WhozYourMama

How Intention Turns Food Into a Tool for Health, Creativity, and Service

• Michelle Kreft

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What if the way you plate dinner could rewire the way your family thinks, feels, and shows up for the world? Chef Keven Lee joins us to explore how intention transforms everyday meals into tools for health, creativity, and community. He traces his culinary identity back to a home alive with art and hospitality—a sculptor father, a nurturing mother, and a childhood where food was both ritual and play. From New York and Switzerland training to launching brands in caviar and coffee, Keven shows how artistry and service can live on the same plate.

We get practical about feeding kids without friction. Start with one ingredient they love and build from there. Freeze extra fruit for smoothies, fold in spinach without secrets, and narrate flavors so children learn sweet, sour, salty, bitter, and fresh as a kind of tasting literacy. We talk cravings and balance—when you’re reaching for sugar, ask whether the body really needs food, movement, water, or rest. Budget-wise, Keven points to staples like rice, beans, eggs, frozen vegetables, and canned fish, then layers flavor with citrus, herbs, and texture to make simple food feel special.

The conversation turns outward to community. During the LA fires, Keven borrowed a pupusa truck, tapped food bank relationships, and moved surplus dry goods into the hands that needed them most. The blueprint is simple and repeatable: use what you have—time, tools, networks—and involve your kids so generosity becomes a family habit. We close on mindset: become it from within. When you cultivate internal wealth—discipline, gratitude, curiosity—healthier choices and real-world impact follow. Subscribe, share with a friend who loves food and service, and leave a review telling us one small action you’ll take this week.

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Speaker:

Welcome to WhozYourMama, a podcast focusing on tomorrow's future, which are our kids, educators, teachers, parents, all-encompassing with the goal of understanding that our brain is a muscle that we can exercise to control the speed in the direction that we want. Let's go, y'all. The time is now. Kevin Lee, also known around the world as Chevin. Welcome to Who's Your Mama?

Speaker 1:

Good morning, good morning. Top of the morning.

Speaker:

Top of the morning. Happy to be alive.

Speaker 1:

Oh, every breath. Every breath is a reminder of uh where I'm going. So yeah.

Speaker:

Absolutely. Minute by minute, sometimes hour by hour, day by day.

Speaker 1:

Oh God, back it up. Percentage of seconds.

unknown:

Right.

Speaker:

Well, so um I was thrilled to to when you said you would come on here. You and I met a few years ago, and we bonded over a handful of things. Initially, it was laughter, which you and I agree is therapy for the soul. Yes. And and also a community mindset thinking outside of just ourselves. And it's always a gift when you meet people like that in life. And a lot of that has, and we're both single parents. You have a son and a daughter, and I have a daughter. And so I think sometimes that comes with the mindfulness as well, or you would you would like to think. And so I definitely want to get into you know what you have and are and continue to do in the community because it's a big part of sharing on who's your mama. But before we get into that, um, you have your hands in many creative areas, uh, one of which is very well known as a successful chef around the world. You you studied in New York and Switzerland. You also have CLK events and and your brands. But before we go into some of the other things, what would um how would you describe what originally inspired you and and motivates you to continue staying in in the culinary space?

Speaker 1:

Well, first of all, thank you, Michelle. Um, I appreciate it. You know, the uh the uh reflection on uh how we met, of course, you know, in uh in atmospheres that were uh extremely chaotic, but yet you find that moment to just have that moment to uh uh bond and like reflect on what's going on from the outside, from the inside, and just chuckle and laugh because that's actually what we did. We won't we won't throw some names around nor nor uh advertise the locations, but that was pretty that was pretty uh that was pretty fun. That was uh that was a collision.

Speaker:

Little like gifts that are big.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, that was a collision. That was fun. And and here we are today. Um so yeah, CKL events, Chef Kevin Lee events, uh I've got a caviar brand now um with uh uh vibe caviar, taste the vibe, um, you know, slogans such as addicted to the vibe, vibe caviar, and my new one coming out, uh Legal Kilos. Uh so I'm super excited about that. Um, you know, you know, the the brands continue on. I got coffee, thrive, sip the drip, and uh the final touch evouch by Chevin. You know, they're all self-expression, you know. Um I'm I I was inspired, you know, a lot of chefs will say, oh, you know, uh my mother, I grew up, you know, my mother cooked for me, or my grandmother cooked for me. These are all true. These are all true. But there's one person that I will say, and it it brings the immediate emotional uh forefront right now to me, is the artistry of my father. And my father was and always will be, even in his uh, you know, now passed on, uh an amazing world-renowned master, artist, sculptor, uh, creator, uh visionary. And um uh with that, I have found a in Spanish we would say uh a we, but in Spanish you would say puenta, una puenta. And and and that's a bridge. And the bridge that I have found and created with the uh nurturing uh uh gifts from my mother being raised in a in a home with plentiful of food and care uh and and and cuisine and the diversity and the creativity and the hospital, hospitable uh uh nature of throwing parties at our on our yachts and at the house, holiday time, to the artistry of my father and the creativity has uh really allowed me to embrace all of that and say, hey, you know, I really enjoyed this life growing up. I really enjoyed these gifts, these these uh interactions, these experiences. And I feel that naturally as we absorb ourselves in atmospheres, we become who we are in these because of our atmosphere, you know. Um and and therefore I became a creative, artistic, experiential chef uh and entertainer, I would say. I went to school for acting and and theater. Uh, didn't pursue it, but you know, it still gave me the level of confidence to create an outlet. Yeah, walk into a room.

