Could you stomach week-old leftovers for breakfast? | BBC Radio Solent's Lou Hannan
Did you see the woman in the tabloids the other week who was criticised for putting too much in her son’s lunch box?
It was apparently two large sandwiches, three muesli bars, a large bag of grapes, a cucumber (a whole one, really?), apples, carrot sticks, nectarines, cherry tomatoes, two bananas, a small bag of nuts and some cheese snacks.
Yes, when it’s listed like that it really does sound a lot, but when you break it down, it’s actually pretty healthy.
What is interesting is the boy is 17!
I read the full article thinking he was about eight but when that fact was dropped in towards the end it put a different perspective on things.
That’s often the way with stories you see in a lot of the national papers or online – the headline grabs you, you start reading, and within a few paragraphs you’re as incensed as the top line wants you to be.
But, once you’re in possession of the full facts, you might take a different stance.
I sound like I’m on my soapbox about tabloid newspapers, but it was more the lunch box contents that caught my eye and got me thinking about things closer to home.
Having worked with Alun Newman for the past year now, I can honestly say I’ve never seen such an eclectic selection of foods coming into our building to provide his meal.
And I’m not talking lunch here, this is breakfast.
Highlights have included a beef stroganoff, week-old salad mixed with microwaved eggs, pulled pork with avocado and cauliflower, and Wensleydale soup. The latter provided a particularly interesting aroma in the studio.
The leftovers from Alun’s fridge provide a constant source of entertainment at 5am each weekday.
As much as I tease him about his food choices, there is a bit of me that has a lot of admiration for his ability to stomach such ingredients so early on in the day.
So, forget the 17-year-old who spends his day snacking on some, by comparison, pretty normal stuff.
Maybe it’s time to mix up those meals a bit.
Take a leaf out of Alun’s book and eat a microwaved roast dinner for breakfast. Just be warned, if you come into our studio, the scent can be somewhat pungent.