co-founder and CEO of Blue Goji, which was founded in late 2011 with the purpose of helping people develop healthier habits. He is also the sponsor of a unique collaboration between UC Berkeley School of Public Health, the Fung Institute for Engineering Leadership, the Coleman Fung Foundation, and Blue Goji: the Fung Fellowship for Wellness and Technology Innovations, a two-year pilot program open to undergraduates of all majors. Under the program, the Fellows design and develop health and wellness solutions for at-risk youth, veterans and seniors, including the Active Learning Enhancements for Blue Goji’s new VR games.
With it’s flagship project Goji Play, Blue Goji has been able to gamify exercise with fun and engaging games that make you move. Recently, Blue Goji has added new Virtual Reality (VR) games that can fully engage the player’s cardio motion into the game play – uniting your body and mind in an unprecedented, immersive way!
If you were stranded on a deserted island, and only one vegetable grew on that island, what vegetable would you want it to be? Technically not a vegetable, but still nutritious: mushrooms! There are so many kinds and they can be eaten raw or can be cooked in many different ways, so I’d never get bored of the flavors.
What is your healthiest habit? I meditate often to calm myself and to keep stress at bay. Thinking too much is not good for you!
What is your go-to nutritious breakfast? A simple bowl of oatmeal and a slice of toasted multi-grain bread with almond butter and a dash of honey is my delicious breakfast to start the day.
What are the 3 items that are always in your fridge/pantry? I always have some quinoa, mushroom, and baby kale on hand.
What is your favorite workout? Swimming 3 ½ laps at the Barton Springs pool (that’s a mile or longer if I zigzag too much) every other day whenever I am home in Austin. The natural spring water temperature is always 68 degrees; I can swim there even in the winter — without a wetsuit. The coldest day I swam was about 38 degrees!
Who is your fitness hero? I really admire Serena Williams. She is a great role model for children everywhere.
How do you take your water – sparkling, flat, over ice? Flat over ice, nice and cold!
What is your guilty pleasure? Dark chocolate! Or a (small) vegan scone from a cafe called Steeping Room.
What is your healthy eating philosophy? I am vegan at home and pescatarian when I go out. I also try to eat local: the fresher, the better! Luckily, it’s easy to be a vegan or a pescatarian eating local and organic in Austin.
What is your go-to nutritious family dinner dish? I love making my own concoction of fresh “baby” vegetables, brown rice and quinoa mix and some type of organic beans or tofu cooked with lots of mushroom — in the end I would toss them together with one of my favorite sauces such as a vegan pesto sauce! If I am in a hurry, I would substitute the brown rice and quinoa mix with some al dente whole wheat pasta.
What is the best health advice you’ve ever received? Always get a good night’s sleep.