At Poppylist, we’re all about cutting through the clutter and spotlighting the people truly making life better for new parents. That’s why we’re launching a series highlighting innovators who are rethinking what families actually need—and creating smarter, more supportive solutions.

One of those founders is Irene Liu, who co-founded Chiyo, the first-of-its-kind nutrition program for acute conditions in women’s health, designed for modern life. The idea sparked in her mom’s kitchen during the summer of 2020, when she watched her mother prepare traditional Chinese postpartum meals for an aunt recovering from birth. Through carefully designed meal programs for hormonal balance, fertility, early pregnancy, and the vital first 40 days after birth, Chiyo is helping families feel nourished, supported, and seen—one healing meal at a time.

We caught up with Irene to learn more about the inspiration behind Chiyo, her belief in the power of food to heal, and how thoughtful postpartum care can make all the difference for new families.

The Inspiration Behind Chiyo

The inspiration behind Chiyo came during the early days of the COVID pandemic, when Irene watched her aunt navigate the complex and often overwhelming journey of pregnancy and postpartum recovery. She noticed how the symptoms and health needs shifted dramatically at each stage—and was surprised that nutrition wasn’t part of the standard conversation. With a background in healthy food access and her Taiwanese heritage, Irene was familiar with how many other cultures prioritize nutrition as both prevention and healing, especially in postpartum care. It just made sense to her that this should be the case in the U.S., too. What began as a simple postpartum meal delivery pilot serving just 10 mothers in New York City soon evolved as Irene and her team listened closely to their customers’ needs and continuously refined their offerings, focusing less on scaling from the start and more on getting it right for the families they served.

While Chiyo’s approach draws inspiration from East Asian maternal care traditions, it’s really about embracing generational wisdom and tuning into your own intuition. Irene explains, “What I love about more ancient cultures is that your body is thought of holistically—mental and emotional health is integral to and just as important as physical health.” She notes that in today’s world, “being too focused on doing things ‘right’ can create more stress and, as a result, unintended harm that is not good for you or your family.” For Irene and her team, generational wisdom means “going back to the foundations of nourishing your body—a balanced, nutrient-dense, and diverse diet—and recognizing how your body feels and its impact on your mood and energy.” It’s a gentle reminder to honor your whole self during this transformative time.

What Sets Chiyo Apart

A unique nutrition philosophy sets Chiyo apart, carefully designed with hormonal health at its core and adaptable to the changing needs throughout a woman’s health journey. Irene shares, “We’re the first of our kind to build our meal guidelines, program curation, and ingredient sourcing all with hormonal health in mind.” The approach blends inspiration from generational wisdom with modern nutritional science, focusing on real health outcomes at every stage—from cycle regularity in hormone balance programs to improving egg quality in fertility, managing gestational diabetes during prenatal care, and supporting recovery, lactation, and mood in postpartum. Irene emphasizes, “There’s a ton of intention and research behind the scenes that you really can’t compare us to Doordash or any other meal program. If you’re just looking for convenient meal delivery, that’s not our differentiator.”

Making Nutrition Feel Like Care

One thing that has truly surprised Irene and her team is how much their customers connect with the generational wisdom and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) roots behind their approach. As they expanded their offerings across the maternal care spectrum, they initially leaned into clinical messaging—breaking down macros, micros, and specific health outcomes. But Irene realized, “While the science is crucial, what really resonates is the holistic, nurturing vibe.” She explains, “When we get too technical, it can feel overwhelming. So now, we focus on sharing nutrition in fun, easy-to-digest pieces.” For Chiyo, their guiding principle remains helping parents feel that nutrition is less of a chore and more of a comforting, restorative part of their journey.

Advice for the Poppylist Community

When asked what advice she’d give the Poppylist community about caring for themselves through big life transitions, Irene Liu says it starts with a mindset shift: “If you go down, everything else does too. Make the space, take the time, get the help to make sure you are taken care of.” In other words, don’t let your needs fall to the bottom of the list. Liu also emphasizes the importance of trusting your intuition. “You know your body best. It’s great to be empowered with information, but you are in charge.” That might mean getting a second opinion when something doesn’t sit right, or crafting your own definition of what nourishment and wellness look like—for you.

Rituals That Keep Her Grounded

Despite the hustle of running a growing company, Irene turns to small, meaningful routines to stay grounded. “Morning walks with my husband are a non-negotiable,” she says. She also tries to stick to three balanced meals a day—“though I’m not always great at it, which is exactly why I need Chiyo!”

When asked what keeps her inspired as a founder, her answer is simple: “Our community—nothing is better than talking to our customers.” She also finds guidance in the example of other mission-driven companies she admires, like Patagonia, Airbnb, Bobbie, and Blueland. “They remind me of the kind of company I want Chiyo to grow into—purposeful, people-first, and unafraid to challenge the status quo.”

Irene’s Morning Routine in a Word?

Coffee

We’ve loved sharing the story behind Chiyo and introducing Irene Liu to the Poppylist community. Her dedication to reimagining postpartum and perinatal care through the power of food is offering families something truly nourishing—body, mind, and spirit. We’re proud to feature Chiyo’s meal programs in the Poppylist shop as part of our mission to support parents through every stage of the journey.

Want to follow along as Irene and the Chiyo team continue to bring healing, heritage, and heart to maternal wellness? Find them on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok for updates, tips, and a deeper look at food as medicine.