Speaker:

So you hit on a few things that for those of us, and and obviously, I mean I've seen your work ethic, and anyone that knows you have been around you knows that you know your your actions support your words, and and as you know, a lot of times then you reap the rewards of that and success, and but for those that have are in a different situation, they're working hard, but they are trying to create because we know food is a pathway to health and wellness, and what we put in our bodies and being that mindfulness. How how would you uh describe ways that parents that have lesser means are want to create that creativity and also that family, like you said, you were inspired having these events and moments with with both your mom and your dad and and siblings is that what what can they do to create that environment where they're doing right by themselves and their families' bodies and make it an exciting creative experience?

Speaker 1:

That's a great question. And I I literally am like ready to just spit that answer out. Um the first thing that comes to my mind is intention. Um what we put into our bodies has to have positive intention. We are it is fuel, and not only with its nutrients and vitamins and minerals and whatever attributes it has, but with the positive energy, the reasoning that we are fueling our bodies. And you know, you can throw a dog a bone, uh throw a dog a bone, right? And and I'm sure the dog will appreciate it and get it. Or you can walk up to a dog and give him a piece of beef and have him sit down and pat him on the head and scratch him underneath the neck and give him gently and tell him good boy or good girl and give him that piece of meat.

Speaker:

You say all this as my daughter and I are getting a puppy on Monday. So I will keep that in mind. Um, but I hear that. I hear that. So so can you just dive at a slightly more micro level and give you know people listening to this families or people that are single, that you know, some some ways in which that uh the intention and and how they could incorporate um younger kids?

Speaker 1:

Look, you know, food is food is a science, uh 100%. And what you can start off by doing in, you know, as a as a parent, um, you know, I our our lives develop, our palates develop, they're they're developing, they're learning, their their brains are learning to process. So what's sweet, sour, salty, fresh, hot, spicy, you know, bitter, all these different, you know, numbing, all these different sensations. And I think that it's it's just it's basic programming. Um uh find out the things that they like and play off that as a platform, such as, you know, my daughter, for instance, um, is and was and always is loves seafood. So finding different things to do with a shrimp or a scallop, or she was watching me shuck oysters the other day at the house, and I turned around and she's like, Can I have those oysters? I'm like, go ahead. And I she found the the shucker and she was already like getting in there and opening up, and she's like, Is this okay? And I'm like, it's absolutely perfect. And understanding what it is. Now, my son loves his fruits and vegetables, so he'll sit there and eat a $5, $6 pint of blueberries in in in two minutes, you know. Now I take those blueberries and freeze what's not eaten and make them a smoothie in the morning. So I'll introduce a banana and I'll introduce um some spinach inside there and and and not force feeder or lie, but he he's like, mmm, what you know, do you like it? Yeah. Well, there's yogurt, there's a banana, there's a little bit of spinach, there's blueberries, and it there's spinach.

Speaker:

Getting them to understand as young as possible that some of us, even as adults, took longer in life to recognize is what balance really is and looks like. And so much of that is what we fuel our bodies with.

Speaker 1:

And that's what I said intention too. You know, you there's things that we should we know that, you know, there's there's the cravings that we have because our minds are trained upon cravings. And that's with everything in life, whether it's, you know, sex, drugs, uh uh thrill, adrenaline, coffee, you know, you know, caffeine, you know what I mean? Like there's there's so many different things, you know, cigarettes, nicotine, good or bad, you know? Uh, but it's it's reprogramming the mind. And and again, what's the intention? Why are we eating? Do you think that you're hungry? Do you think that we need candy? Do you think you need energy? And do you think that that food is the is what's going to fuel that need at that moment? Um maybe not. Maybe you need to go outside and take a walk or uh run around a bit, or maybe you need to rest, you know, maybe you need to close your eyes because your body doesn't know what to do. So again, everything to me with with that I'm learning and re-en recreating in my mind is what is the intention? Why, why are we are we engaging?

