Ada Hunt Whitehouse (born 1898 in Ridott, Illinois) graduated with a degree in nutrition from the University of Illinois in 1918. That same year she went to France to serve as a dietitian in a military hospital. Following World War I, Ada joined the staff of the Nutrition Department of the University of Illinois.

In 1922 Ada Hunt came to East Lansing, Michigan, where her two sisters (Clara Hunt Vedder and Agnes Hunt Cade) already lived with their husbands. Both of Ada's sisters were married to faculty members of the Michigan Agricultural College. Ada soon decided to start a restaurant with her sister, Clara. The sisters set up business in a building on Grand River Avenue just across from the University Union. This restaurant soon became a favorite luncheon spot for the University faculty. The original building quickly proved to be too small and the sisters were forced to move their business next door. The first floor of the restaurant could seat one hundred and twenty-five people and the second floor had banquet facilities for another hundred. There was additional room for stocked baked goods that could be taken home. The sisters also provided a catering service for the community. The Hunt Food Shop employed several people and some of them eventually became junior partners in the business.

In 1929 Ada married W. R. Whitehouse, a cashier at the Hunt Food Shop. They lived together until his death in 1944. This year also witnessed the closing of the Hunt sisters' business. Following the closing of the Hunt Food Shop, Ada continued to live in East Lansing.