Food Truths

At the end of last month, I wrote about PFAS – also known as ‘forever chemicals’ – and how they’ve been found in 95% of strawberries. I had a few emails about this, asking whether thoroughly washing fruit would help? Alas, no… In a recent Independent article, Nick Mole, a policy advisor at the Pesticide Action Network (PAN) said that while washing food can get rid of mud, germs and some bacteria, it cannot get rid of PFAS. “The pesticides…
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How do you feel about brussels sprouts? I grew up eating them every Christmas, but never at any other time of the year. I thought they were tolerable… But my father LOATHED them with a passion. He wasn’t keen on other bitter vegetables either, like cabbage. And my own kids used to look aghast at any dark green leafy vegetables I put on the table. It turns out that there are reasons why some people get such revulsion at bitter-tasting…
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Vitamin A might not always grab the headlines like some of its vitamin cousins. But it’s seriously important. This essential nutrient helps with everything from seeing in the dark to fighting off germs. Despite its low profile, vitamin A is a big deal for our bodies, making sure our eyes, skin, gut and immune system are all running smoothly. It has been proven to be effective against the worst of all cancers – pancreatic tumours. This evil condition has the…
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I’ve really enjoyed your comments about cucumbers after my Good Life letter a few weeks ago. There is a real underground movement in favour of what I had always thought of as a staple but uninteresting salad vegetable. I was thinking about this on Easter Monday as I pottered in my little greenhouse, where I am starting to grow tomato, cucumbers, green peppers, and chilli plants. These might be known as trendy superfoods, but if you grow them yourself, they…
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At the time of writing this letter to you, the sun is out. There is NO rain – I repeat – NO RAIN! I woke up with light streaming through the blinds, feeling very happy. As soon as I’d drunk my coffee, I got out in the garden, thinking about spring and what fruits I am going to try and grow this year. Not just for the taste and sheer joy of nurturing life, but also to create our own…
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I had a great day in the garden last week – for the ONE day where it wasn’t raining. It was a boggy, muddy experience, because I was mainly digging new beds and creating some new borders. But it was good to get outside in the fresh air and dream about what lovely things I might grow this year. I’ve got my seed packets all lined up and ready to go! It doesn’t matter whether you have an allotment…. a…
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