Mae Carter did not begin her family’s revamp of their eating patterns with constraints in mind. She begins with love. “I wanted our food to represent how much I cared—not just about nutrition, but also about our time together,” she says.
For Mae, clean eating was not about eliminating all her children enjoyed. It was about learning a rhythm fit for their hectic schedule without compromising their health.
She started to think imaginatively after giving up attempting to push kale chips on her young children. Could one create tacos with actual, fresh ingredients? Could spaghetti night incorporate more veggies without running into objections? She discovered the answer was indeed yes.
Her philosophy was not based on perfection. There were days when leftovers or even takeaway dominated. But most evenings she sought for basic, well balanced meals. Her children grew used over time. They began identifying veggies that earlier made them moan and started requesting the “good rice,” brown with seasonings.
Mae thanks the change to consistency, patience, and inclusiveness. Even if it was only stirring or cleaning fruit, her children frequently assisted with preparation. Her boyfriend also started learning to prepare meals he had earlier placed totally under her control.
Mae most found surprising was level of connection at the table, not how good their meals turned out. “Clean eating drew us closer,” she notes. “NOT because the food was perfect, but because the process was ours.”
