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I love this. No least because:

- I love food, think about it all the time and like you remember things I have eaten, new tastes, textures and experiences

- I also hold a lot of anxiety about what happens when I eat too much - even eating too much healthy food

I have dreamt of having a cafe which allows me to feed people and also organise events, book clubs, lectures, cosiness and togetherness.

Last night I decided I would grasp the nettle and lose weight. I joined Noom, got as far as going through the whole sign up process, the questionnaires, did a few tutorials and then realised I had lost my mind. I don't have scales, deliberately. And was now thinking how I get myself to the shops to buy scales so I can weigh myself every morning and log my meals and....yuck. I unsubscribed and realised that I need to rethink.

When my mum had a massive stroke and became mute, paraplegic and yet alert and astute as ever, the one thing we worked really hard on to help her regain was her ability to swallow and eat food rather than live off a diet of milkshakes delivered through her nose. I spent the next 1.5 years that she lived, finding strong tasting soft foods that would bring her joy. And they brought me joy, feeding her tangy Wotsits that melt in your mouth, mousses and Turkish soft cheeses, taramasalata and hummus made with a range of pulses and herbs, mushroom pate or soft fruits and berries while telling her tales of bramble bushes on Tottenham Marshes. Each visit her eyes widened as she craned her neck to see what delights would be lifted out of my bag.

I have told my children unequivocally - when I can no longer eat, I can no longer live. Please remember the foods I love and feed these to me in my dying days.

Thanks for your brilliant words.

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I just loved this, Penny. Thank you for sharing. It was so touching to read your mother's story and what a privilege it is to taste and experience all sorts of textures and tastes and what a shame that we put so many limits on ourselves. Thank you again! What are your favourite foods?

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I love strong and aromatic flavours and 75% vegetables - so a big fan of Mediterranean/Middle Eastern, SE Asian and also cuisine like Ethiopian, Nigerian, Vietnamese, as I said, I love FOOD in general, especially if it is healthy and makes me feel energised. I also love to bake cakes and pastries for other people or when I worked in an office, would regularly bring in something home baked.

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Ooh all my favourite flavours. LOVE middle eastern food, and yes to East Asian (broad group I know). Really into Korean food at the moment.

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