Speaker:

I completely agree. And I'm a big person of a flip of the coin, and everyone knows what triggers mean. But um, I was like, what is the flip of the coin? You know, reframing your mind because it's such a powerful muscle. And I said, spark, because for me, it sparks my mind to find what is within my control, like it ignites me, like fireworks, the beauty. How can I I change that? And and I think we can reprogram, but said no adult ever. Oh, I wish I would have learned these life skills later in life, which is part of what sparked me to start Who's Your Mama was sharing and these things like that, and and creating a sustainable foundation for you know kids, young adults, uh whether parent or not, and and a community, which which leads me to um the next thing that I wanted to discuss um is uh you are obviously a very successful businessman, and so that comes with promotion, obviously. Flipping duh. But that doesn't always come with humility and a community mindset, which is something one of many things that I really admire about you because your actions support your words, and I I know you've done a a lot of things over the years, but of most recent you were I I remember seeing and and speaking to you as well, but um all the things that you were doing for the first responders and victims of the LA fire. Can you just expand a little bit about what where that came from in you and um what uh if somebody wanted to get involved, what would you suggest?

Speaker 1:

Yeah, you know, I I'll go right back to I'm a parent and and a parent has to set an example. And again, it brings me to that um emotional state again. But you know, I was born and raised in Los Angeles. This is my city, you know. I'm an Angelino to the day I die, no matter where I dwelled in this world or traveled outside. And when our whole community is in desperation, and I it affects us too, you know. We may not be in the fire, but we are in the fire, our city is burning, our our we there is a loss, and having that having an ability to give, you know, in in an area that is needed, you know, we all need to eat, you know, we all need to to to to nourish, um, and having access to those resources, you know, I um I have I have a friend who who has a food truck who her mom uses the food truck for papusas, you know, three days a week. They they want to get rid of the truck, they don't use it throughout the week. And I'm like, hey, can I rent it from you? You know? Um, and and I had, you know, the food banks and the resources to get a bunch of food and stuff that we had the dry goods, the the beans, the rice, the frozen goods that we have stockpiled from our big events and stuff like that. I'm going better in your mouth than on my shelf. You know what I mean?

Speaker:

Right. I think that's a really important point, too, is that sometimes people think, well, I don't have the resources, but you know what you do have is time. And and we all make time for things and people that we want in life, and there's no we make time for the things that we want to make time for.

Speaker 1:

Anyone that says that they don't have time, it's because you don't want it bad enough.

Speaker:

That's right, and there's no amount of giving that is too little, it's just that, and um so I I I love seeing that, and it inspires me, and I no doubt has has and will continue to inspire others.

Speaker 1:

Um children got involved.

Speaker:

My children got involved, and that's what I was gonna say, and I knew that, and my daughter very much is that mindset and it's homegrown, but it's also never too late, and also if you weren't brought up that way, it doesn't mean you can't begin to be that way, and I think that's it, it's never too late to start um thinking outside of just yourself because that is really how we make a difference. And before, because I know we're getting close to being out of time, I wanted to ask you one last question. If you could tell your younger self anything or things, what would it be in my god if I could tell my younger self anything from from this stage of my life? Yes.

Speaker 1:

God, you got me there. You know I'm I'm very quick on my on my words.

Speaker:

Does that mean that there you're coming back on who's your mama?

Speaker 1:

I'm gonna come back to the thing. To be continued.

Speaker:

You wanna be too to be continued?

Speaker 1:

I just need to remember my my uh my call, my y'all line.

Speaker:

All right, okay. Well then I think that that means um I just gotta commit to that.

Speaker 1:

Oh to respond to that, and I and I will come back on Who's Your Mama and let's let's talk about some some hardcore in-depth things, maybe you know, like strategic, strategic, uh uh targeted topic. Um, but it I will I will tell myself to anything you want, and I said this last night on a on a on an emotional high and a business high, there is nothing that you cannot achieve. Nothing. If you want anything bad enough, you will get it because if you become it, if you become wealthy internally, if you become successfully internally, if you become creative internally, all of that permeates on your external being and you are wealthy, you are successful, you are creative, you are you I couldn't agree more. That just literally gave me chills, all the mindset, it is all the mindset, you know, giving me the vibe chills, it's it's perception.

Speaker:

I it is that our own reality. I often say, if you spoke out loud to some of the thoughts in your own head, if you said that out loud, if somebody that you loved or cared about said your same words to you, how would you feel? If the answer is no, then why are you saying those thoughts to yourself? And it's all like you said, starts from within. So, on on that note, from within and outwardly, thank you, Kevin Lee Seven, for coming on Who's Your Mama? We always sign off with one one last uh liner, which starts with let's let's go, y'all.

Speaker 1:

The time is the time is right now, the time is right now, right through.

Speaker:

Thanks, Kevin. Adios. Thank you for tuning into WhozYourMama and I look forward to collaborating from a community standpoint for the next episodes.

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Michelle Kreft

Host