Eat Well For Less viewers became emotional last night, as Gregg Wallace and Chris Bavin helped a family of five in Belfast.
Those watching from home found themselves getting tearful, as the BBC show introduced widower Steve Carter who is bringing up his four children alone after the tragic death of his wife.
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Steve’s wife Denise died of a fatal brain haemorrhage just seconds after giving birth to their fourth child – leaving Steve a grieving single parent and their four children without a mum.
Looking back on the devastating event nine years ago, Steve now reflects: “I don’t know how I got through it. I just thought of the kids and focused on them.”
After giving up his job as a bank manager to look after the kids, Steve – now a part-time lollipop man – has to cater for four kids ranging from 16 years down to nine, all with very different food needs…
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Gregg and Chris attempted to help him cut the cost of the weekly shop from £140 to closer to the national average.
And, more importantly, they wanted everyone to eat more fruit and veg!
But the family were stuck in a food rut, eating convenience food, avoiding vegetables, filling up on snacks and buying expensive protein drinks.
With the help of dietitian Priya Tew, the family reinvented their food habits and saved money in the process, and viewers backed them every step of the way after their tragedy.
His wife died, he gave up his job as a bank manager to bring up his 4 kids, he works as a part time lollipop man, and he wants to #eatwellforless to save money and improve the family diet. The kids are a total credit to him. His wife would be so proud. I'm not crying. Ok, I am.
— David K Smith (@professor_dave) June 26, 2019
Wow. If a family ever needed help it's this one. There won't be any judgement from me and neither should there be from anyone #eatwellforless
— G1llyW1lly (@GillHayward1) June 26, 2019
Can we just have this family on every week? So positive so open to change and an absolute credit to the wife and mother they lost #eatwellforless
— G1llyW1lly (@GillHayward1) June 26, 2019
This is without doubt the most deserving family ever. Widower Steve trying to feed himself and 4 kids on a part time wage. Time to deliver boys #eatwellforless
— G1llyW1lly (@GillHayward1) June 26, 2019
From bank manager to lolly pop man so he can be at home to bring up the kids – bless.
Seems like a family who actually need help and don’t have a disposable income for a change. #EatWellForLess— H; (@helen_a15) June 26, 2019
9 mins into #EatWellforLess and I'm in bits. Hats off to Steve
— MsP (@Ms_SMP) June 26, 2019
The family on #eatwellforless what an amazing dad
— Alex (@Alisafc2017) June 26, 2019
#eatwellforless has always been my guilty pleasure but this episode is just making me cry. What a great dad
— Meera (@Meeraat) June 26, 2019
One wrote: “His wife died, he gave up his job as a bank manager to bring up his four kids, he works as a part time lollipop man, and he wants to #eatwellforless to save money and improve the family diet. The kids are a total credit to him. His wife would be so proud. I’m not crying. Okay, I am.”
Another said: “Nine minutes into #EatWellforLess and I’m in bits. Hats off to Steve.”
A third added: “Eat Well for Less has always been my guilty pleasure, but this episode is just making me cry. What a great dad.”
“Would love to meet the dad from #EatWellforLess and give him a big man hug, then buy him a beer. Then give him another hug. What amazing children he’s raised,” gushed one more.
Others begged the show to focus on more deserving households like the Carters in future, and also requested a catch up episode with the family later this year!
Did you watch the Carters on Eat Well for Less? Leave us a comment on our Facebook page @EntertainmentDailyFix and let us know what you think!