There is so much writing on healthy foods that food itself is becoming a worry rather than a pleasure. Mass produced cheap foods have made us see ‘treat’ where there is none, and guzzle them with what may seem to be pleasure but does not come anywhere near real enjoyment of food.

The focus on healthy eating has educated us about what these are and the glut of cookery programmes mean we have plenty of ideas. If most of us were organised enough to take down the recipe or log on to find it, rush out for the ingredients and then somehow find time to cook it as well, it would be great. Unfortunately we just watch for the entertainment and maybe sprinkle a few freshly chopped herbs onto our beans on toast.

Wondering how healthy our food is while trying to get vegetables into children’s meals by elaborate disguises (children are rarely fooled if a sprout dresses up as a pea,) or feeling vaguely guilty every time we munch chips, pies or anything in batter has made the whole process utterly depressing. A very clever master plan to put us all off food and cure the national obesity problem, maybe?