This CEO gave up ultra-processed food. Here’s what happened

Ingenia’s John Carfi says he likes feeling hungry, and so chooses to fast from dinner “until whenever it is I choose to eat”.

Ingenia CEO John Carfi would rather be admired than liked. Louie Douvis

Sally Patten and Martin Peralta

Mar 4, 2025 – 5.00am

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John Carfi, chief executive of Ingenia, a developer of affordable housing for downsizing Baby Boomers, doesn’t eat breakfast and a few years ago he gave up ultra-processed foods and sugar.

“I like the idea of feeling hungry, fasting from dinnertime until whenever it is I choose to eat. I find it gives me a good feeling internally,” the former Lendlease executive tells this week’s 15 Minutes with the BOSS podcast.

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Sally PattenBOSS editorSally Patten edits BOSS, and writes about workplace issues. She was the financial services editor and personal finance editor of the AFR, The Age and the Sydney Morning Herald. She edited business news for The Times of London.