Many years ago before supermarkets sold whole foods, I bought supplies from markets and small independent stores. One day I was buying from a market stall in Romford. I ordered brown rice, sunflower seeds, sesame seeds and millet seed. An old lady beside me turned to me and asked, “Have you got a parrot?” My mother-in-law who was with me started to laugh. She told the old lady that I ate these seeds. The old lady replied, “You can’t eat that, its birdseed!”

Now everyone knows the value of these foods and many of us sprinkle seeds on our breakfast cereal or have a small pack as a healthy snack. Now I can shop at the local supermarket and even even organic vegetables.