Vegetables: questions and Band 8 answers

Yes, definitely. I try to incorporate them into almost every meal, mainly because I want to maintain a balanced diet. Just yesterday, for instance, I made a quick stir-fry with plenty of broccoli, bell peppers, and baby sweetcorn for dinner.

I'd probably say spinach. It's incredibly versatile and cooks down in just a couple of minutes. I usually toss a massive handful into my morning omelette or blend it into a fruit smoothie without altering the flavour too much.

Not really, to be honest. Like most kids, I was quite a fussy eater and used to dread having boiled carrots or peas on my plate. My parents often had to disguise them in pasta sauces just to get me to eat them.

Oh, absolutely. There's a brilliant local greengrocer just down the road from my flat, as well as a weekly farmers' market. The produce there is always crisp and locally sourced, so I rarely have to rely on big supermarkets.

I'd love to, actually. My grandad used to keep a small vegetable patch where he grew tomatoes and runner beans, and the flavour was amazing. If I ever move somewhere with a decent garden, I'll definitely give it a go.