"We live in a culture that makes it nearly impossible to make healthy food choices. A number of food industry and political factors keep us sick and fat."

When I walk in to a supermarket these days I know that I am unlikely to purchase around 98% of the food displayed. Since I've started looking at labels I've been appalled at what I've found and I'm not alone. Various of you have sent me to web sites and articles - mainly, but not always, from the US - where impassioned advocates of healthy eating keep banging on about horrors of the food production industry.

It's tough when I eat out because I know full well that practically everything which has been manufactured as a food stuff will contain refined sugars - often several different ones. Don't make assumptions about savoury sauces as they too have sugar aplenty. And I won't mention all the other unpleasant additives and coatings, the toxins in recycled packaging and those that impregnate food stored in plastic (and that includes plastic-bottled water and other drinks). I could go on and on - and when you see me, I probably will

Let me just leave you with this simplistic piece of advance from an American medical doctor and his advice to US shoppers. I think it's so sad that someone should have to say these things. I would add "Don't shop in supermarkets" - but that's becoming increasingly difficult. When all the independent bakers, butchers and green grocers have gone we will have no choice whatsoever. Think on that next time you fall prey to the allure of Tesco.

"- Buy around perimeter of the store (that’s where the healthy stuff is)
- Don’t go down aisles (that’s where most of the junk food is)
- Don’t buy food in a box
- Or with more than 5 ingredients
- Or with ingredients you can’t pronounce
- Or with a cartoon on package"